Save The Girl

Muddy Waters

~ Selena ~

     My hand wouldn't stop shaking as Demi ran over to me. I've seen her react a hundred different ways to the sight of blood and other trauma. But the moment she laid eyes on me in that shipping container it seemed as if panic set in. My ears were ringing as Joe rushed in and yelled something at the guy who placed us inside. My fingers had been covered in red, my skin crawling from the uncertainty that filled me. Demi held my face in her hands, speaking to me as I studied Nick. His brother quickly pulled him up and began carrying him someplace, but Demi wouldn't leave my side. She was worried, but I couldn't tell for which one of us.

     "Selena." She called my name. "Selena." She tried to catch my attention. I felt liquid pressing against my cheeks, noticing my own tears dripping onto my clothes. Demi still held me between her fingers, her words repeating themselves over and over again. The sky seemed to have faded into a dark hue as everyone disappeared. I placed my trembling hands against Demi's arms, forcing her to release me as I caught her eyes. Her breathing was heavy, her features full of worry.

     "Nick. I...I couldn't stop the bleeding. He was hemorrhaging and I couldn't stop it." My body began to give way to the exhaustion I felt.

     "Listen to me." Demi's voice caught in her throat. "Nick will be fine. He'll be fine." She didn't know that. She was trying to make me feel better while obviously breaking down herself. She didn't know that his tough guy act was no match for the natural bodily functions that soon happened due to an injury. He couldn't speak, he wanted to but couldn't. I was sure his eyes had closed because his breathing slowed. I pressed my palms down against his wound and held them there until those doors opened. My arms now ached. Demi had slid one arm under my legs as I pushed her away. Her pained face was no match for her determination. She was getting me out of that blood filled container one way or another. She placed her arms under my legs again before wrapping her other one behind my back. I fought against it. My fingers hitting her arms as ringing entered my ears. It was my own screams that scared me most.

     "Follow me." The man from earlier had met Demi near the main doors of the ship. "It's not perfect but it'll work." He tried to keep her together. "I've never seen you cry before." The man scratched the back of his neck before we took a few steps. I stopped hitting and clawing at Demi, laying my head against her shoulder to block out the fear which consumed me. Nick hadn't moved for over an hour. His body was getting cold under my fingers. Demi thanked the man before the sound of engines ceased. I peered away from her, finding a neatly polished room before us.

     "We should get you cleaned up." She was still fighting her own tears, constantly narrating what she was doing in order not to think. I didn't protest when she carried me into the bathroom off to the right. "You have to stand." I allowed her to lower me onto the floor, my appearance becoming clear in the mirror. Demi rushed over to run some water as I noticed my skin. I was covered in Nick's blood up to my elbows. My dress was soaked. I didn't want to look away, but it pained my chest to see such a sight. My chin was still aching, the wound closing on its own from the caked up liquid.

     "I tried." My voice strained as the bath water was heard.

     "Selena, don't talk." Demi choked on her words before looking away. I stepped up to the mirror, running my now dried up hands against the glass. I couldn't recognize myself through its reflection as Demi made it back over to me. "Don't look into that." She placed her hand under my chin as I flinched. My skin still stung as I faced her. "What happened?"

     "I fell." I glanced over at the rushing water, its clear and soothing sound lulling me.

     "Let's clean you up." She struggled to calm herself, but did so for me. I could tell by the way she couldn't focus on one thing at a time. She would glance at me before looking away. Her hands constantly moved.