I tried to brace for what I knew was coming. Copper forcefully pried the door away from the frame, allowing Riley’s arm to slip free, which also allowed blood flow to return to the area with a vengeance. Her screams of pain broke my heart. “I’m so sorry, baby girl. I’m so fucking sorry.”
Reluctantly, I carefully passed her through the broken glass into Copper’s waiting arms. “Riley Parker. Six years old. She’s been conscious the entire time. Left ulna and radius are clearly broken. She’s a princess, so handle her with care,” he said.
“Kellan!” she screamed. “I want my Kellan! No! I’m not leaving him!”
“I need you to go with the fireman so I can get Kellan out. Okay?”
“Right now?” she asked.
“Right now,” Copper promised.
“Okay,” she sobbed.
Copper came back to the window and stuck his hand through. “Can I pull you out?”
“I’m not sure,” I said honestly. “I’m not sure what’s hurt.”
He nodded knowingly. “Adrenaline. Let’s not waste it.”
I reached out and firmly clasped his hand and used my other one to push myself up and out while he pulled.
“Fuck!!” I bellowed as pain ripped through my body, but Copper didn’t relent.
“Almost there,” he said. “I need a basket!” he yelled. “I’ll strap you in and they can pull you up.”
“Pull me up?” I asked.
“Your truck is hanging off the Lakeview Road bridge by the rear axle,” Copper said. “Come on; let’s get you ready to go up.”
I was all for letting them pull me up until I heard Riley crying for me. “I got it, Prez,” I said and used every bit of strength I had left to push myself the rest of the way through the window. I braced my feet on the window frame and my hands on the truck bed as I stood.
“Forget the basket!” Copper shouted. “He’s out and we’re coming up!”
Something wasn’t right. My vision was darkening at the edges and I was extremely light headed. The last thing I saw was Copper’s eyes filling with horror as I tipped sideways and fell from the bed of the truck.
28
Copper
“No! Fuck, no!” I bellowed as my brother’s eyes rolled to the back of his head and he plummeted to the water below.
I didn’t even think about it. I unclipped the line from my harness and jumped out of the truck bed to follow him down. My jump was intentional and controlled; I was going to be perfectly fine. Savior was going to be hurt worse than he already was.
It felt like it took forever to hit the water and the entire way down all I could hear were the terrified screams coming from a little girl who had no business watching what was happening.
As soon as I plunged into the cold water, I kicked and swam as fast as I could to the surface. “Where is he?” I bellowed.
No one answered me.
“Where the fuck is he?” I yelled even louder.
Still nothing.
I frantically turned in the water, scanning the surface for any sign of him.
“Kellan!” I called. “Kellan!” No, this couldn’t be happening. Not on my watch. I inhaled deeply and dove under the water to search. When I came up to take another breath, I noticed Bronze, Judge, and Coal had joined me in the water.
“I can’t fucking find him!”
