Into Ruin

Chapter 8 Unacceptable Risk

The next afternoon, Cynthia stood in the kitchen with a clean strip of fabric she placed on one of the staff's arms. She got the others to watch as she did her best to secure it without any tape since they'd likely not have it on hand. Pins and clips if they were lucky, but improvised tools were sufficient too.

"Then place anything cool or cold you can find on top. It's not as easy as it used to be, but even a bottle with some cold water in it from the well can help bring down the temperature of that burn. If it's really serious, you need to find me and we'll work with it the best we can," Cynthia instructed.

Blond hair flew in all directions as someone charged toward them, and it was too well kept to be Peyton's. "Cynthia, quick. We need your help."

Cynthia left her volunteer patient and pulled the girl off to the side. "Vita, what's wrong? Aren't you supposed to be out scavenging?"

Her clothes were covered in dust and her fingertips were red. "A building collapsed."

Cynthia's eyes widened. This was why Marcel needed to stop sending those teams out there. "How many people were hurt?"

"Just one, but it's Mischa, and her leg got hurt pretty badly. Mr. M wants you out there with your kit. It's only ten minutes away."

Vita followed as Cynthia went running off to her office area. Cynthia grabbed all the clean ripped fabric bandages that she could carry. "How hurt is she? Is it a bleed, break or both?"

Vita was about to pack the fabric into her bag when Cynthia handed her a large plastic one. There was no telling how filthy those bags could get and the last thing they needed was an infection. "A beam knocked her down and crushed her calf. It's bleeding and she can't stand."

"Okay, we'll need a splint. Can you get two sturdy pieces of wood about the length from her knee to ankle? Grab a knife in case we need to adjust the size."

Vita smiled and held out her little black pouch. "Already have one. A girl's best friend."

Cynthia didn't get a chance to form a rebuttal before she was off. God, did she miss the days when weapons weren't an extension of one's self. She double-checked the kit to see what was left. Not enough, but she'd make due. She grabbed a water bottle and a bar of soap on the way out to meet Vita for good measure.

The two women went out the back entrance and hurried to the site. Cynthia's excursions with Winston and Marcel had given her a little more confidence around the area. Vita was no doubt in her skin as she jumped obstacles and weaved through debris without a second glance. If there was a sudden noise her hand would go straight to her knife as she urged Cynthia to duck beside her. It was only the wind moving around burlap sacks or dirtied plastic items.

They rounded the next corner to find crumbled beige bricks and a second-story teetering on two cement beams. They'd at least had the good sense to move her from the site of impact so there wasn't any secondary damage. Mischa was biting down on her lip as she watched the two women arrive. She forced an unconvincing smile on her lips.

"How are you doing?" Cynthia asked.

"Been better," Mischa replied.

"Don't worry, we'll have you all patched up real soon then you can rest."

Up closer, the impact had ruptured the skin but as far as Cynthia could tell it wasn't the bone that had done so. Thank God. She washed up her hands.

"This might sting a bit, but we need to clean the wound up well." She used more water to rinse the dust and debris out of the injury. Mischa winced but was pretty cooperative. She still had circulation to her toes when Cynthia checked which was a good sign.