Page 110 of Phoenix

I can barely make out his words. He’s hurt in some capacity and he needs to get out, or the water will fill too much and he’ll drown.

The familiar burn of anxiety and fear creeps up my throat and sends goosebumps along my skin.

I close my eyes, just for a moment, and allow Nora’s words to sink into my soul.

Breathe, Case. You’ve got this. You can do anything.

I have to act now, without fear, or this boy is going to die.

Act. Protect. Serve.

“Arya. Lay. Stay.” She obeys instantly and I lay her leash down on the ground. I put a call in on the radio attached to my shoulder, alerting dispatch of my location and the situation, letting them know I need backup and medics right now.

I move to my feet and begin stripping off unnecessary weight from my uniform.

“I’m going to go down and get Cory, okay? I need you to do something important for me. Can you do that?”

“Yeah, I can do that,” he says through sobs.

“This is Arya. She’s my partner. She’s going to stay up here with you. Sit with her and she’ll keep you safe. Got it?”

“Got it. Okay. Please hurry.”

I unhook my utility belt and lay it across the ground, but I keep my gun in the holster attached to my hip. I hardly notice the rain anymore, saving Cory is my one and only goal at this point.

I lie on my stomach on the hard concrete and assess how I’ll be able to slide into the drain, quickly deciding I’ll have to go in on my front side, feet first.

“Stay put, okay? I have friends coming to help too. They’ll be here soon. I’ll save Cory. I promise.”

I adjust my body so my feet are able to slip within the drain and I begin to ease myself back, carefully slipping myself between the concrete and the metal bar across the top of the opening.

The cold water immediately engulfs my shoes all the way to my ankle. I push through the immediate pang of fear and keep going, sinking in more and more.

I have to turn my head to the side to allow it room to fit, but when I do, I’m able to fully drop down into the drain.

I hold on to the top until I can find my footing. The water reaches my waist and it’s steadily rising higher and higher.

The current of the water rushing through becomes my instant concern. It’s strong, too strong for nearly me, and certainly too strong for Cory.

I never relinquish my hold on the top of the drain opening I slowly fight the rushing water, making my way toward the boy.

“Cory. Can you hear me?”

He moves a little, lifting his head. “Head. Hurts.”

“Did you slip and fall? Hit your head?”

“Mmmhmm.”

He’s moving in and out of consciousness.

Concussion. That’s my instant guess, which means I need to keep talking to him.

“I’m going to get you out of here, okay? You just have to do everything I say without question. Can you do that?” I look around me to decide where my next spot to hold on to will be.

“…try.” That’s all I can make out between his quiet, tired voice, the rain above, and the water rushing around us.

My hands are shaking and my heart is racing more and more with every inch the water rises. I make my next move, gripping another opening in the concrete above so I can walk across to Cory.

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