Grace's cries and a hissing sound, a strange clicking.
The noises surrounded Connie, all chilling sounds to her ear. The smell of petrol was creeping into her nose.
"Connie"
She heard Jacob's concerned voice, followed by the touch of his hand on her arm, then his gentle shaking in attempt to awaken her.
"Connie" he repeated, his voice now desperate, panicked.
Connie let her eyelids open and the world began to appear at an angle, she wasn't in her seated upright position anymore, the car was tipped on its side.
"Connie...are you...alright?" Jacob asked slowly, in between his gasps of pain.
Connie gave a small nod as she put a hand to her throbbing head.
Pain consumed her whole body, particularly a sharp pain in her right foot, which was pushed against the peddles, but didn't appear to have my serious damage to it.
"I can't... I can't move Connie." Jacob said quietly, the panic clearly evident in his voice.
Connie slowly turned her head to the side, to see that part of the metal frame of the vehicle was now pressed against Jacob's body, trapping him against his seat.
Jacob closed his eyes, wincing as a wave of pain rippled through his body, radiating out from the area on his his upper abdomen where part of the metal had pierced his skin, allowing blood to seep from his body.
Connie's eyes were drawn to the worrying amount of blood that was already covering him and the slow deterioration in his alertness that was beginning to appear.
Jacob shifted in his seat in attempt to move from beneath the metal and Connie shook her head. "No Jacob. Don't try to move." She pleaded.
Jacob looked at her. His eyes were full of fear, he looked so vulnerable, he looked defeated.
His eyes began to drift shut.
"Stay with me Jacob." Connie shouted as she tried to reach for him his arm.
Jacob opened his eyes and gave a slight nod.
"That's it." Connie smiled, keeping her eyes fixed on his. "that's it, just look at me. You're going to be fine."
Connie fumbled beside her for the seatbelt buckle and clicked to release it.
"Can you get out of the car Grace?" Connie called.
"No I'm stuck mum." Grace whimper came in reply.
Connie turned around to find Grace's legs trapped between her seat and Connie's seat in front. Connie sighed a breath of relief as she noted there didn't seem to be any serious injury there, no blood in the area around Grace's legs.
"It's alright sweetheart. You're going to be fine." Connie forced a smile and tried to keep her voice calm.
She turned her attention to her own trapped foot, closing her eyes and quickly pulling it free.
Jacob gave a small smile. "It doesn't look good for me, does it boss?"
Connie watched Jacob's eyelids flutter and leant over so she could place her hand against his cheek. "Jacob, you are going to be fine, I promise." Connie smiled.
Connie was be becoming increasingly aware of the smell of petrol surrounding them and bit her lip as she looked towards the scene outside of the car, were people were watching from the roadside, but still no sign of the emergency services.
She looked back at Jacob whose eyes had once again shut and she edged closer to him.
"Jacob" she shouted to awaken him, as she took a closer look at his wound.
"Mum what's that smell?" Grace asked worriedly from the back.
"Nothing sweetie." Connie gave her a quick smile.
"It's petrol" Jacob whispered.
Connie removed her jacket and pressed it against his wound in attempt to stem the blood flow, she had to do something.
"You need to get out of the car." Jacob said quietly.
"I'm not getting out of this car until I know that you're ok." Connie replied sternly as she looked back to check on Grace, who was still alert and relatively unharmed.
"Connie...the petrol...it's not safe." Jacob pleaded. "You need to get out...you and Grace."
Jacob was right, the smell was overwhelming, the vehicle wasn't safe. But Jacob and Grace were both trapped, needing to be freed.
"Get Grace out." Jacob muttered as his eyes began to close again.
"Jacob, I can't lose you." Connie whispered as she brushed her thumb across his cheek.
Jacob shook his head. "Connie. Go and save your daughter, before it's too late."
Connie closed her eyes, she was torn.
She had to get out of this car.
She wanted to get all three of them out of this car.
Jacob needed attention most, he was the one most at risk. Grace wasn't in a life threatening position at the moment, she didn't need her medical attention right now.
But the risk of fire was great right now, she couldn't risk any of them being in the car for much longer.
She knew she should get Grace out now, she could always come back to treat Jacob once she knew her daughter was safe.
But what if by that time, it would be too late for Jacob? What if, the only way to save Jacob, was to treat him now? The car setting on fire wasn't a definite - she may be able to save Jacob, then get Grace, without any problems.
But that was a risk she would have to take.
She had to choose, to save Jacob, or Grace.
Connie cupped Jacob's face in her hands and gave him a small smile. "I love you." She whispered, blinking away the tears. "I'm coming right back for you. You have to hold on for me ok?"
Jacob nodded and placed his free hand on top of Connie's. "Go." He managed to whisper.
Connie let her eyes linger on his before taking a deep breath and climbing into the back of the car towards Grace.
"Jacob. Are you still with me?" Connie called as she pushed at the seat in attempt to move it forward, to allow Grace's legs to be free.
"Mm." Jacob's weak voice sounded from the front.
"Stay with me." Connie told him as she pulled Grace's legs free and helped her towards the door.
"I love you sweetcheeks." He managed.
Connie forced open the car door and helped Grace climb out of the car with her, before giving Jacob one last look.
The emergency services were just beginning to arrive, cordoning off the area and preparing to make their way to the car.
"Stay here Grace." Connie told her daughter once ensuring she was a safe distance from the car, before making her way back for Jacob.
"You shouldn't be going back in there." An officer called. But Connie ignored them. She needed to go back for Jacob.
"Jacob" Connie shouted when she reached him.
"Jacob" she tried again, when his closed eyes didn't open.
Connie placed interlocked one of her hands in his and placed the other on the side of his face.
"Jacob" she whispered. "Jacob I'm back. Wake up."
Connie moved her hand from his face to his neck and pressed two fingers in search of a pulse, closing her eyes, praying to find the beat of his heart.
Connie dropped her head.
There was nothing there.
She was too late.
Connie stood behind Grace as they both watched Jacob's body being wheeled towards the ambulance, having finally been cut free from the car.
Connie wiped the tears from beneath her eyes and pulled Grace in towards her, kissing the top of her head.
She had been forced to make a decision earlier. Maybe it had been the wrong decision.
She would have had time to save Jacob and Grace, the risk of fire wasn't there in the end.
But it was too late.
