Crash Into Me (Into Me Series Book One)

Chapter Thirty Five - Like a Villian

My shoulder screams out in pain as we land on the asphalt. The wind is knocked out of my lungs as my head hits the ground, causing my ears to ring. Jackson yells something to me that I can't hear. My eyes attempt to focus on him as my lungs begin to burn. He sprints over to Carson, pulling a gas mask over his small face. Jackson ensures there is a good seal as he yells at Brian. Brian smacks his back as Jackson runs over to me, pulling my respirator from my belt. He picks up my head, sliding it on over my mouth and flicking on the switch. He slides a pair of goggles over my eyes and pulls me to my feet.

"Fucking run!" he roars, pushing me away as he pulls his M40 gas mask over his face. He grabs a gun from around his ankle, his focus in front of us. I look to see a group of white men, of course, with red bands around their arms running towards us. People scream as gunshots ring out. "Jet! Go!" Jackson screams at me, motioning with his hand.

Everything suddenly becomes crystal clear, the ringing in my ears subsiding as the total chaos ensues. Adrenaline and cortisol fill my blood stream as my heart races. My breathing hitches in my chest as I watch bodies fall, gunshot wounds leaking blood that stains their clothes. People cough and gag, falling to the ground while gripping at their chests. A pungent garlic smell fills my respirator.

Carson's scream catches my ear. I snap my head in the direction it's coming from. Susie grabs him, throwing him over her shoulder as Brian screams at them to run. She takes off sprinting, away from the madness. Brian pulls a pistol from his ankle as well and tosses his medic bag that he pulls off of his back to me. I catch in my hands, my brain not processing what to do. Connor pulls a gas mask on as he tells Caroline to run. Her wild eyes land on mine, thinking exactly what I am.

What the fuck?!

Never mind that, fucking move, Jet! Move, damn it!

My feet take off before my brain can catch up to them. I reach the first body I can that has collapsed. It's Braxton. Their eyes are wide with fear as they grip the gunshot wound in their abdomen that spews blood. I can hear their lungs struggling to breathe before I reach their body.
"J-jet!" they cry.
"You're okay, you're okay," I tell them, opening Brian's medic kit. I pull on gloves quickly and grab a package of gauze, applying pressure to their wound. "You're okay. You're okay. You're okay," I repeat, just as much for myself as for them.

Their blood continues to gush out of the wound and I know it's a lost cause, but no one should die alone. "You're okay, Braxton. You're okay. I'm right here. Just breathe, you're okay." They nod slowly at me as the color drains from their face. Their breaths go agonal, grunting for air. One last smile twitches at the side of their mouth as their skin turns grey and their eyes lose focus. The blood stops gushing. I release the pressure I was holding and sit back on my heels. I close their eyes, pulling a black triage tag from the medic bag and placing it around their wrist.

"Jet! I need some fucking help!" Caroline yells.

I rise to my feet quickly, taking off towards her. I look around for Jackson, panicking when I can't immediately find him. Sirens have started singing their piercing song, their sound coming closer with every passing second. I watch as one of the assholes falls to the ground, revealing Jackson with his knife in his hand.

Well damn... I stand corrected about the knife.

He puts zip tie cuffs on the guy, shoving his face into the street. His eyes flick up to mine briefly and it feels like time pauses. My fear subsides for just a second as he nods at me, saying everything he needs to without speaking a word.

Someone hits the play button and time begins to move again. Someone grabs Jackson, attempting to tackle him. Jackson breaks his gaze from me, picking up his attacker and throwing him to the ground.