“Thank fuck,” he replies, exhaling slowly. His steps aren’t smooth. It sounds like he’s walking on something, but I’m not sure what. Debris? Shrapnel? “We need to get you out of here. The building is barely holding on.”
I’m the one barely holding on.
I reach down with my bloodied gloves and try to get to my phone. I have to snake my hand between me and the bodyguard, and it takes way too much effort for that simple movement.
I can’t manage it with the gloves on, so I shed them, my hands feeling damp from sweat as I toss them aside.
I manage to get the flashlight of my phone on.
Yeah, that’s the bodyguard on top of me. I look in River’s direction. I don’t think I’m getting past all the debris there.
I look to my other side.
Blaze is lying there, eyes closed. Blood seeps from a wound on his forehead.
“Blaze?” I whisper. “Blaze. Blaze, get up.” My voice gets louder with each call, until I’m screaming. “Blaze!”
“Pandora! Pandora, are you okay?” River’s voice is high with panic. “Don’t worry about Blaze right now. Areyouokay?”
I’m not sure I’ve ever heard him like this before.
I let out a small laugh. “I’m alive. I can’t move though. The bodyguard is on top of me.” I remember what Blaze had said, about the guy being impenetrable.
I guess he was wrong after all. The explosion penetrated him deep.
“Blaze,” I say again. I reach out and push at his face.
A small puff of air warms my hand.
He’s alive.
My eyes get wetter.
“He’s alive,” I say. “Blaze. Wake the fuck up.” I scratch his nose, and when that doesn’t get me anything, I stick my fingers into his mouth.
He moans.
“Is he there with you?” River demands. “Tell him to get his ass up and help me with this fucking beam. I can’t get to you.”
“He’s here. Blaze! Blaze!” I scratch his cheek with the spit-soaked fingers, and that finally makes Blaze’s eyes flutter.
He moans and reaches up for his head. “Fuck. Fuck. What…”
“Pandora?” River asks, his voice still urgent. “Is he okay? I can’t see anything. I can’t—” He makes a frustrated sound. “I’m going to try to find help. Okay?”
He’s going to leave us here?
Thump.
Thump.
Thump.
I ignore the strange noise and force myself to say, “Okay. Please come back fast.”
“I will,” he promises. “I will. As soon as I can.”
I hear his footsteps retreating, and I turn back to Blaze.
