Broken Apart

Chapter 5

I woke to myself coughing. My eyes shot open and I sat up abruptly, my neck burning. I leaned my head forward into my lap, my hands tangled into my hair. I let out a moan at the sudden pain in my ankle. I stretched out my arm and rolled up the pant leg. My ankle was swollen and twisted into a weird angle. I flicked a tear off my cheek. Dust and smoke floated in the dense air.

Whatever happened had hurt. I was tempted to find out. My mind was foggy and I couldn't think straight. At that point, there wasn't much I could do. I couldn't think, move, or breath. My breaths left my body in wheezes.

Doing the only smart thing, I began to drag myself by my elbows across the floor. It was cold and concrete, covered in debris. Pain shot up my skull. My elbows gave out on I fell on my chest, a sob wrenching my body.

"Robin?" rasped a voice.

"Ash?" I choked, rubbing my face. I heard dragging, Ash appearing at my side. his face was black and covered in cinders. He stared at me blankly, his eyes full of pain. "What happened?" my hand skimmed its way to my forehead where it throbbed.

"Look around," he said. "The building collapsed. Bombed, I bet."

"Were you still conscious when it hit?"

"Yes. Yes, I was." He frowned. I heard a moan behind me. Abruptly, I looked up from the ground. My nails clawed at the cement on the basements floor, trying to drag me to my feet. Everything hurt; I couldn't explain the pain

"My ankle." I sobbed.

"I know." Ash's hand rubbed my shoulder. He scrunched up his eyes and dragged himself to his feet. "Roll over, I can scrounge up something to split it." I closed my eyes and I listened to his slow and soft receding footsteps. I braced my self on my elbows and pushed off; everything began to spin as I threw myself onto my back. I let out a cry and reached my ankle. My eyes closed.

"Sit still." Ash's voice breathed on my cheek. His soft hands began to tear my pant leg, clearing the wounded area. One hand held me up and the other gripped my thigh, trying to relocate the pain. "Brace yourself."

"For wh-?" I was cut short by a searing pain in my shin. I leaned back, setting my head on the floor and grit my teeth, trying to repress a scream. My ankle felt hot and throbbed.

"Is it okay?" my voice trembled.

"All good." Ash reported. I moved my gaze from the ceiling to his face. He was staring at me, trying to read my expression, I guessed. I never saw pain like this. My heart dropped.

"My family." I huffed, sitting up and trying to get to my feet.

"You can't get up, not without something to support you." He protested.

"Good point." I frowned. Ash disappeared from my sight; I heard him rummaging through the rubble. I let my head rest on the cold concrete. Dust and ash covered my skin, blackening it. I let my eyes close. The Colony; Colony 15, was a strong colony. As far as I knew, nothing could tear us down. Until today. My mind was still fuzzy and I didn't know where to place myself in this mess.

"Let me help you." Ash's voice broke my thoughts. I swallowed, nodded, and opened my eyes. His hands grabbed my under my arms and hauled me to my good foot; the left one. I stumbled slightly, my hands grabbing his neck. My fell into his chest.

"Sorry." I wheezed, trying to stable myself on my foot. Ash held a metal pipe. It was just my height and bent slightly to the side at the top, making a flat platform for my arm. He propped it under my left arm and I let go of Ash, my hand now finding the pipe.

"Where are Corinna and James?" I asked, pushing the pipe forward and hopping with it. I blinked; my eyes stung and watered.

"Upstairs. I think they found someone."

"Someone survived?" I coughed, my hand gripping the pipe harder.

"No. They came in from The Outward Lands after the explosion.

"How long was I out?" I stopped at the bottom on the stairs and rubbed my forehead with my free hand.

"James and Corinna woke up a few hours ago. I woke up a few minutes before you. I didn't want to move from your side."

"We have to get up there." I breathed out through my mouth. With an unsteady motion, I lifted my good foot and began to hobble up the stairs. Ash was on my left side, supporting me where the pipe wasn't.

Soon, we were at the top.

What I saw broke me. The sky rose above me, white and filled with dust. All that was left of the shop was the floor; a few windows still stood on the broken frame. Debris and chunks of buildings were scattered around. I looked down at my foot. Shards of red doused glass and blood.I let out a sob and lifted my hand to my mouth.

"Mom! Dad!" I cried, throwing my head onto Ash's shoulder.

"Robin. They're gone." Said a shaking voice. I whipped my head up to see familiar emerald eyes.

His tan chest sheened with sweat and his basketball shorts ripped in several places. A green bandana hugged his throat. Dirty blond hair stuck up on his head, but worst of all, the red band on his forearm. Behind him stood two girls; a dark skinned with dark-brown hair and another with the bleached blond hair pushed back over her head to hide her hair line.

"Finnick!" I pushed myself forward and into his chest, hugging him tight. Somehow, my brother, my living and breathing brother, gave me hope that maybe my parents were okay.