Highway Part 44

Highway Chapter 22(continued)

Realistically, he could die at anytime from the blood loss, especially since I had no way to get him back to town besides walking. Even then, he could die afterwards or because of an infection. Still, I was going to focus on the moment right here, right now.

I used the small knife in his pocket to tear off more of my dress, almost making it indecent. I looked around frantically, and spotted some rope just inside. It was probably used to tie up girls, but I was more than happy to have it. I sawed through a section of the rope large enough to wrap around Matt’s side. I would have to hope the cloth didn’t slide around too much.

The metal was cooler now, and I prepared myself for the worst. I was glad that Matt was unconscious, for this was going to be painful. I pressed the metal into a portion of the wound, searing the flesh. The smell almost made me vomit as it reached my nose, but I kept going. I took breathes through my mouth, hoping to block out the sickening scent. Matt twitched slightly, and I prayed he wouldn’t wake up.

The wound was horrible, an angry red with a bit of black skin. I couldn’t tell if I was doing it right, and it worried me. Still, the part I had burned didn’t seem to be bleeding much, so I continued. After I did the other sections, I hastily got together the dress scrap and the rope.

Pulling on Matt’s torso, I stuck the rope under him, and laid the dress down on his wound, tying the rope as tight as I could. I didn’t want him to be unable to breathe, but I needed to stop the blood from flowing to there.

Now how was I supposed to bring him to town? Matt had taken about an hour to get here, and he had a horse. I had sent the girl away to town with it, but there was no way they could get all the way over here and all the way back without Matt dying. I cursed myself for not knowing how to hotwire a car, and I wondered if Matt did.

“Matt!” I called, hoping that maybe he would resurface just enough time to tell me how to hijack the car.

I patted his face gently, trying to wake him. When he didn’t move, I began to panic. I stuck my head against his chest, listening and feeling for movement. I breathed a sigh of relief as I felt his chest still rising faintly. But he was running out of time, even with the bleeding mostly stopped. He had passed out from Hypovolemic shock, and could have a cardiac arrest any minute now. I would have to drag him. Even if I didn’t make it in time, I still had to try.

He was too heavy to carry with an arm over my shoulder the whole time, and so I would have to switch. I hooked my hands under his arms, getting a good grip on his upper torso. I pulled him along, talking to him to keep calm.

“You are not going to die on me. You’re such a self-absorbed, rude, annoying person. You have a huge ego. Your hair sucks, you’re too tall, and you wake up too early. You’re obnoxious, stupid, and have the weirdest sense of humor ever.”

Perhaps if I insulted him enough, he would wake up to defend himself.

“Still,” I continued, “I love you exactly how you are. You’re also a sweet, caring, wonderful person. You always care for others, even if you don’t know them. You have eyes that are like seas, muscles so strong, yet a touch so gentle. You’re witty, loving, and are always willing to do whatever it takes to cheer me up.”

My arms were straining, and I could feel them start to shake. I shifted positions, slinging his arm over my shoulder. I mixed it up, almost carrying him on my back but not quite. He was so much heavier and taller than I was, and getting my back thrown out wouldn’t do him any good. I switched positions in several minutes, creating a cycle.

“You’re not dying on my watch. You know why?” I asked to him, keeping my mind off of the exhaustion I was feeling. “It’s because you aren’t the same as anyone else. You aren’t my brother. You haven’t been stabbed in the stomach, being left to die as you bled out slowly. You aren’t your teacher. You haven’t been shot, and you won’t die in my arms. I refuse to let you turn into them. They died, but they did it for a purpose. You don’t have any use in dying besides leaving me. If you want, you can leave after you get better, but not like this. You are NOT my brother or your teacher, and you won’t share the same fate. Even if it kills me, I will make sure you get out alive.”

I pulled until I couldn’t anymore, and my legs buckled.

"Get up!" I told myself.

Matt didn’t look worse, but he definitely wasn’t better, and I was constantly checking for a heartbeat.

My limbs were so drained, and I guessed I must have dragged him a mile and a half. It took so long when I had to pull him, but I was still too far away from the town. I stood up shakily and tried again, whimpering when my arms screamed at me.

Could it really end here? After I had done so much? Was I really about to pass out and let Matt die? I couldn’t pull him anymore. I tried, tugging with all my might, but I just kept falling. He was going to die in the middle of the road, and I couldn’t do anything about it.

Where was the help from the town? They had probably just heard, and were preparing to leave. Would they be too late? I assumed so. I crawled over to Matt’s still form, his chest only rising half an inch at a time. He looked paler now, and I knew he was close to death.

Why? Why can’t I just have this one thing? I tried so hard. Even so, I had taken the gift for granted, and now it was being taken away. I lay across his chest again, feeling the tears come back. They were hopeless tears, ones that accepted his passing. I was going to lose him now, despite everything we had been through. But as I lay against him, I heard a peculiar noise.

As I looked up to see what it was, I recognized the sound to be a horse running along the ground. Thinking it a bandit, I took the knife from the Matt's pocket. If Matt was going to die, it sure as hell wouldn’t be because a lowlife killed him. But as it came closer, I recognized the face.

The sky was bright and shining now, the sun coming up over the horizon. Riding the same beautiful black stallion as before, shouting my name, was Julian.

He pounded thunderously across the plain, rearing to a halt right next to us. He hopped off adroitly, trying survey the situation.

“What the hell happened? Last I heard, Matt was fighting some guys in the complex. But I was just there, and everyone is knocked out.”

He bent down to examine Matt, seeing my makeshift dressing. He surveyed us both, taking in my ragged appearance.

“My father was there, and he got in a fight with Matt. Matt won, but not before my father gave him a terrible gash. Don’t touch it. It was bleeding too much, and so I tried to cauterize it the best that I could. Julian, he’s dying. I tried so hard, but he’s dying.”

My voice was raising in hysteria, and I knew I was going into shock.

“Your father?” He asked, then continued, “It doesn’t matter. What does he have to do with this?” I had forgotten he didn’t know, but I didn’t have time to explain.

“It’s a long story,” I said, “But I don’t have time. I can’t lose him, Julian!”

He gripped my face in between his hands, soothing me.

“Shh! You did the right thing. It seems you’ve stopped the bleeding, but he needs medical attention fast. You don’t look too good yourself.”

He checked over his wound one last time, and then stood up.

“Get on the horse,” he said.

I sat, uncomprehending.

“Get on the horse!” he said again, “Unless you want him to die!”

I scrambled up, trying to follow orders. He lifted my shaky body into the saddle, making sure I was stable. Then he lifted Matt on in front of me, slinging his body across the horse.

“Ride to the south for another mile. Don’t take any turns, and don’t stop. Ride as fast as you can, but if the horse starts rearing, slow down.”

I was astonished, wondering how he got here.

“How did you know?” I asked, “And where did you get the horse?”

He smiled. He showed me how to keep Matt on the horse, and told me how to steer.

“I had taken shelter at the town during the storm. This girl came flying down the street on the horse, shouting to everyone. She told us about you and the kid and this place, although it was a bit hard to understand. I was worried they would take too long, so I set off myself. After I reached the building, I only had to follow the drag marks.”

He was the most beautiful sight right now, and I leaned down to give him a kiss on the cheek.

“Thank you, Julian. I mean it.”

He smiled.

“Don’t thank me yet. Now go!” he said, and I nudged the horse to make him move.

The poor animal was probably exhausted, but he still performed with amazing speed. We galloped through the valley.

What about Julian? What was he going to do? I shook off the thought, focusing on keeping Matt in the saddle.

He was sliding a little bit, but I kept my arms around him. I couldn’t feel his breathing over the movement of the horse, so I just had to assume he was still alive. We made it to town in record time, the horse’s hooves clicking against the asphalt. We rushed past shocked civilians, and went straight to the hospital. I skidded to a halt, almost falling off.

“Help!” I shouted to the gathering crowd, “Somebody help me! My friend’s been hurt really bad and he’s dying. Where is a doctor?”

People rushed inside to get the emergency workers, and they dashed out of the door. They took him to an operating room, shouting to each other medical terms.

I didn’t have anything to do but wait, and so I took up pacing around the lobby. The nurses tried to get me to see one of the doctors for treatment of my injuries. I snarled at them wildly, telling them I was fine. I wouldn’t treat my injuries until I knew Matt was safe. They left me alone, mostly because they were scared, but also because I wasn’t in too bad a shape.

News reporters crowded around outside, but I refused every interview. Julian arrived after an hour, and proceeded to sit down next to me. He said nothing. Once a police officer came in and tried to get information about the case, but I didn’t tell him anything except the address. When he pressed for more, Julian firmly told him no and essentially kicked him out.

When one hour turned into two with no word on Matt, I nearly had a breakdown. I marched up to the receptionist’s desk, screaming at her.

“Why haven’t we heard anything yet? Are you guys even trying?”

I screeched more obscenities at her, leaning over the desk threateningly. Julian had to practically drag me away before they called security, picking me up from behind before setting me down a safe distance away.

 “Let go!” I shouted.

He made me face him before saying, “Stop it! If you keep yelling they’re going to kick you out! What good will you do him if you’re gone?”

I must have looked sad, for he came closer. He wrapped his arms around me, and I cried. Julian was the only one here who could understand my worry.

Waiting.