Page 39 of Satan's Naughty List
There’s blood pooling around her head, the metal fixator that was on her leg is nowhere to be seen. I don’t know if something happened, but she’ll need that fixed immediately. Trying, and failing, to focus on her chest for air flow, it appears to be completely still.
“Extraction,” Techy shouts over the com clearer than before. “Fires…out of there…” The com continues to glitch as I get a quick assessment. Her entire being is disheveled, blood covering the floor around her body. Deciding to take the risk, I heave her over my shoulder and stand to my full height. She doesn’t have a mask, but if I can make it back…
A loud bang rattles the room causing me to stumble backward. Aspen’s added weight doesn’t help my balance. As I look up, a timber comes screaming downward. If it falls in front of me, we’ll be trapped. My bleary eyes are struggling to focus.
Taking the risk, I race forward, my knees threatening to give out from the uneven ground and moving foundation from whatever is happening. It cracks on the ground, hot embers flying everywhere and landing on the back of my pants, searing a hole in the material.
I’m sure some landed on my girl. My thoughts falter as my legs move us to safety.
My girl…I’ve officially claimed her.
“Status?” Crackles Appa, as another rumble heaves the ground.
“Shaky but we’re almost back,” I respond, my throat tightening from the lack of oxygen. The smokey taste of the air is finally seeping into the mask.
“Left!” He shouts, just as another beam tumbles to the ground. Taking the turn, I can see where most of the smoke is headed toward the open doorway. Damn near tumbles from another ground quake, I manage to trip out of the doorway. Shielding her body with mine, a finalboomshrieks from the building as pieces of debris go flying.
I brace around her small form, the sounds dying away from around us with a sharp ring in my ears. There’s shit flying everywhere, and I’m too scared to move in the event that something decides to fall on us. I need to protect her.
Rough hands grab my shoulders, attempting to move me. An animalistic roar leaves me in an effort to protect the female I rescued.
“We need to get you guys help! Move!” Razor shouts, shoving me back again. My limbs go heavy against his hands. He successfully grabs the girl and takes off, leaving me there to try and collect myself.
The mask is yanked off my face a moment later, Clubby doing a tuck and roll maneuver to hoist me over his shoulders horizontally.
“I can walk,” I cough out the lie. We both know damn well I wouldn’t be able to make it five steps.
“I’m sure you could, brother. Just here to help,” he responds, indulging in my lie. “Also, that was nine minutes and fifty-eight seconds.”
The throaty laugh escapes me, pride lightening my heart just a bit. “You kept track?”
“You made an order, we followed it.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
“Isheokay?”Iask, watching as Clubby heaves my husband into the Techy van.
“If you mean pain in my ass, then yeah, he’s fine.” Rolling his eyes, he gives Nomad a respective jerked nod before going back to the other guys. He tries to sit up, when his eyes cross and he groans.
“Why is the world spinning so damn fast?” He rumbles, his face turning a little green. Appa hands him a plastic bag to heave into. “Fuck, I don’t feel good.” A moment later, he’s throwing up like his life depends on it. Between coughing, sputtering and trying to catch his breath, it’s not a pretty sight. Robo looks a little queasy himself but manages to keep it together.
“Take over,” I mumble, getting up out of my seat to fully assess him. Doc is currently working on Aspen while Heallie assists. “You okay?” I ask him, grabbing my small flash light and clicking it on. He shakes his head, eyes shut tightly. Most likely to stave off the incessant dizziness. It’s probably not making it much better.
“Fuck,” he croaks. His throat bobs heavily several times in a row as if he’s trying to swallow something too thick. “My throat…” he heaves, doubling over in a coughing fit.
“Can you see if the girls have a spare vac?” Robo is quick to get out of the van, taking the task for himself. Withholding a chuckle, even that seemed to amuse Nomad.
“I’m fine.” His voice is anything but fine. There’s an unusual strain on his vocals that wasn’t there before. Definitely from the smoke. I didn’t think it would have affected him this bad, even with the mask on.
I just hope Aspen is okay.
“Alright Wheezy, open up,” I command, witnessing him attempt to defy my order. It’s not usual for me to boss him around. It’s a nice change.
His jaw drops open wide, letting me get a good look at the back of his mouth. He keeps his eyes closed tightly as I drag the light all around. The most I see is swelling and redness, which is pretty usual.
“Is she okay?” He asks mid-inspection.
“Eyes,” I state, waiting for him to open those beautiful blues. When they fling open, I cover one with my palm and flash the light into them. His pupils dilate properly, no negative signs.
