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Chapter twenty-two
Jake
WetakeJohnny'struckback, leaving mine at the worksite; we don't want to be in any more danger.
We drive slowly and carefully down the highway, away from the worksite and back toward Fern Hollow. The storm is raging all around us, the windshield wipers doing nothing to swipe away the water even at their highest setting. As we drive down the highway, the rain pounds against the hood of the car like a thousand tiny hammers. Thunder cracks overhead, rattling the windows and making me jump in my seat. I turn my head to look out the window, but the rain is coming down so hard that I can barely see a few feet in front of us.
Suddenly, the car swerves to the left, skidding on the slick road. My heart jumps into my throat as Johnny grips the wheel tightly, trying to regain control. We fishtail for a few terrifying seconds before the car finally comes to a stop on the shoulder of the highway.
"Damn, dude," I mutter. "Take it easy."
"I am," he says. "The weather is just real fucking bad."
"I can see that," I tell him. "I don't know...maybe we should just pull over and wait it out. It should pass quick--"
I stop in my tracks when I see the red glow of taillights in the woods, along with yellow hazards.
"Wait, Johnny--don't start driving again, there's someone...fuck, there's someone out here!"
"Seriously? Oh...oh shit..."
He pulls over and I jump out of the car, my heart racing. In this weather, out in the woods like that...whoever it is, they'll be really badly hurt.
"Why was someone even driving out here?" Johnny asks from behind me, but the end of his sentence fades out...because I recognize that car.
"Fuck," I curse, stumbling through the rain. "Sarah. Sarah!"
I sprint towards the car, ignoring the pelting rain, and make my way to the driver's window. As I peer inside, my heart sinks. Sarah is slumped over the steering wheel, unmoving, and blood is trickling down her forehead. Panic sets in as I remember that I'm not a doctor, and I have no idea what to do in this situation.
"Johnny, give me your phone!" I roar.
"I don't have it," Johnny says, fumbling through his pockets. "I left it at the worksite."
I groan in frustration and turn back to Sarah's car. I see her chest moving up and down, so at least she's still breathing, but I need to get her to a hospital.
"Sarah, can you hear me?" I ask as I shake her gently. "We need to get you out of here."
She groans. I take that as a good sign and try to open the car door, but it's jammed shut. I look around and spot a rock lying on the ground. Without a second thought, I grab it and start banging on the car window. After a few hard hits, the window shatters, and I reach inside to unlock the door from the inside.
Johnny helps me pull Sarah out of the car, and we lay her down on the wet ground. Her eyes flutter open, and she groans again, this time louder. Blood is still streaming down her forehead, and her clothes are soaked through.
"We need to get her to the clinic," I say to Johnny. "We can't wait for an ambulance in this weather, we have to take her ourselves."
Johnny nods, and we lay Sarah in the backseat of Johnny's truck. I climb in beside her, holding onto her hand and trying to keep her conscious as Johnny drives us to the nearest hospital.
"Sarah, baby, stay with me," I say, my voice shaking. "Stay with me..."
"What the hell was she doing out here?" Johnny asks. "No reason to be driving in weather like this."
"She must have been coming looking for us," I tell him. "Fuck...hurry. We need to hurry."
As we race towards the hospital, I can feel Sarah's pulse become weaker and weaker. Her breathing is shallow, and her skin is growing paler by the second. Panic sets in as I realize that we might not make it in time.
"Johnny, faster!" I beg him, my voice frantic. "She's fading fast!"
"I'm pushing it as hard as I can, man!" he shouts back, his hands gripping the steering wheel tightly.
We finally pull up to the clinic, and I leap out of the car, yelling for help and taking Sarah into my arms as Johnny leads the way. Reagan meets us at the door, her eyes wide as she takes in the scene.
