Page 139 of What We Break
Not her arm. He yanks her whole body in front of him. A human shield.
Oh god. Oh god oh god.
"Get back!" he roars at the camp. He's looking right at me, but he's looking through me. "I said get back!"
"Hey!" I step around the table. "Let her go. She's not a threat!"
"Stay away!" He tightens his grip. Carol whimpers. His forearm is pressed against her throat. Not choking her. But close.
If he squeezes any harder, he'll crush her windpipe. If he throws her, she'll break a hip.
I've dealt with confused patients. I've talked down people on bad trips. But this is different. He's not confused. He's scanning exits. Using Carol as cover.
He's tactical. And he's terrified.
That makes him twice as dangerous.
Reid is already moving from the van. The goofy energy is gone. His voice comes out sharp, projecting across the space. "Sir! Look at me. You're in a safe zone."
The man swings Carol around, keeping her between him and Reid. "Liars! You're compromised!"
Reid stops about ten feet away, hands up, palms open. "Nobody's compromised. We're friendlies. Look around you."
"Back off!" The man is shaking now. Vibrating. He's going to snap. I can feel it coming.
I can't just let it happen. I take a step forward. "Please." I keep my voice soft, the way I would with a scared patient. "You're hurting her. Look at her face."
He doesn't hear me. He's hyperventilating, his eyes darting everywhere.
Come on. Come on, look at her. She's just a scared old woman.
Then—movement to my left.
Blake.
He's not running. He's not shouting. He's just moving. Fast but silent.
How is he moving that fast without making a sound?
He skirts the edge of the concrete pillar, coming up on the man's blind side. His face is completely blank. Focused.
Reid sees him. I catch Reid's eyes flicking to Blake, then back to the man. Reid takes another step forward. A distraction.
"Hey! Eyes on me, soldier!"
The man jerks his head toward Reid.
Blake strikes.
His left hand comes down on the man's forearm—hard—and the grip on Carol breaks. In the same motion, Blake pushes Carol away. Gentle with her. Not gentle with him.
He drives his shoulder into the man's chest. The guy staggers back, winded, and swings a wild fist.
Blake ducks it like he knew it was coming. He spins the man around, kicks the back of his knee, and follows him down to the ground.
Jesus.
The whole thing takes maybe three seconds. The man is face-down in the dirt, arm wrenched up behind his back, Blake's knee pinning his spine.
