Family Don't Break

CHAPTER 32

TW: Blood

RACE'S POV:

I've been waiting by this door for hours. I asked Alex to come with me, but she said she was too tired to move. She's looking pretty pale, and she's been asleep a lot. I'm worried about her. I've been changing the bandage on her cut, and it looks like it's still bleeding. She needs medical help, but I can't give that to her. I can't even get enough food for us. I had to trade my cigar for an extra roll of bread. I've been fidgeting non-stop without it.

"Race! Race!" a whispered voice shouts. I stand up and look out the window. Jack, Davey, and Spot are standing on the fire escape. "Guys!" I see Jack picking the lock, jiggling the handle. It doesn't seem to be working. "Race, stand back!" Jack moves back and then runs into the door, busting it open. Splinters scatter on the floor and all the kids look up from their bunks. The boys rush in and I run to Spot. I wrap him in a hug, and he holds me.

We pull away and he gently places a hand on my face. "Are you okay?" I nod my head yes. "Where's Alex?" Jack asks. I point to our bunk and he sprints over. "We don't have long, Katharine is distracting the woman at the door. Let's get you out of here." Spot pulls me away but I resist. "We need to get these kids out of here." I start gesturing for the kids to get up and leave. Some of them shake their heads no, but others take the chance and leave.

"C'mon Alex, let's go." Jack tries to lift Alex, but she just yelps. He lays her back down and looks at me worriedly. "Jack, no time. Get Race and go." I can barely hear her voice. It's little more than a wisp of air. "No. Alex, I'm going to lift you up. Hold tight." he lifts her up bridal style and she screams in pain. "Jack, we have to go!" Elmer shouts. "Jack, please I can't-" Alex's eyes are closed in pain and her chest is heaving.

I don't want to hurt her more, but we need to get her out of here. "I'm sorry Alex. Just hold on for a bit." Jack carries her towards the door. We join the kids leaving and rush down the stairs of the fire escape. Alex has gone silent except for a few groans every now and then when she gets jostled too much. "We have to get back to the car." Davey orders. "Car?" davey nods. "Katharine's. She drove us here."

There's not enough time to explain further. We rush away from the workhouse, checking to make sure no one saw us. We make it to the car where Katharine is waiting for us. "Get her in the back." we do as she says. Davey takes the passenger seat next to Katharine while the rest of us squish into the back. Jack holds Alex in his lap, his eyes full of fear. "She's going to be okay. We have her." I do my best to reassure him, but I don't think he even hears me.

Katharine breaks every speed limit, almost running several people over. "Is she still breathing?" she calls out. "Yeah, But it's shallow." I reply. Alex wasn't doing well before, and with all this moving she's doing worse. I can see the blood seeping through her bandages and staining her shirt even more. "Keep pressure on the wound!" Jack does as Davey says, putting his hand over the wound. "We're almost there." Katharine shouts.

When she jerks the car to a stop in front of the lodging house, all of us clamber out. I hold the door open for all of them as they rush inside, climbing up the stairs. All the boys are in the bunk room, and they stand up when they see us come in. "Race! Alex!" Albert comes over and wraps me in a hug. "Move out of the way!" Jack yells. They scatter, watching anxiously as Jack lays Alex down on one of the beds. "Everybody out! Elmer, get the first aid kit. Albert, get the bottle of whiskey under your bed. Yes, I know about it. The rest of you, go wait in the living room. No matter what you hear, I need you to stay put. Understood?" Davey orders. the boys nod and rush out.

"Race, you too. You don't need to see this." I shake my head no. "I ain't going anywhere." Spot tugs my arm. "Race. You need some care too. Let's get you some food, alright?" I want to fight with him, but I don't have the energy. I let him lead me out. The boys pass me as they give Davey what he needs. All of us gather in the main room.

No one talks. Complete silence. Then the screaming starts.