Page 100 of Matrix

While I’m waiting, Angela regains consciousness. Her face twists with fear as she tries desperately to free herself from the seatbelt, which is tangled in the wreckage.“I can’t get out.”

“Hang on. I’m coming.” I circle the car and try to open her door. That entire side of the car is a twisted mess, so the door’s wedged shut. I can’t get it to budge.

“Let me try.” Reaper gives it a valiant effort before giving up.

“Can you move your hands and legs all right? Does anything hurt? Are you in any pain?” I ask her.

“No. I just want to get out.” Angie’s wide, terrified eyes meet mine.

“Okay, if you can, try crawling over the dashboard through the window. Watch out for the glass.”

“Wait.” Reaper pulls his jacket off and lays it over the threshold, covering any remaining jagged pieces.

After successfully crawling out of the wreckage, she falls onto the ground, her body limp with relief. Talon lifts her into his arms and carries her toward the winch. I don’t know how he’s going to get her back up to Scar, but I’m sure they’ve got a plan.

I quickly turn to Daisy. Tears fill her eyes as she struggles to get free.

“Can you feel your fingers and toes?” I ask.

“I think so.”

“We can’t move you if you’re not sure. I can call a medevac to get you out of here.”

“No. I think I can walk. I’m just … I can’t believe we’re alive,” she sobs.

“You are. Babe, I love you. We’ll get through this. Okay?”

“All right.” She nods and lifts one shaky hand to wipe away her tears.

Her door’s hanging open, but the dashboard is cracked and smashed inward. As she drags her legs out from underneath it, I help her. Fortunately, she wasn’t pinned in place during the accident.

She manages to swing her feet to the ground, but as soon as she tries to stand, she collapses into my arms. I scoop her up and turn toward the others. Reaper’s rigging up a basket big enough for a single person. He finishes hooking it to the winch line before lifting Angela into it.

“Hang on tight. Don’t lean or move,” he warns her.

“Okay.”

It takes an eternity before Scar’s able to pull her to safety. He sends the basket back for Daisy. As we wait, I hold her tightly against my chest. When the basket arrives, I hate letting her go, but there’s only one way out. After getting her settled, I give the signal to Scar. He begins to retract the line. I can’t take my eyes off the basket until she’s free of it.

“You’re next,” Reaper says.

“Thanks, man.”

“If that were my woman, I would have climbed the wall already.”

“I thought about it but didn’t want to distract Daisy.”

He grunts an acknowledgment.

Once we’re all topside, I lean to glance over the edge. It’s a miracle they survived. People die on this road every year. Rusting metal remnants of destroyed vehicles aren’t an unusual sight around here. Her car isn’t going anywhere. It will remain in its final resting place and corrode, just like all the others. But unlike most of the drivers, Daisy’s still alive. I still can’t believe it.

“Talon, can you ride my bike back? I’ll drive the girls.”

“You got it.”

“We’ll head to the clubhouse,” I say.

“My place is closer. We could meet up there,” Scar suggests.