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Maddie turned the doorknob and pulled it open, poking her head out into the hallway to listen. But there weren’t any obvious noises she could hear.
She took a careful step out, swinging her cane to feel the path forward, then she placed her left palm against the wall. Right away, she spotted the next beacon, the lantern Saff had left outside her own door. At the time, it had just seemed like a nice gesture, but now she realized that maybe it was out of survival and smart preparation. Still, she preferred her prior way of thinking about it.
Maddie crept toward the next lantern, moving her hand along the wall until it hit the frame of the door, then the doorknob.
“Saff?” she called out once more through the door. Then she put her ear against it, listening. This time, she could hear breathing, or more like panting.
Dread filled her. What if her condition had worsened? What if the concussion was worse than she let on or the bleeding had started again in her sleep?
Maddie twisted the doorknob and stepped in.
Freezing cold air hit her like a wall.
“Saff?” she breathed.
More heavy panting, followed by muffled grunts and groans.
Her own breathing quickened with panic.
She hurried toward the noise until her cane hit against something solid. Then she reached her free hand out and felt forward until her palm landed on what felt like the comforter of the bed.
The breathing was closer now, just a few feet away. She inched closer to the bed, her knees knocking against the mattress. Then she shifted her feet along it, trailing toward the noise. Her hand skimmed the bed, coming to a sudden stop when it met cold skin.
Fingers.
A hand.
Saff’shand—at least she hoped.
“Saff?” she tried again, not entirely hopeful of getting a response.
She rested her cane against the bed, then used her newly free hand to trace up Saff’s arm, ending on her chest. Then she waited, feeling for movement. Her chest heaved beneath her palm, which was at least one good sign.
“Saff?” she asked again, this time louder. If she was going to help her, she would need some direction as to what was wrong.
She moved her other hand up towards her neck to take a pulse, which was really the only other medical check she knew of.
But right as her fingers skimmed the base of the girl's neck, it happened.
The body below her jerked just a split-second before a powerful hand snatched her wrist.
And before she had even a moment to react, her wrist twisted, and she felt the body beneath her rush upward. A yelp coughed out of her mouth at the exact same time that Saff yelled, “What the hell?”
In one swift movement, she was shoved away, her arm wrenched behind her back. Then she immediately felt Saff’sbody pressed against her back and a hand wrapped around to grab her throat, squeezing the remaining air from her windpipe.
Maddie coughed, gagging against the pressure, completely unable to speak. A moment passed that felt like an eternity, and a sudden panic swept through her as she realized Saff might not let go.
Then, right as that thought entered her mind, the hand loosened its grip. She inhaled sharply, coughing and sputtering against the air.
“You were—” she coughed again, trying to turn her body to release the twisted arm. But Saff kept her anchored there, twisting harder as she struggled. “I thought you were—I heard noises! I heard yelling!”
It wasn’t a dream. She knew what she heard. She was sure of it.
One moment passed, then Saff completely relinquished her tight grip.
Maddie's arm dropped, and she yelped in pain as the muscle released, immediately cradling it against her chest.
“I called out for you, but you didn't answer," she choked out. "I thought maybe you needed help.”