Axel

58

I S A B E L L A

There is a long chain of chaos, noises that somehow seem to blend into layers of nothing; the background sound of a young woman describing the weather on the radio, the sound of the car engine and Lucy's sobs.

I'm lodged in the middle seat, two strong thighs pushing against me - each side muttering words of reassurance.

Yet the sound of my own breath - short and rigid - keep me captivated. In front of me; a never ending road where the grass dances with the breeze and the birds glide beneath the sun.

It's spring.

You're like spring to me, Bella.

A warm thick tear rolls down my cheek and a pair of lips are quick to kiss it away.

I blink, and for the first time since being dragged into the vehicle take notice of my surroundings.

Ronan is on my left, and when i look at him the usual light behind his eyes have lost their spark. His hands hang between his legs in defeat. The expression on his face seems like he's fighting an internal battle.

"He's fine." His words leave him in a robotic response, and i shut my eyes to sigh. He merely pecks my eyelid.

I waited for his words to reassure me but the longer i waited, the more they lost their value.

"I want to talk to Noah." Those words are losing their value too, because nobody responds to my demand.

They just sit there, defeated.

A long moment passes before i open my eyes, this time we're driving between buildings and emerging into traffic.

In the passenger seat, Lucy wipes her tears and turns to me. Her cold hands cup mine, and a lonely thumb caresses my skin.

"Whatever happens in there. No matter the conditions he's in, promise me you'll be okay."

The look on her face seems desperate, and i almost give her what she wants.

I don't reply, because over her shoulder in the distance is Noah. He's sitting on the edge of the pavement, his long arms are stretched and lazily hang over his knees.  He doesn't make a move to get up when he notices the car stop by his feet.

Ronan is first out the car, dashing past Noah and into the entrance of the building. At the sight of me, Noah stands yet doesnt take a single step.

He speaks first, and his words are sour to hear.

"When he didn't show up in the visiting room, i found it strange. So i waltzed through that place, and the only reason i hadn't gotten arrested for trespassing was because i found a body hanging in one of the rooms."

His voice trembles.

"I gave him CPR until i had no air left in my lungs and my arms felt like they were going to fall off."

My knees buckle, and i stumble to the side. I open my mouth to speak, to apologies, to beg - the only noise i'm able to produce is a croaky sigh.

"I called Ethan before the ambulance showed up."

I blinked up at him, attempting to read his expression through blurred vision.

"He's alive, and he's awake." Noah's voice cracks, yet remains strong. Somehow it's the most vulnerable i've heard him.

A sob wretches out of me, and behind me feet scramble before Lucy, Kai and Ethan are sprinting into the building.

I stumble over my feet, my legs shaking as i attempt to keep with the rest of them. Noah stops me before i can, his rough hand digging into my chest.