Chapter 124 - Help!
Laura giggled and yelled. "Stop tickling me! I want to sleep more! Go away!" she pushed him away playfully.
Graven grinned and pinched her nose. "Rise and shine sleepy head!" he continues teasing her.
"I won't! I still want to sleep some more!" she refused to get up from the bed.
"Alright, I'm going outside to bring a breakfast in bed for you my love," he said and pinched her bottom cheekily.
Laura giggled and slapped his hand away from her bottom. "Go now! I'm starving!" she demanded.
Graven looked at her with profound tenderness flashing in his eyes. He planted a kiss on her head before leaving the bed.
He picked up the scattered clothes on the floor.
Laura watched Graven's sculpted back in all its glory, admiring his chiseled abs and his great physique. Graven is an example of a perfect specimen of a man, like a Greek God.
He finished donning his clothes on his body and looked at her. "Anything specific to eat this morning my love? Just say it...I will try to provide them for you," he said.
Laura smiled. "I just want hot cocoa, rice, hmm... any type of dishes will do. Let see what the cook has prepared for us this time. I'm not choosy when it comes to food, I eat everything as long it's delicious and edible," she beamed.
"Alright, I'll go outside and find out what the cook has prepared for us this morning," he said and left the room.
Laura went back to sleep, loving the cold morning atmosphere of the room that rendered her sleepy. For some reason, she loves laying in bed longer during rainy days.
Fifteen minutes later, she woke up from her quick nap. She left the bed and entered the bathroom to clean herself.
After she finished her routine in the bathroom she left and went back to bed. She picked up the hairbrush and combed her hair, letting it flows freely on her back.
A few minutes later.
Graven entered the room, carrying a tray in his hands. He smiled adoringly at her. "My love, you're up... just in time for the breakfast in bed!" he said and placed the tray on the table.
Laura rose to her feet and joined him at the table. She inspected the palatable food on the table, salivating. "Wow! Chicken soup with ginger and green leafy vegetables! Just my favorite food during the rainy season!" she gushes.
Graven was putting food on Laura's plate. "Sit down, My Queen, and let's eat!" he said.
"Yes, My Lord!" Laura smiled sweetly and planted a kiss on his cheek. "I love you! Thank you so much for pampering me," she said, her adoration towards him glistened in her eyes.
Graven looked at her and smiled. "I Love you more!" he said and brushed her cheeks lightly with his fingers. "Let's enjoy the chicken soup while it's hot!" he said and began putting food on his plate.
Laura picked up her spoon and enjoyed the chicken soup together with the fish omelet that was cooked with plenty of onions, tomato, silverfish, and eggs.
The couple enjoyed their delectable breakfast and the company of each other.
Half an hour later, they finished devouring the dishes and were contented sipping their hot cocoa while looking at the window, they can see the rain pouring heavily outside.
"It's been raining since yesterday and until today..." Laura commented.
"Yeah, it looks like the rain won't stop pouring... and will be extended in the next few days," he replied.
"Are we going to continue traveling today?" she asked.
Graven shook his head. "No...let's stay here for a few days. I don't mind holed up inside the inn for several days as long you're with me," he said, smiling naughtily, he winked at her for good measure.
Laura giggled, she knows what's going on in Graven's mind right now.
"Anyways, there's a news arrived early in the morning..." he said.
"What news?"
"The wooden bridge was destroyed by the huge volume of water coming down from the mountain. The bridge can't be repaired unless the water will go down first, the rain needs to stop because the bridge needs fixing before we can resume traveling to the next town," he explained.
Laura's eyes widened. "I never knew there was a flood around here," she said in mild surprise. "I thought it was just a simple rain that will go away after two or three days..."
"There's flood happening around this area. I would go to the location of the bridge and inspect the severity of the damage. Do you want to stay here or do you want to go with me? We will go by the carriage," he offered.
Laura pondered for a moment. She's getting bored - holed up inside the inn the whole day. She wants to see the world outside, even if the sun is not out yet. "Take me with you!" she said.
"Okay, wear the proper attire because it's raining and cold outside," he informed her.
"Alright, I'll get changed," she responded. She arranged the dirty dishes in the tray.
"I'll leave now and inform the driver to ready the carriage, then I'll go to my room to change my clothing," he said and took the tray away. "I'll come back later when the carriage is ready for travel..." he added.
"OK," Laura replied and rummaged through her bag to find the right clothing for the rainy season.
After she found what she wanted she entered the bathroom, brushed her teeth, took a quick bath, and changed into her clothing.
Twenty minutes later, Laura was sitting on the bed, brushing her long wavy hair when Graven entered the room.
He went to his side and planted a gentle kiss on her head. "Are you ready?"
She nods her head. "Yes!"
"Let's go now, my love, the carriage is already waiting outside," he said, reaching for her hand.
They exited the room holding each other's hands.
Outside...
The driver was holding a wide umbrella in his hand, shielding the couple from the rain.
The couple boarded the carriage and settled inside comfortably.
They begin their journey, heading to the location of the broken bridge.
The rain was still pouring heavily outside.
Twenty-five minutes later, they arrived at the location of the bridge.
"My Lord, we already arrived!" the driver informed them.
Graven left the carriage and took the umbrella from the driver, he looked at his lady love. "Would you like to see the destroyed bridge?" he asked.
Laura nods her head. "Yes," she replied and eagerly left the comfort of the carriage.
Graven extended his hand to assist Laura into the ground.
They walked towards the bridge's location. Onlookers were watching the flooded river. The wooden bridge was nowhere to be found, what was left to the structure is the base of the bridge.
Laura sighed.
She looked across the river. Oh, no! people are watching the flood from the river bank which is quite dangerous! She sighed, those people are inviting danger to come to them! She shook her head in dismay.
She watched the raging water filled with wood debris, plants, uprooted banana trees, and many more.
She gasped. Oh, my God! She saw some live animals... floating in the river!
Then suddenly they heard some shouting and yelling coming from the onlooker's mouth...
Everyone pointed their hand at the incoming log floating in the river. They saw a middle-aged guy and a child around 10 years old clinging helplessly to the log.
The onlookers' faces registered shock and horror.
"Oh, my God!" somebody screamed in shock.
"We need to save them!"
"Somebody...help them!" there are collective screams from the onlookers.
"Anyone got a rope!" a voice yelled.
Everyone scrambled to find ropes in their carriages.
Graven watched the helpless guy and child floating in the river, if no help coming soon they will surely die! He handed the umbrella to Laura and whispered something to her ear. "Wait here...don't leave! I'll see what can I do!" he said and left her side going back to the carriage in big stride. He disappeared inside the carriage.
A few moments later...
Everyone's attention was glued to the guy and the child clinging to the log for dear life while they were getting sweep away by the strong water current...then suddenly...a cloud of dark mist enveloped them...then the mist was gone a few minutes later... the guy and the child were also gone! The only thing left floating in the river is the log getting smaller, fading away from their vision, being pushed by the strong current towards the open sea a hundred miles away.
"Where are the guy and the child!?" asked someone from the crowd.
"Oh, no! The guy and the child disappeared, they must have drowned!" somebody from the crowd said sadly.
"This is sad, just when we already tied all the ropes to rescue them..." a guy said sadly.
Everyone looked at each other sorrowfully.
"God rest their souls in heaven!" a woman's voice said.
A few minutes later.
They heard screaming and shouting across the river... everyone stared in shock because the riverbank collapsed into the water and there about ten people thrown into the raging water, they're struggling to stay afloat carried away by the raging floodwater.
"HELPPPPPPPPPPPP!"
"PLEASE SAVEEEE USSSSSSSSS!"
"I DUNNO HOW TO SWIMMMMM! PLEASEEE HELPPPP MEEEEE!" one of the guys screamed as he struggled to stay afloat against the raging water.
One of the bystanders threw the rope at the guy but it failed to reach him.
The people near Laura's stepped away from the river bank and looked in horror at the people floating in the water, their faces registered shock and fear.
Then suddenly a thick black mist blanketed the people in the water...the thick mist stayed for a few minutes in the river - swirling - concealing the location of the people that were thrown into the water.
A few minutes later, the black mist was gone.
And to everyone's shock and delight... the people were already taken to safety near the river bank as people scrambled to help them get out of the water.
The onlookers around Laura murmured in astonishment.
How come the ten people suddenly found themselves in the riverbank, safe and sound?
Who saved them? And how?
They didn't see anything... all they saw is just thick black mist blanketing the people in the water... then the next time they knew the people were already in the river bank being lifted to safety!
The onlookers looked at each other.
"What's going on?" somebody asked.
"The hell I know?" one said.
"We didn't' see anyone saving those people...how come they were already taken to safety?"
"Don't tell me those thick black mist save them?" one of the onlookers said.
Laura knew better, a smile curled in her lips.
The driver went to Laura's side and whispered. "Miss, the Lord wants you back in the carriage," he said.
"Okay," she replied and walked towards the carriage that was parked nearby.
The driver opened the door and Laura entered the carriage.