Page 122 of Make Me Trust Again
My eardrums are still ringing from the blast. The pressure in my ears is excruciating, making the throbbing behind my temples worse.
Pushing through the pain, I force my eyes to open again.
I need to get to the others.
I move my hand, one then the other, and then my legs. My muscles are shaking with exertion as I push myself up, only formy leg to give out under my weight. I groan as I try again, the searing pain burning inside me until I’m finally standing on my wobbly feet.
It takes everything in me to move.
Inch by inch.
Get to them. Get to them. Get to them.
I chant those words like a mantra, pushing myself through the pain, until my legs give out on me. Cursing under my breath, I slam my fist against the ground.
They have to be alright. They have to be. They need to get back home to their families.
Running my hand over my face, I swipe away the blood and sweat, and then I start crawling. From one to the other, but they’re gone.
A soft groan reaches me through the ringing in my ears. I look up, my eyes landing on Lucas’s sprawled body. My arms shake, but it doesn’t stop me from hurrying to him.
Alive.
He’s alive.
The thought makes me push as fast as I can until I reach him. My heart is beating furiously against my ribcage as if it wants to jump out of my chest, that damn buzzing piercing through my skull.
My vision swims as I turn him around. I blink the haziness away, meeting his chocolate brown eyes. Lucas’s lips part, his brows twisting in a scowl.
“You’re alive.” I shake my head, my throat feeling tight as I take him in. “They’re gone. All of them. Gon?—”
That’s when I see it—the blood seeping from the wound in his stomach.
“No.”
I press my palms against the wound as hard as I can, his lips parting on a soundless groan. “Ch-Chase…”
“Hold on. Just hold on, dammit. I’ll get you out of here.”
I shake my head, refusing to give up.
He is alive.
“We’re getting out of here. I promise.”
I force my body into submission as I push upright, my arms wrapping around him. I’m not sure how I manage to get to my feet, how I manage to lift him. But I do.
“Just hold on,” I pant, as I tighten my grip on him.
I’ll get him out of here.
I have to.
“You can’t give up, man. Your sister is waiting for you.”
I’m not sure how long we go on like that. I refuse to look back. Something wet trickles down my face, blurring my vision and making me fall to my knees. Lucas’s weight falls on top of me and to the side.
I curse as I glance at him, determined to get back up, to get him help. Somebody should have figured out we’re MIA by now, right?
