Unspoken

Chapter 23

Even though my eyes are open, I can't see.

Though my ears ring, I can't hear anything at all.

Though I can smell smoke, for a moment I'm in complete, unfazed peace.

Then comes the pain.

I feel it in my head, almost in the same spot Brody had smashed into the floor. It throbs with each pulse of my heart. I can smell blood and smoke, smoke and dust.

I can taste blood and smoke, smoke and dust.

My vision begins to return. Large, black dots flash with every blink and shrink until they're almost invisible. I try to sit up but hit my head on metal--a desk. The desk isn't in one piece, though. One half has collapsed. I carefully duck out from under it. My eyes are immediately met with the disarray of Jeremii's lab.

Two of the four walls are blown out, revealing a mess of debris as far as my eyes can see. Metal is littered everywhere in large and small pieces; parts of the ceiling, parts of furniture, parts of walls. No other part of Jeremii's lab is identifiable. A small fire burns a few yards away. Every wall is charred.

Screaming.

When my ears begin to work again, all I can hear are screams.

Screams sound from down the hall. They echo from each direction, each charred room.

Screams sound from near me as well.

Realization courses through my distorted mind. Jeremii.

I scurry forward but can't see him. Where his chair had rested, rubble is piled on top of rubble. It can't be possible for him to be under it. Sure enough, screams call out to me from it. My name is sharp on his tongue.

He wants me to save him.

The metal is heavy, but my pumping adrenaline makes it easy to push each piece off the pile. After minutes of working the rubble off him, I can make out his face. Relief floods over his features. "Taeo--my legs. I can't feel them," he growls in pain and cringes. I look where his legs should be and find that one of the steel beams from the ceiling is laying across his waist, while smaller pieces cover his lower half.

Grounding my feet, I work at the large piece. I can barely get it to budge. Jeremii cries out. Tears stream from his eyes. He begs for me to help. I can't make out the words, but I know he's pleading from the distress in his voice.

Tears start in my eyes as well. I beat at the beam in frustration. No matter how hard I try I can't move it. My vision starts to spot again from all my effort. Blood runs down my arm as it drips from the side of my head.

Jeremii screams as the pain becomes unbearable.

I start to sway where I stand. There's no strength in my pushes. I start to fall over, but someone catches me.

Shocked, I look back to find Christopher climbing the rubble to the other side of the beam. "We 'ave ta together. Just push one good."

I nod weakly and put my hands on the beam again. As Christopher pushes, I do as well. The first time, the beam barely moves.

On the second, though, we free Jeremii's legs.

He cries out thankfully. Christopher helps him up as other Free Speaks hurry into the room to aid in any distress. I fall to the ground in a disoriented state.

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A/N:

Christopher to the rescue! I just love him so much! For the remainder of the bombing affects, stay tuned for Friday! You won't want to miss it! 

As always, I would love for you to vote or comment.

See you all Friday!

Alisha :)