Save The Girl

Precious Cargo

~ Demi ~

     Selena's eyes bore into mine as I pushed her onto the public bus. I could see her wanting to complain and argue but neither one of us had time to do so. A van stopped off in the distance before another joined it. Nick and Joe would be heading towards the Ship Yard and I had to buy them some time unless we were all going to be caught. It was an unspoken rule that whoever took care of the injured would be exempt from taking on this duty. The sound of heavy boots pounding against the cement became one with the quiet Island air. I tuned on my heels to run, my feet carrying me as fast as they could.

     I could hear shouts being tossed at me, word after word trying to pierce into my core. But I no longer went by 727, so I let them cry out. I felt a bit taken back by Selena's reaction moments ago in the car. But I guess she couldn't understand the importance of insurance. I had to insure that we had money. I had to insure we had protection. I had to insure that she was safe, even if that wasn't with me. The contents of my black duffle bag caused an eruption in the car earlier.

     "What's that?" Selena leaned into her seat, turning to face Joe as he pulled it from its position in the trunk. I was too busy to look back. I was tying to keep the car steady as I sped down the road. But through the rearview mirror I spotted Joe pulling one thing after the other out of the black bag. Selena's eyes shifted as a few bills went into the air.

     "Bandages." Joe smiled at the roll of gauze in his hand. Selena glanced over at me. I was pretending that I didn't notice her gaze. "Look at that." Joe's eyes met mine through the mirror. He didn't speak on what he found, but instead tended to his brother. Nick was leaning over on his side, slowly taking in deep breaths before breathing normally. The blood dripping from him must have been flowing unevenly as Selena finally instructed Joe on what to do.

     "How are you holding up?" I question my pained friend.

     "I'm falling apart, that's how I'm doing." Nick hissed as his brother tried shushing him. "Dude, just hurry up."

     "The bullet must be deep." Selena faced the front, her mind must have been racing. I didn't know what to say to her. I swerved the car slightly before Joe rose something else out of the duffle bag.

     "An unmarked flight ticket. Where are you going?" He asked blankly as Selena snatched the paper from him to study it.

     "It's nothing." I reached over to grab it before she flicked it back at the man sitting in the rear. One moment she was calm and the next she crossed her arms in anger. I didn't speak on the money or ticket, but informed the group that the bandages and other supplies were for emergency use only.

     All of that was before I was running down the street trying to find a public vehicle to catch. My chest burned as I slowed down, studying the scenery as best as I could. Although more houses came into view, I couldn't point out a bus stop, taxi, anything. I wasn't use to this part of town, and soon heard a vehicle screech to a stop behind me. I hardly had time to turn around before the clicking of car doors were heard. With the energy I had left, I made it across the street with three people right behind. That moment when you feel your skin burn and your lungs tighten, was the moment I felt I was going to pass out. I had ran a good few blocks before I crouched down in an alley. I was sure I wouldn't be caught or seen as silence engulfed me.

     Sweat covered my skin as I closed my eyes, trying to catch a second wind in order to run in the direction of any civilians. But something familiar hissed before coming to a halt. I pushed myself up, noticing the clatter of a bus's engine before it was off once again. I rounded the corner only to be met with an outstretched arm coming at my throat. One minute I was standing and the next I was laying flat on my back, gasping for air.