135 Accident 04 cont. (1/2)

Some time ago, up on the hiking trail…

Mia heard Liz's scream and by the time she removed her binoculars and looked that way, she saw Max wrapping Liz in his arms protectively a split second before they disappeared in the dense foliage below them.

Mia looked at everyone present and saw that they all held their binoculars and glanced around in confusion while McKenzie was walking backward with pure horror on her face.

\”Max! Liz!\”, Hunter shouted while looking at the greenery below the cliff. He paused and hoped to hear something back before calling again.

\”Shit!\”, Hunter exclaimed while shoving his hand in his hair repeatedly, just how Max does when he is not sure what to do. \”We need to find a way to get down there.\”

Ashton looked around. \”We will need ropes to go down and this does not look like a good place to attach one.\”

\”Forget about attaching them. We can just hold onto it while one goes down. The problem is that we don't have ropes. Can we make a sturdy rope out of something available?\”, Derek asked while looking toward the jungle they came from.

\”Going around will take a long time to reach them.\”, Mike commented.

\”That is quite a big fall…\”, Jake mumbled while looking down. \”You don't think that they are…?\”

\”Shut up!\”, Hunter interrupted Jake. They were going on a leisure hike, how did it end like this?

\”Max! Liz!\”, Hunter bellowed again. Before anything, he needed to hear them call back. Something… anything… because he can't believe that they perished just like that. He refuses to believe it.

\”Max! Liz!\”, Hunter continued shouting while looking down desperately.

Mia joined Hunter and they called in unison: \”Max! Liz!\”

\”I'm fine! Max is unconscious! Call an ambulance!\”, Liz's voice drifted back from the foliage below making them all sigh in relief.

Hunter felt that a big knot in his chest eased up. Liz responded and she said that Max is unconscious, so he is not dead either.

Mia was startled when her phone vibrated. She saw the caller ID: \”It's Liz! … How are you doing down there? … Slow down, you are breaking up …\”

Mia listened to Liz and her eyes landed on McKenzie. For some reason, McKenzie looked panicked. Mia could not put her finger on it, but something was off.

Mia ended the call with Liz and shared with everyone what Liz said before telling Hunter: \”Call an ambulance, they will need a helicopter. We will stay here on this clearing to wave them when they arrive, so they know that they are at the right place.\”

After calling 911 and confirming to what hospital Liz and Max will be taken, Hunter called Madeline and Nathan, informing them that there was an accident and that they can go straight to the hospital and wait for Liz and Max to arrive.

\”We should go to the hospital also.\”, McKenzie said.

\”No.\” Mia stood in front of McKenzie, blocking her path. \”We should all stay here and wave the helicopter. It will be easier to spot us when there is more of us present.\”

\”Is there a need for all nine of us?\”, McKenzie asked in panic. She didn't want to stay here. If it's up to her, she would be on a plane back to Seattle.

\”Yes. Every person counts.\”, Mia said while eyeing McKenzie.

McKenzie huffed in frustration. \”Fine. I will go few steps down in the shade. When the helicopter comes, I will step out.\”

Mia pointed up the trail. \”The shade over there is better.\”

McKenzie narrowed her eyes at Mia, but she obeyed. If she makes a scene, she will only draw suspicion to herself.

McKenzie went up the trail and sat on a rock in the shade while her eyes didn't leave Mia. Why is Mia not letting her leave? There is no way that Mia saw her push Liz.

McKenzie balled her hands into fists. She didn't want Max to get hurt. She wanted to hurt only Liz, to make her feel the pain because of what McKenzie is going through for the last three days. And now it ended up that Liz is fine, and Max is unconscious. McKenzie reminded herself to stay cool. No one saw anything, and if they suspect something, it's their word against hers, and they are slandering her. Even if Liz says something, she has no proof.

Others found spots in the shade to sit with knowledge that it will be at least ten minutes until the helicopter arrives. No one knew what to talk about, so they mostly sat in silence and nibbled on their sandwiches. No matter what, this hike is over and once the helicopter arrives, they will all head back.

Hunter and Mia sat in front of the spot from where Max and Liz fell.

\”You don't think that Zi has anything to do with this?\”, Hunter asked Mia in a low voice, only for her to hear. He noticed that Mia is borderline hostile toward McKenzie.

Mia looked at him and raised her eyebrows, silently answering his question.

Hunter's brows furrowed. \”You don't know Zi. She might be stubborn, but she is kind. She would never hurt anyone. Especially not Max.\”

\”You are right. I don't know her.\”, Mia agreed with Hunter before adding: \”However, I know Liz. She might be silly at times, but she is the most cautious person I know. She would never step too close to the edge. And you should know Max. Is he the one who would act recklessly and put Liz in danger? I'm not saying that Zi did something, I just want to keep an eye on her. I don't expect your assistance.\”

Hunter put his arm around Mia's shoulders. \”How can you say that? Even if it's just a hunch, I will support my fiancée. What are we doing?\”

Mia smiled, grateful that Hunter is by her side and that he is directing his deep blue eyes full of love at her. \”At this point, we don't let her leave. I want to talk to Liz and Max and hear from them what happened…\”

…

In the hospital, they rushed Max to the radiology department to get X-ray and MRI and Liz went with him.

Max signed a consent that his medical information can be shared with Liz, so she took charge of talking to doctors while he was undergoing tests and scans.

By the time Max and Liz got in the VIP room and doctors dispersed, everyone else arrived at the hospital.

Family members got access first, while others were in the waiting area.