Lost Kids (a.i.)

thirty four

The yellow sun made my pounding heart slow and my breath came out in even rhythms again.
__________________
ASHTONS POV:

My fingers traced around the number that Wen had called from. The rain outside no longer patterned softly on the roof of the bus, it was pouring. The other boys were already asleep in their bunks, but I was dying to hear from Wen and there was always a chance she would call at night after a show.

I glanced out the window to the empty road, the sky was a navy blue with twinkling white lights strung up high.

"Can't sleep?" A little voice speaks up, it was Meri. She was the tour manager's assistant who was just hired a few weeks ago. Her fading blonde hair was cut to ears and swayed as she sat on the couch across from me.

"No, waiting on a call." I inform the girl, she was quiet. Mari only talked when it was apart of her job, so it was strange to have a casual conversation with her.

"Ah, mom or girlfriend?"

"Neither, just a friend." I chuckle, I ruffle my hair as my eyes became more heavy.

"We are going a bit fast, don't you think?" Mari comments, crossing her legs.

"Yeah, especially when it's raining this hard. We are probably running behind schedule." I nod in agreement. We fall silent, the blonde watches the rain fall as I stare at my phone.

I hear the breaks shriek, the wheels of the bus make friction against the black pavement. The bus comes to a halt and I let out a breath I was holding in.

I can feel the unsteadiness of the ground beneath my feet, the things that were layer out of the countertops began to slide and my balance began shifting to one side. I grab onto the table beside me, but the bus's shaky movements only build. The vehicle tips to its side, the shattering of glass rings through the air. I falls to my knees, hitting my head on the table I once gripped to. Mari falls my actions, but remains unconscious.

Once again I can feel the uneasy rumble of the bus's turn as it flips onto its top. The bus continues to roll, shaking up the contents inside. The small shards of glass that broke before, begin to cut into my skin, making small scars. I hear one final this and my eyes go black.

I awoke to the smell of burning, not like marshmallow fire burning, burning of metal and flesh. I touch the side of my head, where a head would has dampened my light hair. Next to my lies Mari, drops of the gooey red liquid pool around her face from her nose.

I mange to get up shakily. I turn to the back of the bus where a fire has ignited, eating everything in its way. Though fire was burning, I felt chill. A feverish wind had wrapped around my body and swallowed me whole.

Each step I take sends horrible shocks through my body. I move over the the boys, trying to wake them from their slumbers. I attempt yelling my throat only coughs out blood. Too wake them was no use, I grabbed them with all I had in my body, and one by one I dragged them out onto rocky ground outside. The farther away from the bus, the better.

As I entered one last time for Eddie, the driver, I catch a glimpse of my phone, which I gladly grab in hopes to get in contact with help. I try turning it on but the cracked screen only ripped my skin more.

I slowly drag the bodies of my friends and coworkers up to the road, just I time for sunrise. The yellow sun made my pounding heart slow and my breath came out in even rhythms again.

A cry changed my attention to Luke, his screams broke the silent air as he grasped his chest. "Help!" He shrieks with all the power in his body.

"I-" my attempt to talk only results in more coughing.

"Help me! Help me, Ash!" His screams only became more desperate as time passed. His knuckles were turning white from his grip on his chest. Moving his hands, I find nothing but small scraps. I shake my head, tears falling onto his chest as I listened to his pain.

Mari gasps out a breath, sitting up immediately. She analyzes her surrounds, her hand covering her nose as the drips continue.

"Call for help!" She cries out with Luke. Through my tears, I show her how my cries only make me worse. Her whimpers fall in line with Luke's.

My body felt colder as the hour went on. Chills climbed up my spine and my coughing became nonstop. Time was ticking and help was not coming.