This is, in all seriousness, my first SOA fanfiction. That being said, I hope you all enjoy it. We all obviously know who any recognizable characters belong to, as just as the opposite for those you do not recognize. I apologize in advance for any grammatical errors- I've been working on this for a few weekends, but anyone who writes can vouch for how difficult it can be to beta your own work. Title is completely inspired by Godsmack, an obviously talented and awesome band. This will be a relatively (just slightly, I promise) slow build, as I don't like rushing stories or plots.
As I sit here and slowly close my eyes
I take another deep breath
And feel the wind pass through my body
I'm the one in your soul,
Reflecting inner light
Protect the ones who hold you-
Cradling in your inner child
The voice traveled weakly through the speaker, "There was an accident. I… Hell, I don't know what happened. One second I was behind the motorcycle- they came out of nowhere and shot him! I've never seen so much blood before in my life, Hol." Hollis dropped her book on the coffee table situated next to her corner chair. She ignored the groan of her joints as she stood, the sound of her frightened baby brother's voice became shakier. "I tried calling the police, but he threatened me before he passed out. I mean, he was shot, Hol. What if he's dangerous? I don't know what to do. I need your help. Please."
"Slow down." Though her tone was calm, the young woman couldn't practically hear anything over the rushing pulse occupying her ears. "I don't quite understand what happened, Nath. I'm putting my shoes on now. Where are you?"
"I'm on 28. I was leaving Todd's- I know you don' want me there with his dad and all, but I swear we weren't doing anything except smoking a little weed, and I thought maybe you'd be tired from working all day and wouldn't ask me-" He stopped, voice cracking. "I'm on the side of the highway, Hollis. There's blood everywhere and I know I shouldn't have moved him, but he insisted and I'm sitting in the fucking weeds and I'm freaking out! He's barely breathing!"
"I need you to remain calm, Nathan." She pushed her shoulder up, holding her cell phone against her ear. She dug through the various keys in the glass bowl next to the front door, searching for the right keyfob. "This is what you're doing to do, okay? I want you to listen closely, this could be the difference between life and death, Nathan. Promise me you're going to remain calm and listen."
"I p-promise."
Hollis' heart broke at the sob, silently reminding herself this was not the time to break down. Trying to organize her thoughts, she shifted through her memories of all of the "life lessons" her grandfather had taught her. Their father, kind but strict and the absolute opposite of his own father, typically demanded the children only saw their grandfather in way of him visiting them at their country home. His bike was the loudest noise she could remember from her childhood, the Harley going much faster over the dirt road than any car should. Grandpa Walsh had a few stories of being shot in his arsenal, and even more of being shot at. She recalled the words quickly, "Stay low, apply pressure, and hope the motherfucker don't come back."
"Can you tell where the bullet entered?"
There was fumbling on the other line, the distinct sound of cloth tearing. "Y-yeah, they got him on the right side. I don't see anywhere else, I ripped his shirt around the… God. The hole… I'm going to be sick-"
"You need to take a sweater or shirt, whatever you have right there with you, and apply heavy pressure to the wound. When I get half way there, I'm going to call the police-"
"He said no police!"
"I don't care what he said!" She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself and soften her tone. "This man could die, Nathan. Do you understand that? Someone wants him dead, Nathan, and you're going to be the one involved, watching it from the beginning. I'm calling the police and I'll get to you before they do. Keep pressing on the wound. It's going to be okay."
The air was humid as she shoved herself into her car. Forcing the key into the ignition, she reversed swiftly. State Road 28 was ten, fifteen minutes tops, away from her home. She knew she didn't have that kind of time. Try as she might, she couldn't get her breathing to quite match the collected tone she had given her brother before hanging up.
In all honesty, Hollis had never experienced anything like this before. Her heart nearly stopped when she saw Nathan's named flashing across the screen, an immediate rock taking up residence in the center of her stomach, just knowing something was wrong. Surely, if the man was on a motorcycle, she could conclude he had some affiliation to one of the surrounding gangs. He was either out of his territory, or someone else was in his. Leave it to Nathan to experience something so traumatic- she'd be lucky if he was ever the same after this.
Her speedometer hit 75, only letting off of the gas when she hit the curve off 28. The speed throughout here was 45 and she tried to remind herself that she wouldn't be help to either her brother or the stranger if she ended up dead. Her fingers trembled with adrenaline as she dialed three numbers.
"911, what's your emergency?"
"There's been a shooting," her voice cracked and she harshly cleared her throat. What was she even supposed to say? "There's been a drive by on State Road 28. A man on a motorcycle, someone came up behind him and shot him."
"Where at on 28, ma'am?" Various codes where thrown and her heart clenched as she saw the motorcycle, and its pieces, scattered in the middle of the two lane highway. "We're dispatching someone there now, but I need a little more information, miss."
"28, right near the turn off for Creek Bend. My—" She stopped herself suddenly, deciding in a moment that telling the dispatcher that her brother was the only witness at the scene may not be the smartest. "I was driving behind, I didn't get a good look at the shooter. My little brother, he was following me home. He's applying pressure now." Slamming the car door shut, she took running leaps to the weeds where she saw Nathan crying, hands covered in blood as he pushed his navy sweater against the man's back.
"First respondents are on their way, ma'am. Is he responsive?"
Her knees hit the ground roughly and she laid a soft hand on her brother's shoulder as to not startle him. He immediately sobbed, moved away and began to wipe his bloodied hands on the legs of his acid washed jeans. Once again holding her phone with her shoulder, she barely inched the man so his front was resting on the tops of her legs, her bottom resting on her feet. Nathan must have shifted him on his left side so he wouldn't have restrictions getting to the wound. This road in particular was dark, an especially good area to commit crime and it had seen its fair share of bodies being dumped in the ditches. His features were indistinguishable, even with her headlights shining towards them.
Grimacing, she lifted Nathan's sweater. The hole was blatant, a rush of blood further staining the white of his shirt. He was lacking a vest, something she frowned with surprise at, before quickly scolding herself for being judgmental.
"He's unresponsive. There's… there is a lot of blood. I only see one wound. He's breathing, but it looks shallow. What if it hit a lung? Should I try to sit him up?"
"Don't move him! Keep applying pressure, alright? Try not to move the victim-the response team is on their way and first respondents should be arriving any minute. You're doing great, okay?"
Curse words fell from her lips as the man groaned, trying to shift while a soft prayer fell from Nathan's lips, thankful for the small sign of life from the man. The siblings could hear the wail of the sirens, the blue and red lights coming around the corner at a speed to rival Hollis'.
"Thank God," Nathan groaned. "Thank, God."
Hollis watched as the state trooper slammed his door quickly, skirting around the bike laying on its side in the middle of the highway. His sirens had stopped, but the constant flashing of lights was making her dizzy. Still applying pressure, she sat quietly while the officer reached for the radio on his shoulder, a few code words escaping thinly stretched lips.
Nathan kept his back turned and tried to keep focusing on anything but the blood staining his hands. He had always heard blood was warm when it first left a body, but his hands were freezing and he couldn't decide if it had been a lie or shock was beginning to set in.
The police officer crouched next to Hollis, eyes scanning the victim. "Any signs of consciousness? Move over, I'll keep applying pressure- it's not safe with his blood everywhere."
Hollis found the comment odd, considering the man could very well be dying and she already had a large amount of his blood covering her thighs and hands. Her safety was the last thing to register right now and she seriously debating on shoving the stranger off of her laps just to attack the officer. She quickly realized her anger was misplaced- he was right, but her adrenaline was running high. "J-just a groan. And they said not to move him. I'm fine, he's already on me." She was cut off at the wail of another siren, this time belonging to the ambulance.
The whole scenario was unlike anything the siblings had experienced before. Hollis wrapped her arms tightly around her brother, supporting him though he's a good half a foot taller than herself. Her legs hurt from the position of holding the stranger and a sadness crept through her stomach and up her chest as she looked at the ruined bike. The emergency vehicles managed to light the darkened highway and Hollis caught a better glimpse at the stranger as they moved his body on the medical stretcher past them.
She couldn't hold the fat, silent tears that finally fell as she took in the sight of a bloody road rash covering his right side. His half helmet was still tightly in place under his jaw, though it too had obviously fell victim to the pavement, and she thanked God that he had decided to even wear one.
"I want to go home, Hollis." She nodded at Nathan, at a loss for words, but wholeheartedly agreeing. The comforts of home sounded pretty damn good right about now.