Page 107 of Octane

“Sawyer, get down!” Jackson screams, but it’s too late.

Everything feels like it’s suddenly moving in slow motion. The gun has gone off, and the sound is still reverberating around the arena. A burning sensation in my arm catches my attention. I look down, and I see blood seeping through my racing suit. I don’t understand what’s happening. I feel something pulling me, then Jackson and I are diving behind Nate’s car.

“Sawyer, angel. Look at me, okay?” Jackson urges me, patting the side of my face.

“Jackson?” I begin to panic as everything returns to normal speed and I realize the extent of what is happening.

“You’re okay. Everything is going to be fine,” he promises me.

He pops his head up, and another gunshot goes off. I scream, but Jackson puts his hand over my mouth. Shaking, I look at him, and he puts his finger over his lips, signaling for me to be quiet. I look past him and see Robby, Nate, Tim, and Ryder crouching down behind some equipment in the garage. I start to cry, realizing that if something happens to them it will be all my fault.

“Sawyer!” I hear Daniel shout again. “Get out here, you bitch! You. Belong. To. Me. God damn it!”

“Listen to me,” Jackson whispers as he removes his belt. “You’re going to be fine. Here, let me wrap this around your arm. It will help stop the bleeding.”

He ties the belt tightly above the wound on my arm. I feel like it should hurt, but it doesn’t. Actually, I don’t really feel anything.

“Jackson,” I croak out quietly. “I can’t feel my arm.”

“Listen, we’re going to get rid of him, and then we can take care of your arm. Okay?”

Jackson looks behind him to the garage. He makes a gesture with his fingers to Nate then points to a toolbox. I watch Nate look in that direction then crawl across the garage floor. Standing behind the tall, red toolbox so he’s still hidden, he reaches over the top and feels around until his hand lands on something. When he crouches back on the ground, he flashes the cell phone at Jackson.

Jackson continues communicating with Nate through hand gestures. I assume Nate’s calling the police, and I pray they can get here quickly. It’s one thing for Daniel to ruin my life, but I can’t stand the thought of anyone else suffering by his hand. Daniel mumbles something, making it evident that he’s getting close to where we’re hiding.

“Jackson,” I whisper, getting his attention again. “He’s getting closer.”

We move from our hiding spot behind Nate’s car to the side of it as Daniel continues walking toward us.

“Sawyer! If you come out here then no one else will get hurt!” Daniel bellows again.

I try to stop the tears from falling as Jackson pins me with his stare.

“Don’t you dare even consider going out there. It’s not happening.”

“I have to,” I hiss. “I can distract him, and you can get a wrench or something and hit him from behind.”

“Absolutely not!” Jackson whisper screams at me.

“Daniel!” I call out as Jackson tries to cover my mouth again. “Let everyone else go, and I’ll come out.”

“I don’t care about the others. But Jackson must pay for what he’s done.”

“Jackson is not to blame, Daniel! You are!” I scream at him.

“Shut-up!” Daniel roars, and I’ve never heard him so uncontrolled before.

“Sawyer, do you think you can crawl to the garage with me?” Jackson asks quietly.

The garage isn’t too far behind us, and there are a lot of things that can be used as weapons in there.

“Yes,” I nod. “I’m right behind you.”

“Oh, no you don’t,” he rebukes, knowing I was going to stay and try to talk Daniel out of it. “You’re going first.”

“Jackson, listen to me. I’ll stay right here behind the car and keep him talking. You go get something from the garage that you can knock him out with. I can distract him.”

“No fucking way. Period,” he declares. “You. Garage. Now.”

---