Page 71 of In Too Deep
Meg forced down his shoulders.His skin was cool to the touch.Too cool.
“Don’t move.Lay still.”She kept her voice calm and authoritative.“You hit your head.You’re going to be okay, but I need you to stay still.”
“Hurts.”He reached toward the bandage on his temple.
Meg caught it gently, her fingers finding his pulse point—racing and thready.“I know it does.You have a laceration and probably a concussion.Do you remember what happened?”
Alex’s eyes widened suddenly.His breathing picked up speed, each exhale visible in the headlamp’s beam as condensation in the cave’s fifty-degree air.He looked around the chamber and took in the darkness, the rock walls that pressed in from all sides, and the strange woman holding his shoulders.
“Where are my friends?What—” His voice rose with panic bleeding into every word.The sound bounced off the limestone.He tried to sit up again and was stronger this time.
Meg had to use more pressure to keep him down.“Alex, listen to me?—”
“Let me go!”He was thrashing now.His hands pushed at her.One caught her headlamp and sent the beam spinning wildly across the ceiling.
“Alex, stop!”Meg’s voice was sharp now.“You need to stay still.You’re injured?—”
But he wasn’t listening.His movements were becoming more violent.His breathing was ragged.The smell of fear—sharp and acrid—cut through the cave’s musty dampness.
Meg grabbed his face between her hands and forced him to look at her.Her palms pressed against his stubbled cheeks.
For a moment she saw her mother’s hands doing the same thing the night Meg had awakened screaming from a nightmare about her brother.
You’re in your bedroom.I’m here.You’re safe.Her mother had repeated it over and over.
Because the scariest thing was not knowing.
“Alex.”Meg kept her voice firm but gentle.“Look at me.Look right at me.You’re in a cave on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.My name is Dr.Meg Lewis and I’m a doctor.You hit your head, but you’re going to be okay.Do you understand?”
He was still breathing hard.But his eyes locked onto hers—brown eyes, dilated wide with fear but focusing.
“You’re not alone,” she continued and channeled every ounce of calm she didn’t feel.“I’m a doctor and I’m here with you.A ranger named Noah is here too—he’s scouting ahead to find us a way out.But right now, I need you to breathe with me.Can you do that?”
She could see him trying to process, his confusion battling with the authority in her voice.
Noah’s words from earlier echoed in her mind.Deep, slow breath.The words he’d used to calm her down when her own panic had threatened to take over.
“Breathe in.”Meg demonstrated, with her hands still framing his face.“Slow.That’s it.Now out.”
Alex’s breathing started to slow and match hers.The cave seemed to quiet around them.His hands, which had been pushing at her arms, gradually stilled.
“Good.That’s really good, Alex.”She eased back slightly and gave him space but kept her hands on his shoulders.“I know you’re scared.I know this is confusing.But I need you to stay calm and stay still.Can you do that for me?”
He nodded weakly.His eyes still darted around the chamber but were no longer panicked.“My friends?”
Meg’s stomach tightened.“They got out and are safe.And we are going to get you out.I promise.”
It was the second promise made in this chamber that might be a lie.
But what else could she say?
“I’m thirsty.”Alex’s voice was small now.
“Okay.I can help with that.”Meg reached for the water bottle and supported his head as she helped him take small sips.“Not too much.Just a little at a time.”
He drank, then let his head fall back against the wadded jacket.“Everything hurts.”
“I know.Where does it hurt the most?”
