Tempter and Savior

"You are not allowed to die again," Little Arabella heard a voice say as she felt someone carry her.

She was finally able to breathe again. She clung to whoever it was as she coughed up the water she had swallowed.

Little Arabella opened her eyes and it was hazy but she recognized that this person was different from the man earlier. It was another man.

"Ella . . . Where are you? Ella?"

She heard her brother's voice.

Shortly after, there were more people yelling her name, searching for her. They must have heard her scream.

The man who pulled her out of the water stopped moving and she panicked when she felt he was settling her down.

"No!!"

She gripped at his clothes but she was too weak to hold on. And her eyes were becoming even more blurry as her consciousness was fading yet again.

"It's alright now," he assured her and somehow, Little Arabella felt a surge of comfort and let go of his clothes.

The man soon vanished into the darkness as if he was never there.