Fractured Memory by Jordyn Redwood Page A

focused, and she saw Eli before her, his eyes closed but lips pink.
    Julia rolled onto her back and looked up at the sky where dark gray clouds gathered.
    What she had just seen—was it true or something her broken neurons pieced together? A false narrative to fill the void? Had she opened the door to her attacker? Did the stress of nearly drowning open her mind to things forgotten?
    Because if what she saw was a true memory—how could she forgive herself?
    Her attack. Her parents’ subsequent death.
    All of it had been her fault.
    Julia had let the man into her home.
    She was relieved when darkness took her again.
    * * *
    The roar of a train broke through Eli’s haze as the ground thundered under his body. His eyes darted open in time to see the behemoth coal train curve along the railroad track on the other side of the canyon. Julia lay on her back next to him, her arm reaching out with the tips of her fingers resting directly under his nose. His body was frozen and achy. Tentative fingers reached up to his pounding head and felt the open wound on his forehead. Julia appeared to be sleeping. Her color was pale, but her cheeks held a hint of blush. He reached for her hand and felt her pulse at her wrist—strong and steady.
    How long had they been lying here? He struggled and pulled up the sleeve of his sopping wet shirt and checked the time on his watch. If he remembered correctly, they’d gone off the road at approximately three o’clock.
    It was over an hour later.
    Emotion overwhelmed him, and he rolled over onto his back, quickly brushing away the tears that brimmed his eyelids. He was supposed to keep her safe. How had she done it? Pulled him from the car?
    Jace...where is Jace?
    Eli sat up too quickly and his vision washed white. He leaned heavily to one side and braced himself until the feeling passed and his eyesight crystallized. He lifted his head slightly. Was someone calling his name? He looked upriver and saw a figure walking along the shoreline on the opposite side.
    Friend or foe? That was always the first question. He placed a protective hand on Julia’s shoulder until the figure drew closer.
    Jace. Alive and well.
    “Are you okay?” Eli yelled.
    Jace ran. He held his phone in his hand. “Can’t get a signal, but I was able to reach Ben on our com line.” Jace pointed behind Eli, and Eli looked up—all he saw was the slope of canyon behind him. The road wasn’t visible from his vantage point.
    “Is Julia alive?” Jace yelled.
    All Eli could do was nod. If he spoke any words, his voice would crumple with guilt. He gave Jace a thumbs-up sign.
    “Rescue is delayed. Another accident somewhere,” Jace said.
    If Eli blocked out all the other noise, he could hear a melee of voices in the distance.
    A delay in rescue was not good. They were at risk of hypothermia. Springtime in the mountains was still known for low temperatures at night. If they were stuck here, they could die from exposure.
    He reached for Julia. Time to wake up Sleeping Beauty. “Julia. Can you hear me?”
    Her eyes popped open, and she licked at her dry lips.
    “Anything broken?” Eli asked.
    Her eyes were dim. She blinked several times.
    “Julia, do you know where you are?”
    She lifted her head up and eased herself into a sitting position. Briefly, she turned away from him. Was she hiding tears?
    “Talk to me.”
    It killed him that she wouldn’t look his way. Her body trembled and if he could have given her a dry, warm jacket he would have taken his off.
    “Julia, please. Are you hurt?”
    Finally, she looked back at him. She pulled her knees up and crossed her arms in front of them, tucking her chin into the crook of her elbow. “I’m not broken...just cold. So tired.”
    If he could have touched it, he would have torn it down—this wall that was present between them. There was something she was keeping from him. An injury? Anger at his shortcomings on keeping her safe?
    “Pulling you from the river took