Freedom

The Fast and the Delirious

{Chapter 11}

I held eye contact with Redd. His eyes were filled with worry. He stretched his arm around me to protect me from the on coming car.

***

I was sitting in the car the next time I opened my eyes. I tried to move, but was stuck. My door was caved into where I was sitting and was jabbing at my now bloody side. I looked into the backseat to see if my brother was alright. He wasn't even in the vehicle. In fact, I was the only one left. Then I started to have a panic attack.

My breathing became quick and heavy. I began moving and trying in every way that I could to get out and find my friends. I must have been taking a toll on my body because soon blood started trickling from my head and down into my eye. I tried my best to wipe it away and keep myself calm.

"Persephone." Even though he was right next to me, his voice sounded a mile away. My vision was extremely blurry, but I could make out who it was through the blood.

"Rayle." It had to be a dream I was in, because I would never be in a car accident. If my side was bleeding this much, I would feel it. This had to be a dream, because, well, it felt like it.

"No, it's Redd, sweetheart." He said this gently which got me very emotional. I got so upset either because, A) it was no dream, B) I was bleeding out, or C) I was so stinking happy to see Redd. He was leaned over his, or what used to be his, chair and unbuckled me.

"You... Can't. You can't move.... Me. Ambulance." I could barely push the words out of my throat. He slid his arms under me and pulled me out of my now torn apart car. I was being carried bride style over towards my brother and Parker who were guarding our shopping bags by the curb. My brother looked really beat up with a trickle of blood coming from his brow. I looked back and saw the trunk popped open. They must have grabbed our stuff and ran.

That's when I heard the loud bang or pop and my car burst into flames. All that work this summer was now gone. I'd given up my whole summer for it. I grabbed Redd's arms and buried my face into his chest to sob.

"We were going to wait for the ambulance, but we were afraid that might happen." Redd whispered into my ear. "I have to lay you down, though, in case your neck is hurt, okay?" I looked up at him with allowing eyes and he set me down in the grass. He held my neck while we were waiting for the ambulance, but the ambulance didn't arrive before my eyes had closed shut.

*****************

(Redd's POV)

I watched as Persephone's car burned before our eyes. I had seen the longing look in her eyes before the car had collided with us. My arm was now numb from throwing it in front of her stomach. I had to pull out the glass that would have dug itself into her abdomen from my arm. The bleeding had luckily slowed.

My door and the back passengers had been forced open due to the collision. Jake was the most hurt, second to Persephone of course. After we'd all climbed out the boys grabbed the bags from the mall earlier. We sat on the curb and waited for an ambulance, but heard an off sound coming from the vehicles.

I ran the short distance to the vehicle and found an unconscious Persephone in the drivers seat. Finally she stirred while I was playing with her seat belt in an attempt to get it off.

"Rayle." She said this while looking in my direction. She had blood all over her, but some was in her eye.

"No, it's Redd sweetheart." This seemed to make her upset, but it didn't matter because I had to get her out. The car was getting louder as well. I finally got her unbuckled. I started to slide my hands under her even though she protested. I needed to get her out whether she thought so or not.

I walked her over to curb where our brothers were sitting down. I sat next to them with her when her car made a loud bang and burst into flames. Thank God we listened to our gut and got her out. She sobbed against my chest and I held her close. I was equally as shaken up.

"We were going to wait for the ambulance, but we were afraid that might happen." I whispered this honestly. I added, "I have to lay you down, though, in case your neck is hurt, okay?" I didn't care what she would say, I had to set her down to help her and the paramedics.

I set her down in the grass and she stretched herself out. I held her neck like I'd seen done to a person on the street in my old town before. I was begging in my head for the ambulance to get here quick because she really needed it, but I didn't let the worry process on my face. It didn't matter if it did, because her eyes were now shut.