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“Lakelyn, if you can hear me, I’m here. I promise I’m going to get you out of here.”
Sirens alerted me that aid would be here momentarily as I surveyed the extent of her injuries. Blood dribbled down her forehead from a gash inside her hairline mixed with the chalky white sodium azide from the airbag deployment. Her arms were covered in cuts and scratches from the broken glass, and from a glance, her injuries appeared surface level, but we wouldn’t know for sure until the hospital checked her out.
“Lakelyn, can you open your eyes? Let me know if you can hear me.”
“Ahh,” she cried and tried to angle her head toward the sound of my voice.
I quickly placed my hands on either side of her head to hold her still, careful not to jostle her until the paramedics arrived with a C-collar. “I need you to stay really still, okay? Can you do that for me?”
“Everything hurts,” she stuttered.
“You took one hell of an impact, but I promise you’re going to be okay.”
“I’m tired.”
The cabin’s interior lit up with flashing lights closing in on our location.
“Help is pulling up now.”
“Don’t leave me.” Her voice cracked in a broken whimper.
“I’m not going anywhere, I promise.” The tremors coursing through her only solidified my decision.
“Miller, that you down there?”
I looked over my shoulder to see Jameson Fisher, my buddy and coworker Jaxon’s brother, descending the embankment flanked by other firefighters from his squad.
“We got this from here. I need you to step back.”
“Your crew needs to work around me,” I roared. There was no damn way I was leaving Lakelyn’s side.
His eyes darted between mine and Lakelyn’s side profile. “Boden, you know this will work much faster if you’re not in our way. Let my crew do their job.”
“I made her a promise, and I will do my damnedest to not break it. You got me?”
Jameson nodded in understanding. “Copy that.” He then began delegating orders to his team before returning his attention to us while his crew left to get the necessary gear.
“What’s her name?”
“Lakelyn.”
“Okay, Lakelyn,” he leaned over my shoulder into the cab area and surveyed the situation, “my team and I are going to get you out of here real soon, but in the meantime, can you tell me if you can move your legs?”
I ground my teeth as she winced in obvious pain, eyes welled with fresh tears. My heart physically hurt in response, as tears were my kryptonite, a weakness that had extended past that of only my sister to now include Lakelyn.
“Yes, nothing feels broken . . . or stuck, just my neck and head hurt.”
“That’s great news, Lakelyn, that’s great. Just sit tight, and we’ll have you out of here soon.”
“Captain,” a female voice called out.
Jameson turned. “Thanks, Arizona,” he said, taking the C-collar from one of the paramedics. “Okay, I’m going to reach around this stubborn fucker who refuses to leave your side and carefully put this C-collar on. It will help alleviate the pressure and help keep your neck immobilized as we get you out of here and transported to the hospital.”
Over my shoulder, I saw Jameson’s crew making their way down the embankment with the cutters and jaws of life, and I knew I was about to break my promise.
“Fisher,” I called. “I’m going to climb into the passenger seat to help protect her from the inside.”
“Miller, I got guys for that,” he shouted.
