STRANGE LOVE | RAFE CAMERON |

CHAPTER 25: | SHE DOESN'T WANT TO SEE YOU |

"Where the hell is the ambulance?" Kelce muttered under his breath, his fists clenched in helpless frustration. He had never felt so powerless, watching someone slipping away in front of him.

Brandon, still on the phone with the emergency dispatcher, tried to keep his voice steady as he relayed their location. "Yes, we're at the bonfire party by the dunes. Please, she's not breathing right. You have to hurry!"

The minutes felt like hours, stretching on in unbearable silence, punctuated only by Jessica's whispered pleas for Allison to stay with her. The bright flames of the bonfire cast eerie shadows across Allison's face, making her appear even more fragile like she could dissolve into the night at any moment.

Finally, in the distance, the wail of sirens cut through the night air, bringing with it a sliver of hope. Jessica's grip on Allison tightened as if the sound alone could pull her back from the brink. "They're coming, Allison," she whispered, her voice trembling with both relief and fear. "Just hold on a little longer."

The crowd at the party began to stir as the sirens grew louder, people parting like the sea as the ambulance and police cars screeched to a halt nearby. Paramedics rushed out, their faces set with determined focus as they grabbed their equipment and raced toward the group.

"Over here!" Kelce shouted, waving them over. "She's over here!"

The paramedics quickly descended on Allison, their movements efficient and practiced. They eased Jessica aside, gently but firmly, as they began their work. Jessica stumbled back, her body shaking with adrenaline and fear, as she watched them assess Allison's condition with grim expressions.

"She's not responsive," one of the paramedics muttered to his colleague, his voice clipped with urgency. "We need to administer Narcan."

Jessica felt like she was watching the scene from outside her own body, everything moving in slow motion as the paramedic prepared the injection. She didn't know what Narcan was or if it would even help, but she clung to the hope that it could somehow reverse the damage that had been done.

With practiced ease, the paramedic administered the Narcan, injecting it into Allison's arm. The seconds ticked by in agonizing silence as they waited for a reaction, any sign that Allison was fighting her way back.

"Come on, come on," Jessica whispered, her hands clasped together as if in prayer.

Suddenly, Allison's body jerked, a sharp gasp escaping her lips as the drug took effect. Her eyes fluttered open, unfocused and glassy, but she was breathing—shallow, ragged breaths, but breathing.

"Allison!" Jessica cried out, rushing forward. But a paramedic held her back, gently shaking his head.

"Give her space," he said calmly, though there was a note of relief in his voice. "She's coming around, but we need to get her to the hospital. It's not over yet."

The paramedics worked quickly, loading Allison onto a stretcher with practiced efficiency. Jessica, Brandon, and Kelce hovered nearby, their eyes wide with worry and helplessness. As the stretcher was lifted into the ambulance, Jessica felt a surge of panic. She couldn't let Allison go through this alone.

"I'm going with her," Jessica insisted, her voice shaking but resolute.

"Only one of you can ride with us," one of the paramedics said, his tone firm but not unkind.

"Then I'm coming," Jessica said immediately, looking to Brandon and Kelce for understanding. "You guys follow behind, okay?"

"Go," Brandon said, nodding quickly. "We'll be right behind you."