Break My Bones

Chapter 13: Wake me up

"NO!"

Rachel stood in the middle of the courtyard as the serum clattered to the ground beside her.

It was strange how a couple of seconds could change her entire world. When she had first run out into the plaza a few seconds ago, she hadn't understood what she was seeing as she saw Thomas and Newt collapse to the ground. Then, as she got closer, she saw the way Thomas was bent over Newt... and then she'd seen the knife protruding out of Newt's chest.

And just like that her entire world tipped over into darkness.

"No. No. Newt."

Rachel stumbled forward, her scream ringing in her own ears as she tumbled to her knees beside Newt while Thomas slowly drew away. Rachel vaguely heard the others arriving, coming up behind her as she had found Newt and Thomas first - but clearly not soon enough. She heard Thomas stumble away but she couldn't look at him as she stared down numbly at Newt's face.

He lay unmoving, his face still veiny and his irises as black as the blood that coated his lips and stained the front of his shirt. She reached out a trembling hand toward Newt's face, touching his still warm cheek and she felt the tear that he must have shed as he died. Rachel's breath caught and she realized she was sobbing without tears.

"Newt."

Minho was suddenly beside her, his voice as numb as hers had been. Another faint noise on Rachel's other side made her realize Frypan was there as well, crying softly as he knelt beside his former second in command and his friend.

"He... He's..."

Rachel shuddered and Minho's hand landed on her shoulder. The soft touch, comforting but not the one she wanted, sparked the waterworks and Rachel heaved as the hot tears spilled down her cheeks.

"He... He..." She cried and Minho's hand on her tightened.

"I know." He murmured, his grief evident in every syllable he uttered.

Rachel choked as she tried to breathe and cry at the same time, and she bent her head over Newt's in utter misery. Only to jerk back abruptly.

The others jumped a little, startled by her abrupt change as Rachel stopped crying and stared at Newt before she leant down to press her cheek near Newt's mouth again.

"Rachel-?" Gally began in confusion when Rachel cut him off.

"He's still breathing."

The others stared at her, stunned and unable to believe her as Rachel sat up and looked at them.

"He's still BREATHING!"

Her scream woke them up while Rachel was already scrambling around Newt's side.

"Brenda, help me. Help me!"

Brenda moved instantly, helping Rachel as she tore off pieces of her shirt and began to press it around the knife wound.

"Put pressure on that and don't let go. Minho, the serum. Where's the serum?"

"I've got it, here." Gally quickly hurried to pick up the bottle Rachel had dropped and she thanked whatever higher power might exist that it hadn't broken when she had.

"How are you going to administer that, we don't have-" Brenda began when Rachel pulled one of the syringes she had stolen earlier that night from her pocket.

"Why-?" Minho gaped.

"I thought they might come handy in a fight." Rachel muttered as she tore open the packaging on the needle.