The Black Swan Behind

83 Frozen

“Whoa!!” Emma screamed as the cat in her arms almost jumped down. She caught Pixy again quickly. But, because of that, she slipped and fell heavily on the ice. Fortunately, Pixy was still in Emma’s arms.

Crack! Crack! CRACK!

Emma’s eyes widened. She immediately glanced at the ice under her body which started to crack longer and wider, “OH NO!” she exclaimed.

Emma immediately stood up from her prone position with Pixy in her arms. She didn’t care anymore whether the cat would be squeezed or suffocated in her arms. But she really tightened her arms to lock the cat so it couldn’t run away again.

Crack! Crack!

The cracks under Emma’s feet got bigger and worse, until... CRASH!! The crack broke. Emma quickly leapt forward slightly because having difficulty balancing as her feet kept slipping. But apparently, the cracks that led to the broken ice seemed to follow her footsteps.

“RUN!!” The scream of the man on the riverbank woke Emma from her shock.

Then, Emma felt the ice she standing on start to shake again, which meant the ice down there was about to break.

Crack! Crack! Crack! Emma started to run, while her every footstep made the ice crack badly and ended up in shards that kept chasing her. Emma ran as fast as she could on the slippery ice. It was as if she was running from a water monster that was about to sink her into frozen water.

.....

As soon as she got to the side, Emma felt that the ice floor couldn’t hold it any longer. The crack that came from the middle had already spread almost to the edge riverbank. Once Emma realized that the distance was close enough, she immediately threw Pixy at her owner. Emma couldn’t even believe she could throw something that far. Maybe, it’s because she’s been overwhelmed by adrenaline.

The man immediately caught the white cat swiftly. But his eyes were still on the girl who was trying to reach the side of the river. Quickly, he hooked the leash on his cat collar and stepped on it.

The sound of the ice cracking grew louder and Emma felt her feet shaking violently. Just a little more.. she would get there.

Until at the last second, when Emma felt the ice had finally broken. She took the opportunity to jump forward. But unfortunately .. the jump was too late and she fell into the very cold icy water.

Emma closed her eyes tightly as she held her breath. Her body was momentarily numb as the cold water made her muscles and skin feel frozen.

“Hold my neck!”

Emma immediately opened her eyes in surprise at the voice. She began to notice that the only part of her body that became numb was from down up to her stomach, while she felt warm at the top. It was because the man who owned the cat was holding her.

“Quick!” the man called out again. His half body position was a few centimetres on the ice. He caught Emma’s body with one hand, while the other gripped a short concrete barrier located a few inches from the side along the river. His body trembled because of his current position that crouching with his upper body across to the side while supporting the weight of a girl who was halfway under the water.

Emma immediately wrapped her arms around the man’s neck while the man wrapped one arm around Emma’s back tightly. Emma couldn’t do anything. She really hung her fate on the man who looked like a vampire. The river was very deep, even though it was close to the side. She also felt the flow of the water below was strong enough that her body kept about to sway with the water. Emma couldn’t step on anything. She had to be pulled up.

The man grimaced against the weight of gravity, the river stream, himself, and the girl in his arms. His hand that was holding on to the concrete rock that was slick with icy snow felt like it was going to freeze. If the grip was released, it’s not only the girl who would fall but him also.

Slowly, he felt the girl’s body begin to shiver violently. They both gasped and struggled to breathe. After feeling she was holding on to him properly. He began to pull himself back.

“Arrgh!!” The man growled as he forced all his muscles to fight all the weight.

Amazingly, the man managed to pull Emma out of the icy water. He pulled the girl onto the snow-covered ground. The two of them lay on the white plain with gasping breaths that made steam gather in front of their faces. Besides the two people who had just survived the accident, a cat sat staring innocently while wagging its tail.

The man immediately got up from his supine position and grabbed the cat leash that was arranged under his body. He glanced at the girl with an even expression.

Emma sat up and massaged her legs for a bit, to make sure her numb legs were still there. Her teeth chattered from the cold, “The cat.. is she okay?” she asked, turning to the man who was standing beside her. Emma thought about it because she had thrown the cat randomly before.

“Instead of thinking about the cat, you better think about yourself.” Said the man, still looking at Emma. The girl’s clothes were wet from the bottom to the stomach. The only thing that was still dry was the shoulders and head. She shivered half to death.

“It’s okay. Believe it or not, I’ve been through much tougher than this.” Emma said as she stood up. Previously, she had soaked in ice water when her body was injured. But somehow, the river water felt colder.

“Your feet are frozen,” Said the man again.

Emma slapped her knees lightly, “Looks like the cold is numbing them. I have to go home soon.”

“Okay then. Thanks for saving my cat.” The man nodded before turning and taking a step away.

Emma stared at the man’s back with her mouth agape. She bit her lower lip in annoyance, then shouted, “HEY!!”

The man turned to hear Emma’s loud shout. He frowned as he looked at her as if he was disturbed because he had been called out with an impolite shout.

Even though her legs were frozen, Emma’s anger had taken over her body, so that she was now able to walk, although with stiff movements.

“What do you want?” The man asked briefly when the girl who was almost frozen to death was already standing in front of him with an angry face.

“What?” Emma giggled in annoyance, “You’re still asking what I want? Hey, Mister! Look what I went through for helping your cat! You couldn’t even take care of your own pet that made it get away and ended up stuck in the middle of the ice! And now you’re guilt-free leaving me half frozen like this?!” she scolded with fiery eyes.

Emma’s words made the man’s disapproving face even more obvious, “From all the answers you gave to my question earlier, you sound fine. And I also didn’t hear you ask anything from me. You are very strange.” He snapped.

“Huhh...?” Emma took a deep breath with an irritated face. Was this guy really stupid or what?

“If you really want to rampage here, I’m sorry, I didn’t have time to listen to you. Excuse me,” The man was about to turn back to leave.

But Emma immediately grabbed his arm and pulled him around violently. The man turned to Emma, ??then, glanced at his arm that had been gripped with disapproval face. That girl, apart from being crazy, had a lot of strength.

Emma took a deep breath, trying to inhale the cold air into her chest cavity to extinguish the fire that was raging in there. Then, she sighed calmly, “Look, I don’t bring a private vehicle. I can’t possibly take public transportation under this circumstance.” she softens her voice.

The man thought for a moment with an annoyed look on his face, “Do you mean you asked me to drive you home?” he asked.

Emma smiled sarcastically, “Don’t you as a human being, have to show your good manners to those who have helped you? For example, by being responsible for the way I come home in this state.”

“Right. I’ll call a taxi then,” He said before walking away.

Emma nodded patiently, “Thank you,” she muttered, then followed the man’s footsteps up the highway.

The man stopped beside a navy blue sedan. The car looked good and expensive. He opened the passenger door and put the cat in the small cage in there.

Emma watched the man moving leisurely, while she was hugging her own body that shivered even more. The sun had set and the streets were dark, “Can you move faster, please?”

Emma was still staring at the man annoyed. He even had his own car. But, instead of driving home the girl who had helped him, he let the girl go home by taxi. If Emma’s cell phone that was in her coat pocket didn’t die from being submerged in ice water, she wouldn’t be willing to ask for the man responsible for her way back home.

The man did not answer Emma’s question. He just took his cell phone out of his coat pocket and fiddled with it. After waiting for a while, a taxi finally arrived.

“Oh, finally.. I almost freeze to death..” Said Emma a little loudly. Hoping the man beside her heard it and felt bad. But in fact, the man just didn’t care by smoking a cigarette.

‘You damn jerk!’ Said Emma in mind.

“Good evening,” The taxi driver greeted when the window opened.

“Good evening. I’m going in..” Emma answered by opening the passenger door.

“W-wait, Miss. Sorry, but.. are your clothes wet?” asked the man with his eyes narrowed to see the girl’s coat which was darker at the bottom.

“Oh? Yes, my clothes were wet before. But it looks like they’re frozen now.” Emma laughed.