Reprecussions

Chapter 16

I don't know if my eyes are open or not, all I can see is black. I can feel the pain spiderweb its' way through my chest. I can't bring myself to move, not even my fingers. My ears have the ringing of the gunshot and I wait, the only thoughts running through my head are of my brother. Why would he do this? What's the point of making a government over nothing?

I don't hear them approach but I feel the shaking of my good shoulder and the faint shout of my name. I make my eyes move and I see Ren faintly in my vision. I can see the panic in his eyes as he looks me over. I can start to feel his hands check parts of my body as the shock wears off, but the pain of the shot gets worse.

"Brexley, oh fuck," I feel him move my shirt collar a little to check the wound but I just watch him. "We gotta get you back," With that he slips his arms under me and lifts me up, I let out a strangled groan as the pain gets sharper with the movement.

"I know, I know, hold on." He reassures as he stands and starts fast walking so as to not jostle me as much. My head rests against his shoulder and I can see the blood soaking through my shirt, a lot.

We continue to make our way back to the Center without any issues. He sets me down next to the entrance and opens up the lid. I sit there and watch him lift the lid.

"I need you to help me ok?" Ren looks at me with pleading eyes. "I need you to try to help me get you down the ladder." I nod a little and try to scooch forward. He goes down the ladder a little bit and I make it to the edge. He helps guide my feet down the ladder and I hold onto him with my good arm. I grab the top of the hatch and quietly close and lock it as we slowly make our way down the ladder. When we make it down I'm out of breath.

"You need to let me walk, if the girls see that something is wrong, they're going to panic. Just let me catch my breath ok?" I whisper to Ren. I can tell he wants to protest but doesn't want to deal with there being a panic and not being able to control it. He nods and looks at my shoulder. I lean back against the ladder trying to catch my breath as he presses a hand against the wound to try to stop it from still bleeding.

After a couple of seconds, I nod and move off the ladder. "I'm gonna be right at your side ok? We're going to get you to the Medics and then I'll go find Lilac and Demetri." I nod at him and start to make my way to the Center. It's late so most of the younger kids have already gone to bed. The older ones and the Leaders tend to stay up a little longer.

We move quickly but not quickly enough to draw attention. I need a little assistance with the steps due to the lightheadedness that washes over me when I move. We make it there without anyone questioning us.

"Lay down," Ren orders as we get into the Medic area. I don't get to oppose much as he grabs my hips and lifts me onto a table.

"Ren, Brexley," Riley says as she and Jonathan turn from a table in the back. "What happened?" Riley turns serious as she looks at me.

"She got shot, she's lost so much blood," Ren says and I look around. The lightheadedness is getting worse, the pain is nothing but a dull ache now. Chills run up my spine and I can feel my arms raise with bumps. I squint my eyes as I see Riley shouting orders I think to Jonathan, but I can't hear her.

I look to my left where Ren is. "Ren," I think I say, as I hear the faint sound of my own voice. He snaps his head from Riley and Jonathan to me. I see him mouth something like a curse. He rushes over to me and grabs my shoulders and I lean back at an angle. I must've been falling.

I watch as his face twists with worry as he shouts at the leaders. He glances at me from time to time and just nods his head, saying things like 'It's ok' and 'You're ok' I think. I see black start to haze around my vision. I try to grab him but I can't seem to move any of my limbs. I stare at him as the darkness continues to swallow my vision. When he looks back at me next he can tell something is wrong, I can see it in his eyes and his shouts get more urgent. His worried face is the last thing I see before my vision goes out.