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Chapter forty-four
“No,” Maddie cried as she pulled Saff’s limp body further into her.“Stay with me, okay?”
One hand fumbled onto Saff’s neck, desperately searching for her pulse. But it was no use. Her fingers shook so hard they couldn’t discern any movement.
She lowered her head instead, pressing her ear into her chest.
Then she waited, listening.
And although she couldn’t make out a heartbeat, Saff’s chest slowly rose and fell against her cheek.
“That’s it,” she whispered. “You’re doing great, okay?”
She lifted her head, wiping the back of her hand over her tear-stained cheeks, before pressing a gentle kiss to Saff’s forehead.
“Just stay with me,” she mumbled, refusing to pull her mouth away from the warm skin.
She had to do something—had to move. Had to get them the rest of the way.
Maddie shifted her knees beneath her, still keeping Saff wrapped tightly in her arms. Then she pulled one leg up, trying to balance as she held the limp weight.
But it didn’t work.
She teetered to the side, losing her balance as she tumbled down onto her bandaged elbow.
Pain shot through her arm, but she took the brunt of the impact, protecting Saff’s head and body from the asphalt.
Her breaths came hard and fast as she tried once more to lift them both, failing again as she dropped back down.
She sniffled, the tears reemerging with a new tightness in her throat.
“I need you to stand, okay?” she whispered, pressing another kiss to her temple. “You just need to stand and walk and I’ll do the rest.”
She stroked a gentle hand down her cheek, leaving a string of mumbled kisses against her forehead.
Then she tried one last time, pulling Saff’s arm over her shoulder and using every ounce of strength she had to lift them both.
It took a few seconds, but she finally got them both upright, their bodies swaying together.
“That’s it,” she panted, each word an immense effort to grit out under the straining weight. ‘”Just—take—a step.”
Maddie slid one foot forward, but as she pulled Saff with her, she lost her balance again, plunging forward onto her knees.
She twisted her body at the last second, saving Saff from the fall as they both went tumbling back to the ground.
Her burned arm screamed at the assault against the barely healed skin.
It wouldn’t work. She couldn’t carry her, not like that.
A sob filled with rage and despair tore through her.
This wasn’t supposed to happen. They were supposed to make it through together. Saff was supposed to make—
Crackling gunshots rang out again, now somewhere close by.
Maddie lifted her head, listening. There was some muffling noise nearby. Maybe voices?
Her heart thundered in her chest.