The Day Death Died

The Day Death Died - Chapter 13

Everything sounded so far away while I stood there watching. Firemen rushed past us with their hoses trying to douse the flames that shot up from the rubble.

Alex.

I sat beside my brother, holding his hand, and watched.

"Maddison! Brayden!"

We both turned to see our parents running to us.

"Mom! Dad!" we shouted in unison.

My heart fell to the pit of my stomach as my mom dropped to her knees hugging me and dad wrapped his arms around Brayden. They were both sobbing.

"We were so scared. We heard the explosion. We saw all of the fire trucks. I knew it was here. I knew something was wrong," mom cried, hugging me tightly.

I hugged her back.

"What happened?" dad asked.

I wanted to tell him. I wanted so badly to tell him that I knew what happened. I couldn't. Even if I did, who would believe me?

"I don't know," I lied. "Everything was great and then there was this explosion."

"Was it an accident?" mom asked.

"I think so."

"Emily!" Her mother ran through the crowds with Alex and Brad's parents wrapping her in a hug.

"Where's Alex?" his mother asked.

Emily, Brad, and I looked at each other.

"Where is he?" Her voice shot up an octave as the tears slid down her face.

"He, Uhm, he.." my voice trailed off.

She shook her head while looking at the building. "Please, no. No. He's okay. He's fine."

I sobbed into my mom's shoulder.

"I tried to find him," Brad said. "I looked until I just couldn't breathe. Maddison had to pull me out of the building."

"Thank you." Brad's mom said.

We stood watching the firemen get the fire out before they began searching the building. Alex's mom clung to the police, begging them to find him.

"Let's go home." Mom stood, holding onto my hand.

I nodded and stood with her. Emily and Brad's parents led them to their cars. I climbed into the back of mom and dad's car, staring at the school as we drove away. Brayden leaned over and put his head on my shoulder.

"I was really scared."

"I know, kiddo," I whispered, kissing the top of his head.

"I thought you were dead."

"No, I'm fine."

"I saw you go into that hole. Why did you go down there?" he asked.

"Oh. You saw that?" I asked.

"Mm-hmm."

"I thought that I could maybe help someone or do something."

"Did you find anybody?" he questioned.

"No. I didn't see anybody," I answered.

He looked at me with tears in his eyes and put his head back on my shoulder.

He was an annoying, bratty kid, but I loved him dearly. While mourned for Alex, even before anyone else knew, I would have been more upset if something happened to my little brother. I put an arm around his shoulders and held him.