Protector

Chapter 12

12

I opened my eyes to find myself in a dark, cramped space. I looked at storm who look bewildered. I was in an almost pitch black space that was made up of the debris. I spread up my arms, to only find that I could only spread them out about three feet.

I felt the panic begin to rise in my chest. I was cramped in a really dark space maybe about meters under debris. I was being buried alive, what if I was never found? What if I die in here? I opened my mouth to scream. Nothing came out. I wasn't breathing. My lungs strained for air. I have never been more scared in my entire life. I was having the worst panic attack that I have ever had.

I felt something press up against me. I flinched, something licked my hand. It was Storm pressed up against me. I could almost feel his thoughts in the way he breathed against me. Don't worry. No matter how bad things may seem, I am here for you. I felt my heart began to slow. I couldn't see Storm, but I knew he was there, protecting me from the darkness.

I could begin to feel the air began to seep into my lungs. I took a deep, ragged breath. I looked at Storm. "Thank you" I whispered. My eyes adjusted to the darkness. I was in a small cave of debris. There were chunks of white tile and wood from the lobby. I suddenly remembered that Jason was with me too. What is he was trapped to? What if he got out? What if he was killed in the impact? I could bear to think of it.

I couldn't lose my best friend. He was the only person who has seen who I am and still wants to talk to me. "Jason!" I screamed through the debris. "Are you out there?" "Anyone? Please! Help!" I screamed. My throat felt raw and abused. I don't know how long I sat in silence, but I soon fell asleep.

I woke up the next day, in still total darkness. I started to panic on the inside. What if I was never found? It has been a total day and I haven't been found yet. I looked at Storm. "What are we going to do?" I asked quietly. Storm looked at me with his large blue eyes, and tipped his head back. He began to howl.

Storm's howl was low and beautiful. It reminded me of the quiet night and stars in the dark blue sky. My stomach growled. I forgot how hungry I was. I can't remember eating at all. Storm continued to howl. He finally stopped and looked at me. I looked back puzzled, but then I heard voices.

"I think I heard something!" I heard a voice say.

"I think it was over here!" I heard. I looked at Storm.

"Storm! You are a genius!" I said. "Help! Over here!" I screamed. I stood up as far as I could go, but my bad wrist was pressed against debris. I felt a twang of pain, but it wasn't as bad as before.

"I heard someone!" I heard some rustling above me. I saw a crack of blinding white light. I had gotten so used to the dark, that the light hurt my eyes. "Here she is!" The man who uncovered me said. He was about six or seven feet up, and he reached down a hand. I reached up and grabbed it.

The man hoisted me up with amazing strength, and gently rested me on the ground. The Ground was covered in wood, and smoking debris. I looked back into the hole I was in. Storm was down there looking up at me. I crouched down and beckoned to him.

"C'mon Storm! Come! You can do it!" His back legs, bucked under him, and I could see his muscles rippling under his coat. He was going to jump.

His legs sprang up from under him. He rose about five and a half feet, and gripped the debris and hoisted himself up the extra six inches. He got up and stood at my side. I was comforted by the thought that he will always be there. The group of rescuers turned their heads towards another spot about fifty feet away. I looked too, and I heard what they were looking at.

"Help! Someone! Help me!" A boy screamed. I let out a deep breath that I didn't realize that I was holding in. The voice sounded familiar, but I couldn't place it. I followed the men, as they rushed over to the spot and began to dig under all the rubble. Once they finally got to the space, they hoisted up a boy with auburn hair, and soot or dust all over his face. Jason. I opened my arms and embraced him. I was so happy he was ok, he was my best friend. I was absolutely terrified by the whole ordeal.

Tears started to stream out of my eyes. At first, I was embarrassed for crying in front of him, but I could feel him shuddering under me. Storm was at my side, still waiting in silence. I won't leave you. Ever. He seemed to say. Jason finally spoke.

"Are you okay?" He asked in a ragged voice. He broke away from my embrace. His eyes were red and blotchy. His eyes searched my face.

"I'm okay." I somewhat lied. I was physically okay, but my insides were still screaming in fear. I had never, ever been more scared in my whole life. "Are you ok?" I asked. Trying to return the favor.

"Terrified" He told me shuddering. "You're lucky, you had Storm to protect you." He glanced over to Storm who was sitting next to me, eyes narrowed protectively. Paramedics rushed over to us, and took us to the closest hospital. The next hospital was about thirty miles away, but the closer one was destroyed in what I was pretty sure, and earthquake.

Jason and I were sitting in the lobby gripping each other's hands with Storm at my feet. I was positive that if I wasn't squeezing the life out of Jason's hand, then I would be screaming and panicking. I was pretty sure that Jason felt the same way. He was very pale and his eyes were wide.

I needed to go to the bathroom to be alone for a second. I got up and slowly walked into the bathroom. I stared at myself in the mirror. My hair was covered in dust, and there was a bit of gravel on my cheek, and my eyes were red. I turned on the sink an splashed some water on it. I blinked open my eyes. I need something to remind me that it wasn't a dream. I opened the door to find Storm sitting in the hallway, waiting for me. I scratched his head as a thank you.

I walked back to Jason to find that his whole family and my family sitting in the lobby. My parents rushed over to me, grabbing my shoulders and cheeks, yanking me every which way. I moaned. My wrist still hurt a bit, the doctors replaced the bandage with a cast when we got there. I chose gray and white, for Storm who saved my life. My parents finally calmed down, but not before my mother burst into tears.

"Oh my baby! I was losing my mind! Don't ever do that to me again!" She sobbed.

"Mom, it's fine, I didn't die!" This only brought more tears. I sighed and looked over at Jason and his family. They were quiet and calm, when Jason saw me and my sob-story parents, he gave me a smug look. I glared at him. He smiled at me. I couldn't help but grin back. My mom finally stopped crying and pulled herself together.

"Oh I am sorry, but I was just so happy you are ok." She gave me a weak smile. My dad crouched next to me. He clasped my shoulder.

"You were good, dear. I am glad you are ok." He said quietly. I smiled.

"Thanks dad. I am glad I am here too." I said. Jason walked over to me.

"Hey." He said simply, but his eyes told way more. I could tell he was still scared, but he was relived that we were both ok.

"Lets go home, Brie." My mother told me, interrupting my train of thought. "Would you like to come for dinner?" She asked Jason's parents.

"That would be so nice of you. " The said. Jason smiled.

"Then let's go!" My dad said giddily.

Jason's parents beamed. They got up and followed us through the doors. As soon as we walked through the entrance door, I was surrounded my paparazzi. They had cameras and microphones, and were swarming me with questions. I realized that my dad had panicked and word got out that the famous video game creator's daughter disappeared in an earthquake.

"Brianna, tell me, what happened?" A reporter asked me. I waved them away. They started to come closer to me, I looked to my side expecting to see Storm, but he wasn't there. He was lost in the crowd. I was all alone, again.