Dolly (Part three-Max Mitchell series)

ONE

My blurred surroundings swirled around in front of me, making it impossible to see properly. What happened? I tried to sit up and it felt like something had ripped my body in half. Like a strobe had flashed in front of my face, little spots of light exploded in my field of vision. I screamed out in pain, and fell back down to the floor. After the pain, the next thing to register was the blood. There was bright red blood everywhere. I was laying in a pool of it on the floor. I touched my stomach, and it was sticky with blood, everything was.

Oh my god.

Paul. Where was he? He had pointed a gun right at me and pulled the trigger. My eyes focused for a second and all I could see of him were the soles of his shoes. He was lying on the floor too.

Even though I was almost certain nobody would hear me, I screamed anyway. "HELP ME!!" Tears started pouring from my eyes.

The room is getting darker.

I needed to get to a phone, or I would die. Standing up and walking wasn't even remotely possible. The only way I'd be able to move was to drag myself across the floor. My bed. I had a phone next to my bed.

Max, get to the phone or you will not make it out alive.

The white hot pain continually radiated from somewhere in my belly, as I willed my arms to pull me, inch by excruciating inch, to the bed.

Where is the bed? The floating spots and darkness came back, only worse.

I needed to try and get some traction on the rug. Just a few more feet and I'd be able to reach the phone. I clawed at the bedskirt and pulled myself halfway up the side of the bed to my literal lifeline. Wrapping the telephone cord around my fingers, I dragged the phone down to the floor and dialed 911.

"911, what is your emergency?"

"I-" oh my god, I felt like I couldn't breathe, let alone get any words out.

"Hello? Ma'am?"

"Bleeding...shot me...can't...see..."

Too many spots, it was getting so dark.

"Ma'am I'm sending police and an ambulance now."

"Dead...he's dead."

"Stay on the line ma'am. Someone is on the way."

"There's so much blood...can't...breathe..."

The blackness dragged me down again.

***

"Up here! She's alive. Gunshot wound to the abdomen."

"Miss? Miss, can you hear me?"

She had passed out.

"I need some oxygen, and a stretcher, on the double! Get her to Sinai ASAP!"

"Sir, I've got a purse down here with an ID and what looks like her belongings, cell phone too."

"Put it in the ambulance. Let the ER know to get ready for a transfusion. She's lost a lot of blood."

"I need a bag and a stretcher here, this guy's gone."

***

Fuzzied vision returned. Sirens. Moving.

"Tom?" I tried to sit up. Couldn't.

I was strapped down.

"Ma'am, you need to be still. We're on our way to the hospital. You've been shot." A non-descript face hovered over mine.