Sealed and Silenced (Watty Awards 2012)

Sealed and Silenced: Chapter 5

A tear slid down my face. He didn’t hear me. I didn’t know what had taken the courage to finally speak after all these years, but I did it in a moment of lost thought. Now it seemed hopeless, a huge let down, just another reason not to speak. Nobody cared.

As soon as Carter got up to leave, I felt my one light in this world was leaving, my protector was leaving me, and I was going to be alone again. I didn’t want that to happen. I wanted him to know I cared.

Slowly, I got up off the dirt floor ignoring the pain. I felt empty now, empty and stupid for saying anything.

At least you could say something.

 SHUT UP CONSCIENCE!

I walked towards where most of the basement was now crowded. Carter was kneeling beside a girl with dirty blonde, wavy hair and crystal blue eyes that stared blankly at the ceiling above.

“Carter? What’s wrong with her? What’s wrong with my sister?” Piggy tales shook Carter’s arm with worry, her own hands quivering.

“She’s in shock,” he said, shaking her pulse and pupils.  “I’m not sure what happened to her, but she needs help.” The crowd backed up as Carter took the limp girl in his arms. She looked no older than sixteen.

I touched Carters arm. I didn’t know why I did it. It was just impulse. What was wrong with me? Carter stared at me, his eyes full of concern for the limp girl he held in his arms. He nodded. Why did he nod?

Because he heard you!

SHUT UP CONSCIENCE!

Carter turned away from me and the gathering crowd and headed for the stairs and climbing up them. I could easily hear his footsteps on the wooden steps.

 “Help!” He called, his voice made my heart ache.

I myself rushed to the door, trying to hear what was going on. People followed. The sudden panic that had spread throughout the room was evident.  I wondered if this happened all the time.

“Help!” Another call, this time I could hear the door squeak open.

“What’da want?” A gruff voice called clearly drunk.

“This girl has gone into shock she needs help, immediately.” Carter’s voice was strong despite his worry.

“Boss!” I could easily hear Billy’s footsteps upstairs and they frightened me. Premonition of what the future held weighed my thoughts.

“What?” His Scottish accent ran down the stairs and landed like a rock in my stomach. Just his voice made my body hurt.

“A girl passed out, according to this nut sack, she needs help.”

“What happened to her, boy?”

“I’m not sure, she just went into shock.”

“She ain’t dying then?”

“I don’t think so, but she needs medical ai-”

“If she ain’t dying, she can stay down there with you.” The door banged shut on queue. Carter didn’t come down for a few minutes. Probably in disbelieve or shock.

Thump, a heavy footstep echoed down the stairs. It sounded like defeat. Then another step and another. Soon Carter emerged with the still limp blonde girl in his arms.

“My sister, my Sammy.” Piggy tales was crying. Natalie had her arm around her. She looked like she would have played basketball if she hadn’t been stuck here.

“She will be alright, Lexie. Penny, Marie, find me a bowl of water and a cloth.” A perky looking brunette and a black haired beauty nodded at Carter and went off to find what he asked for.

 Carter was now moving to the corner of the basement he usually occupied.

“Carter, will she be alright?” Started to ring throughout the room as he walked, but he gave no reply.

I followed Carter, silently. He laid the girl on the ground, taking off his already ripped shirt for a pillow. He was muscular. Everything you expect a beach boy to be. Abs like rock and much toned arms. He started to perform doctor things like check for a heartbeat, dilated pupils, and her breathing rate.

The girls named Penny and Marie barged through the crowd and handed Carter what he had asked for. A mumbled thanks was given as he dipped the cloth in the water and laid it on the girls forehead. Carter slowly raised his eyes from the feeble body of a sixteen year old girl.

“Lexie?” Carter broke the silence.

“Yes?”

“Has Sam experienced anything traumatic today?”

“N-no.” The little girl’s voice trembled. “Wait, yes, I think. They called her upstairs while you were tending to the silent girl.” The silent girl. Me. “I don’t know what happened, she wouldn’t tell me. Then she just fell down and wouldn’t wake back up.” The girl started to cry and I felt sorry for her. Lexie didn’t look much older than twelve.

“Thanks Lex. Natalie, take her over to your spot, she shouldn’t see her sister like this.”

“But I want to see my sister!” Lexie protested.

“Go,” Carter whispered. He sounded so caring.

 Natalie guided a numb looking Lexie away from her glazed relative. She looked so frail and young, yet someone who had experienced much pain. I felt sorry for these sisters; they have been through something I couldn’t image. Then again, maybe I could.