CRYPTO: Infidelity (Book 1)

CHAPTER 42: DOOMED

The stampede finally passed. I was bruised and bloody, but still alive. I slowly stood up, worried that I would have some painful broken bones, but all my bones seemed intact. I couldn't see out of my right eye and it was painful to walk but I hobbled out of the prison.

My vision was blurry but I could see that part of the fence was obliterated. My uncle had come through. Now I just needed to make it to the helicopter before I was caught.

I heard a helicopter fly over and I looked up, hoping they had come close to rescue me, but then I saw the animals in the helicopter were wearing bulletproof vests and shooting at the prisoners. I saw prisoners lying dead or dying around me. I knew if I tried to run, I would be shot too.

"God, help me," I said. It was a short prayer but the first prayer I had said in years.

I collapsed in a puddle of my own blood. I hadn't realized my head was bleeding out.

I came to as Uncle Blade lifted me to my feet. I could still hear the helicopter and gunfire.

"Crypto, we have to go!" my uncle told me. "Come on!"

I leaned against him and tried to take a step, but I was too dizzy to walk. It was hard to keep myself from passing out again.

My uncle shoved his head under my ribcage and pushed me onto his back. He was trying to carry me to safety even though I weighed just as much him. He couldn't run with me on him but that didn't stop him from taking me away from danger one step at a time even though it put his life at risk. I couldn't believe he would risk his life for me. It didn't seem right.

"Just leave me," I told him.

"Not a chance," he said.

He carried me all the way to our getaway helicopter which was about 500 yards away. Luckily, they didn't leave without us even though it took a long time for us to get there.

"What happened to you?" Rockie asked me.

"The prisoners trampled me," I said.

"He needs to get to a hospital right away," my uncle said.

"No kidding," Rockie said.

"Then call an ambulance," Marceau said. "We're not taking this helicopter anywhere near the city. We just broke our guys out and now they're safe. I won't risk them going back to prison just because your friend was being dumb."

"He's my nephew!" my uncle told him. "And you wouldn't have your guys here if it weren't for him!"

"I told him to abort the mission but he went ahead with it anyway. He's injured because he made a bad decision. Don't blame that on me."

"He's bleeding out and you're not gonna do anything about it?!"

"Maybe two million dollars will make up for it. Now get off my helicopter."

My uncle helped me down and Rockie got off too.

"I hope you get shot down," Uncle Blade told Marceau.

The helicopter took off.

"At least we have these gems," Rockie said as he pulled the glowing pieces from his uniform.

"Those rocks aren't going to save his life," my uncle said.

"I'm fine, Uncle Blade," I told him.

"Can I have the uniform to stop the bleeding?" Uncle Blade asked Rockie. "And can you call an ambulance as well?"

"Hopefully they'll understand English," Rockie said as he removed his uniform.

It didn't take long for an ambulance to come to get me. There were multiple already heading to the prison because of all the injured guards. They probably assumed I was a cop or an innocent bystander. I didn't have a collar like the prisoners had. I was glad I no longer had to attempt to speak French. At least one of the paramedics spoke English, but unfortunately, they didn't allow Uncle Blade or Rockie on the ambulance. They would have to get their own ride to the hospital if they wanted to see me.