Page 56 of Rescued By the Operative

“It’s Ennis!” Dani shrieks.

Thank god.

Dani furiously helps me move more dirt, trash, and rocks out of the way.

With some kind of demonic strength taking over, I huck a boulder out of the way, and now we have Ennis’s whole arm, shoulder and part of his abdomen free.

I can see his face.

“Are you hurt?”

“N…no!”

I’m trained well enough to know by his voice that he’s in a lot of pain.

Carl helps to pull him out.

“Go to Dani!”

Dani grabs him, and they run toward the entrance. It’s just Carl and me now.

Jake is right behind Ennis, and I curse a blue streak as we work to pull him free. Wylie pushes his way through after Jake.

“Let’s go!” Ennis shouts. I don’t know why the rest of the canisters didn’t go off, but let’s not find out!”

I shout at the rest of the women to run ahead of us to the entrance, and I bring up the rear.

“I forgot to tell you something before I went back in,” Jake rasps, coughing and wheezing ahead of me.

“Stop talking, you’re too slow,” I holler at him.

We’re finally out, but I’ve seen how these things can blow, and I don’t want anyone standing in front of the entrance of the mine shaft, just in case.

“Everyone scatter!” I shout.

Jake grabs my hand. “I forgot to tell you I love you!”

Boom.

As another container ignites, we are blown off our feet.

Not unlike flying in a dream, we sail hand in hand, ass over tea kettle, about ten feet in the air.

Unlike a pleasant flying dream, we land on the ground.

I’m jarred so severely by the impact that everything goes black.

For how long, I do not know, but I wake some moments later to Jake’s voice.

“Nelly!” He sounds so far away.

I’m seeing stars.

Or is that smoke?

And then, everything is kind of hazy.

I can see Jake’s face above me, and he looks so worried.