Mr. Lawson's Assistant

Chapter 7

Lifting my head to the chaos around me, I tried to call for help, but the bullets and screams from the crowd drowned out my cries.
Damon and Mr. Lawson were nowhere in sight, and the rest of the people were a blur of frantic clothes. Trying to calm my breathing, I fumbled for my phone, but when I searched my pocket, all I found was Damon's note. Grabbing the napkin, I huddled near Amy, sucking in air, as I tried to wipe some of the blood off of her neck. As I did, I saw that a piece of glass was protruding from the soft spot near where her neck and shoulder met.
With shaking hands, I grasped the glass, and carefully pulled it out of her skin, gaging at the rush of fresh blood that rolled down her chest. I choked on my tears, as I pressed the soaked napkin to her neck, screaming for anyone who might hear me.
I didn't know much about the human body- I'd practically slept through anatomy- but I knew that if Amy lost any more blood, things would start to go wrong, if they weren't already.
No one heard me, as the bullets continued to ping around the room, and people fought each other to get to the exits.
Pulling myself together, I inhaled, wiped off some of my tears and began to search the room for anything that might help stop the constant blood flow from Amy's neck. I immediately spotted another silk napkin a few feet away, and my heart slammed against my chest. I needed to get to it.
Taking a deep breath, I slowly began to crawl towards the napkin, yelping quietly every time a bullet struck the ground near me, and having to pause to regain composure. It took all that I had not to jump to my feet and follow everyone else out of the room screaming.
Yanking at my dress, when it caught between my knees, I reached out, and grabbed the napkin. Gripping the fabric tightly, and shaking off the glass, I turned back towards Amy. My mind didn't register what was happening, when I felt a sudden sting in my left shoulder, and my arm gave out. I crashed to the floor, a scream resonating from my mouth, as I reached towards the pain. When my fingers grazed my shoulder, I cried out and yanked them away, horrified when I saw the thick, red coating of blood on them.
I've been shot!!!!
I couldn't focus for a moment. I was panicking, as I tried to lift myself off the carpet with my good arm, blinking when my vision fuzzed. Looking up, I felt my body starting to shake with the effort of holding my body up, and my eyes landed on Amy. I could still hear the bullets whizzing into the room, silent but deadly, raining down on the floor and tables. I needed to get back to Amy. If I didnt stop her bleeding she could die!
Before or after you?!
My brain screamed, yelling at me to cover my own shoulder and get out of the danger zone, but I couldn't listen.
The pain in my shoulder, and Amy's bloody chest were the only two things clear in my mind as I began crawling towards the unconscious woman. Using my good arm to haul myself forward, I felt adrenaline surging through my veins as I moved.
My vision kept flooding with a blurry haze, but I only paused until it went away, before I continued moving.
Finally, I reached Amy's side, and I was barely strong enough to slap the napkin on her neck, before I collapsed off of my good arm and fell to the floor.
Gritting my teeth at the jolt of pain that shot through my shoulder, I let out one last cry for help, before I bit my teeth together trying to remain conscious. An image of David laying on a battle field somewhere in Iran with his other soldiers, dashed through my mind, and I felt a compelling urge to open my eyes.
I hadn't been aware that I closed them.
This thought made me jerk my eyes open again, and I threw my glance to Amy. The second napkin was starting to soak through, but not as fast as the first- from what I could tell. I kept having to blink off the dizziness that obstructed my vision.
I have to stay awake! If I close my eyes I won't be able to open them again.
This thought lit up my brain, and I whimpered at it. I could only imagine what would happen to David if I died.
You're not dying!
My brain screamed at me, but at the amount of pain I was going through, I half-wished I would.
Half...
My eyes grew heavier with each passing moment, but as they fluttered closed, I felt a hand on my neck, and someone started shaking me.
"Oana, wake up!" A vaguely familiar voice commanded, and I tried to pry my eyes open. Something was different, it was quiet.
The bullets!
My heart pounded in my chest, as I tried to open my eyes, and though everything was blurry, I could see a figure kneeling beside me in a black suit. Immediately, I felt a hand on my wrist, as I blinked for clarity. The person began slowly helping me into a sitting position, but their hand grazed the top of my left shoulder, and I cried out, jerking away from the pain. I writhed, as the pain was awakened and surged through me again, resonating from the bullet wound. The person beside me cursed himself, and pulled his hands away, trying to steady me. My eyes were open now, and tears streamed down my cheeks involuntarily.
"Amy-" I started, but the man cut me off.
"She's fine, an ambulance is here."
I was able to clear my tears enough to see Damon kneeling beside me, his suit coat strewn on the floor beside him now, and his white shirt bloody down the front.
"I-I need to-to c-call my brother." I choked, but Damon didn't answer. Instead he just yelled for a paramedic. "Please-" I begged, clearing my tears enough to look up at the younger Lawson's face.
"He's been notified of the accident-"
"Does he know I'm alright?" I cut
Damon off with wide eyes, and his green eyes burned into my face.
No answer.
"He's going to freak, you don't understand-" I started, frantically searching my surroundings for a phone, and sitting up fully.
"You need to calm down and sit still." Damon shook his head, grabbing my good shoulder and holding me in place.
"No!" I tried to pull away from him, but he met my struggles with a firm shove back down to the carpet, and held me there.
"You need to calm down." He ordered, this time, no other option was given in his tone. Somehow, in my state of hysteria and bullet-wounded confusion, I was able to regain some of my senses and listen to what he was saying.
I wanted more than anything to talk to David, and I couldn't really understand why Damon wasn't letting me call him, but something in his voice prompted me to obey.
"Please, tell him I'm ok." I whimpered, and met Damon's eyes. He stared at me for a moment, before he was pushed aside by the paramedic and I was rushed into an ambulance.