Page 3 of In Too Deep
Noah’s beam caught two huddled people—maybe students—to the left of the pool, their faces pale.
Must be Diana and Jeremy.
“You two okay?”His words carried more edge than he’d intended.
“Two of my friends are still trapped.”Diana cradled her arm against her stomach.“And Lydia needs help.”She pointed down.
The girl at their feet pressed a hand to her chest and grimaced with each breath.
Jeremy’s hands trembled as he pointed.“A rock hit her in the chest.We moved it, but she can’t breathe right.Keeps gasping.Says it hurts to take a breath.”
Noah’s heart dropped.
Not good.That was so not good.
He knelt by Lydia.Her blonde hair was matted with blood.Her body sprawled on the rocks at an awkward angle.Her breaths came short and rapid.Her chest rose unevenly, with the left side barely moving while the right fought to compensate.Her skin was pale, her lips blue-tinged, and her pulse fluttered weakly beneath his fingers.
“Liam, check that tunnel for the other two.”He looked at Jeremy.“What’s her age?”
“Eighteen.Why?”Jeremy’s voice rose.“And why are you sending him off?Lydia needs help!”
“Please step back and let me do my job.”Noah lifted his radio.“Meg, eighteen-year-old female.Took a rock to the chest.Pulse is weak.Breathing shallow, left side not rising.Lips turning blue.What do I do?”
“I’m coming in.”
No.The memory of those falling rocks flashed through his mind.“Meg, stay put.Just tell me what to do.”
“You aren’t even a doctor?”the boy snapped.
Noah ignored him.“Meg, it’s not safe—just?—”
“Noah, it’s Teague.She’s already headed in.”
Noah gripped the radio.“Go with her.It’s not stable.”
“I’m trying, but my boss keeps talking to me.”
Funny, very funny.
Liam reappeared from the dark tunnel with two kids at his side stumbling over rocks and coughing.“They’d nearly dug themselves out when I got there.”
“Finally, something going right.”Noah stood and watched the opening for Meg’s headlamp.
“Lydia goes first.”Jeremy’s voice was insistent.
Noah ignored him.
When Meg emerged through the narrow opening with her medical pack turned sideways, he let out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding.Dust covered her vest, and her ponytail had come half loose.
Their eyes met—hers determined, focused—then her gaze slipped free.“Where is she?”
“Finally, someone who knows what they’re doing,” Jeremy said.
Meg hurried to Lydia’s side, dropped to her knees, checked her pulse, lifted her eyelids, and pressed her stethoscope to Lydia’s chest.
“I’m starting an IV.”
Only then did Noah notice that Meg’s hands shook—just slightly, but there.Blood streaked her gloves.She pressed her stethoscope to Lydia’s chest and moved it across different positions.
