Page 90 of Arseni

34

MARGOT

Ican’t take my eyes off the water.

For several seconds, it’s still.There’s no sign of either man.

Then Luka pops up.Alone.

“No,” I whisper to myself, covering a hand over my mouth.After a quick breath, Luka dives beneath the water again, leaving me in suspense.

“Please,” I whisper again.I don’t know who I’m begging.Luka, I guess.Maybe God.

Please save him.

The blood seeping from Arseni’s abdomen is stained into my mind as I watch and wait.

I hate it.I hate every second of this.

I’m just standing here.

I’m doingnothing.

My toes hanging over the edge, I suck in a breath and prepare to dive in, but I stop myself before I can fall forward.

I can’t save him like this.I don’t even know that I’d be strong enough to pull him to shore.

Whipping my head toward the cop car, I rush that way and fling open the door.

What’s something an officer should always have on hand?

A fucking first aid kit.

The sound of splashing water yanks my attention toward the gap in the bridge, but I force myself to ignore that too.

He’s alive.

He’ll be okay.

I have to believe that.

Papers fling as I rip apart the glove box only to come up empty.

I check the back seat, though after only a second my head tells me it wouldn’t be there.

I check the center console, search the storage space in the doors, even go to the trunk and rip up the carpeted base to find a spare tire.

“Where the fuck is it?!”I scream, slamming my fist on the base of the trunk.I run back to the backseat and check the seat storage before my eyes finally land on the floorboard.I know it’s there before I even check.A box about a foot long is neatly tucked beneath the driver seat.

I yank it out and sprint to peer out at the water.My heart beats fast in my ears with every step.It feels like a moment of truth.A reality that will shape the rest of my life.

I see Arseni’s head above water with Luka swimming him to shore.

Hugging the first aid kit to my chest, I let out a cry of relief and sprint to where Luka is headed.He’s pulling Arseni onto the muddy bank when I get there.

“Arseni!”I scream as if he could ever hear me.I throw the kit down as I dive to his body, my nails digging into mud.

Luka starts compressions on his chest while I caress his face, muttering things not meant for Luka’s ears.I don’t back off when he pinches Arseni’s nose to perform mouth-to-mouth.