Chapter 279 Overwhelmed by Guilt
"Finley? Is that you?"
Riley heard the crying more clearly now and felt a surge of hope.
Finley paused her sobbing and whispered, "Riley?"
Riley sighed in relief and rushed toward the sound.
After a few steps, she slipped and grabbed a tree to steady herself.
Looking down, she saw a deep pit covered with grass and leaves, with Finley curled up at the bottom.
"Finley?" Riley's heart ached seeing her.
A beam of light shone down, and Finley looked up to see Riley's comforting face.
"It's okay, I'm here now," Riley said, hiding her guilt to avoid scaring Finley.
Finley's face was red from crying, her eyes and nose puffy, and her cheeks dirty. She looked like a sad, dirty kitten.
"Riley..." Finley finally saw Riley coming to rescue her and cried even harder.
Finley's uncontrollable crying made Riley anxious. "Finley, don't cry. I'll find something to pull you up."
Riley started looking around for something to help, softly comforting Finley as she searched.
But Finley was crying too hard to hear her.
Finally, Riley found a long branch and tested it. It was just within Finley's reach if she stood on tiptoe.
"Finley, stop crying. Grab the branch, and I'll pull you up," Riley said, her voice hoarse. She cleared her throat and spoke louder.
Finley wiped her tears and stood on tiptoe to reach the branch.
She could only touch it, still a bit short of grabbing it.
Riley frowned and leaned forward, extending the branch closer.
Finley finally grabbed it.
Once she had a firm grip, Riley gritted her teeth and tried to pull her up.
But after not eating all night and walking for so long, she had no strength left.
Finley was too weak to help.
Both tried their best, but Finley didn't budge. Instead, Riley was pulled forward, almost falling into the pit.
Seeing this, Finley quickly let go and ran to the side. "Riley!"
Riley barely held onto a tree root and smiled reassuringly. "I'm okay. Don't worry."
She tried to climb up.
A heart-wrenching cry came from the pit.
Riley felt a pang of heartache, glancing back to find Finley now seated on the ground, tears flowing unabated.
The crying weakened, and Finley's chest heaved more slowly.
Riley's heart tightened, and she lost her grip, falling into the pit.
Seeing Riley fall, Finley cried and threw herself into her arms.
Riley hugged her, feeling Finley's cold body, overwhelmed with guilt.
If only she had taken Finley with her earlier, if only she had found her sooner...
