Oh God.
Thank you.
Thank you so much.
He only passed out. The relief is intense, almost dizzying. I take a moment to breathe through the panic still whirling in me, but it only brings on a coughing fit.
Once I’m in control over my rampant emotions, I turn my face up to the ceiling. I begin to scream for help, praying someone will hear me.
Forest needs medical care. I have to get us out of here… somehow.
Another tremor begins to shake the ground, causing bigger pieces of concrete to fill our already small space. I let out a hopeless cry as I try to protect Forest.
The tremor dies down quickly, and I’m thrown back into a world of relief.
My nerves feel frail, and my body trembles non-stop.
I use my dress to cover my mouth, and I try to inhale a deep breath. Once I get some air in my lungs, I begin to scream again. “Help! Anyone!” My throat feels raw, but I keep shouting.
Time has lost all meaning, and I’m starting to lose all hope that help will come. Panic and fear cause a deadly storm in my chest as I hold Forest.
I can’t lose him.
Please let someone find us.
God, I’m begging you.
“Hello?” I hear a muted voice, and it stuns me for a moment.
Intense relief makes a sob burst over my lips, and I scream, “We’re down here. Help!”
The seconds feel like hours before I hear, “Hello! Keep calling.”
It’s so hard to not break down in tears, and I keep shouting until I taste copper in the back of my throat.
I hear dull thuds, and then debris begins to sift into the elevator. It fills the air with a cloud of dust, and I begin to cough. I quickly pick up Forest’s jacket and shake it out before I cover his head.
Suddenly we’re plunged into darkness as my phone dies. All my senses prickle to life, and every thud sounds closer than the one before.
Hope and relief hit me like a tornado, and unable to keep the emotions back, I begin to cry. My body aches from how tense my muscles are.
A drilling sound starts up, causing more debris to fall on us. I sit down next to Forest and use one of the jacket’s sleeves to cover my mouth and nose.
The drilling stops momentarily, and I can hear people moving around on top of us. “Hello? Can you hear me?”
Removing the fabric from my mouth, I shout, “Yes. We’re here!”
“We’re working on getting you out.”
Feeling immensely thankful, I’m overcome by the knowledge that Forest and I won’t die in this hole.
“My boyfriend is badly hurt,” I yell, so they’ll know to call emergency services if they haven’t done so already.
“Keep your heads covered,” the man shouts back. “Some debris might fall as we dig our way through to you.”
“Okay!”
I press myself closer to Forest and wrapping my arms around him, I pull his head to my chest, so I can try to offer him some protection.
The minutes crawl by but hearing people work above us offers me comfort and a sense of peace. It’s heartening to know strangers are trying to save us. It chases away the horror-filled loneliness that was wrapped so tightly around my heart.
When bigger chunks of debris start to fall, I lower my head and cling tighter to Forest. A piece of concrete hits my shin, and with a yelp, I pull my legs up.
Instantly, worry for Forest fills me, and an intense feeling to protect him overrides all my thoughts and emotions. I climb to my feet, and between pushing and pulling at his unconscious body, I manage to finally get him tucked in the corner of the elevator. I position the jacket over his head again, and kneeling next to him, I try to shield his head and side with my body.
The air grows thicker, making it hard to breathe. I begin to feel lightheaded and tucking my face into the crook of my arm, I try to keep from inhaling the dust.
Chapter 23
ARIA
“Hello?” the now familiar voice calls. “Are you still okay?”
I lift my head. “Yes. It’s just getting hard to breathe.”
Suddenly a sliver of light spills into the darkness, and it illuminates the particles floating in the air.
“We’re almost through to you,” the man calls.
Feeling tremendously grateful, I shout, “Thank you!”
It sounds like tiles are being broken as they keep digging, and then the beam of light grows. When the hole is big enough for me to see shadows above us, I get up and walk closer to it.
The instant I see the shadow of someone moving in my line of sight, tears spring to my eyes. “I can see you!” I gasp as overwhelming relief hits again.
“We’re almost through.” His words are comforting, but when more debris falls, I quickly dart back to Forest.