He looked back, his expression startled. "I know. I need you to go back. Please. I don't want you to get hurt. I have to help these people."
She seemed panicked, looking around. "People are dying," she replied, her voice catching. "Cy, people are drowning and you're... you're on the front of it all. You could die."
"Yes, you can," she begged, clasping his hands. The crowd was starting to die down, and he would realize, like clockwork, that there'd be another wave soon. "You don't have to stay. Come back with me. It's not safe out here; you're going to die."
His eyes widened and he looked back urgently. "Dahlia. Please. Please go back now. I need to help hold up the dam. Another wave is coming. Please."
She was near tears now and the crowd around them was starting to pick up, pulling her back, but she still clung to his hands. "I'm not going to leave you."
He held her hands, his brows furrowed. "Get somewhere safe, Dahlia. I'll be okay. I want you to be okay too."
She watched him, stricken. "But..." She was interrupted by the waves crashing again, and the screaming started. She jerked her head around, dropping the basket with some of the food falling out. While she was distracted, she was yanked back by the crowd. He would hear her protest, sounding terrified to leave. She reached for him as she was pulled back, her voice sharp and harsh. "No! No! Osiris! Osiris!"
He looked a little panicked, his eyes narrow and surprisingly firm. He fists clenched and he took in a sharp breath. "I love you, Dahlia!"
Her eyes met his and tears spilled over. She reached for him, but disappeared in the crowd, pulled away from him. "Osiris," he would hear Victor grunt. "We need you."
(Zoop!) As he approached the fort at almost 3am the next morning, he would see the candle was lit, casting a glow from inside.
He was tired and sore. His muscles ached and he was absolutely drained. He sighed, climbing up to the fort.
As he opened the door, he would see Dahlia sitting in a chair. Her head was in her hands and her shoulders slumped. When he entered, she jerked up, sitting straight and looking up at him immediately.
Tears glistened in her eyes and she stood up immediately, coming over to him and slipping her arms around his neck, embracing him. "Oh my God. Oh my God. You're not dead."
Her hand cupped the back of his neck and she was shaking, holding him close. "I thought I lost you," she whimpered. "I thought you were gone. You were back so late..."
He kept her close, his brows furrowed. "..I meant what I said Dahlia. That I loved you. But.. more than how you think. I don't want to spend my life in with anyone else."
She went silent for a moment before pulling back to look at him, her hand on the back of his neck. Her expression was one of shock. "...what?"
