Page 13 of Emily's Escape

I had no idea of the paralyzing fear that comes with knowing the most important person in the world is in danger, and the impotent helplessness that comes with it.

Just as I reach the car, screeching tires sound from behind me. A strident, commanding voice calls out, “Back off! Stand clear! This is police business!”

No way.

Not when I’m so close.

Ignoring the orders of the police officers arriving on the scene, I carefully circle the gray sedan so I can peer inside it. It’s tricky, with the way it’s hanging at an angle, and I don’t want to do anything that could trigger it to move further.

“Em!” I shout as I try to get a better look inside. From my vantage point, all I can see is the back of the rear seat, with no sign of anyone inside. But that’s not possible. Someone had to be driving. And I saw Emily’s hair?—

Unless you imagined it,the doubting voice interrupts.Unless you were only tracking her phone, and she’s someplace else entirely.

I’m not sure if that would be good news or bad right now. I wouldn’t know where she is, but at least she wouldn’t be in a car only minutes—seconds?—from falling into the Mohawk.

Choosing to believe she’s in there, I call loudly, “Em! It’s Derek! Don’t move. I’m going to get you out of there!”

As I begin to unwind the tow rope slung over my shoulder, I hold my breath in hopes of a response. Anything to tell me Em’s inside and able to talk to me.

“You can’t be here!” a man barks, and this time, I spare a quick glance over my shoulder at him. As I expected, it’s a policeofficer, glowering at me. “What are you doing?” he demands. “Back the fuck off.Now.”

“No,” I snap. “My girlfriend is in there.”

He blinks. The anger in his expression fades as it’s replaced by understanding. In a gentler tone, he says, “Look, man. I get it. You want to help her. But you’re not trained for this. Our rescue team is en route. Just hang tight, and let them do their job.”

Almost as if the car heard him and wants to prove him wrong, it tips forward with a groan of creaking metal.

My heart stalls.

Ice encases my lungs.

For a moment, I’m frozen. Helpless. All I can do is watch in breathless horror, praying the car won’t fall.

Please,I silently plead to anyone listening.Keep her safe. Just give me a few minutes, just a few, to get her out of there.

The metal car groans again.

Metal screeches as the guardrail drags against it.

“Fuck,” the officer mutters. “Ah, fuck. It’s going over.”

And for a moment, I think he’s right.

That I’m going to watch the car plummet into the water.

I even scan the river below, trying to figure out the depth‌ and where the best place would be to jump in. I don’t have the proper tool to break the windows, but if I can get my prosthetic off, maybe I could use that to weaken the glass instead.

Then it stops.

Now hanging at a sixty-degree angle, it’s almost impossible to see inside it.

“Em!” I scream, feeling as close to panic as I’ve ever been. “Em!”

“Derek!”

At the sound of her voice, my legs go weak. “Em!” Relief unlocks my muscles, and I rush to the nearest unbroken part of the guardrail, then start tying the tow rope to it. My fingersfumble over the slick yellow rope at first, and I have to take a steadying breath before trying again. “Em! Don’t move!”

“I’m trying not to,” she calls back. She sounds scared. Tearful. But her voice is still strong, giving me hope she’s not terribly injured. “But… Derek. The car. You can’t be this close?—”