Disclaimer: Same as chapter 1
Nick cried out as the end of the beam caught him and knocked him the ground with such force he was certain he's cracked some ribs. He was lucky though, he realized. Only the end of the beam was on him so he managed to get out from under it, which was quite painful as his chest throbbed and his back seared with pain from the flames. Nick got to his feet coughing. No sooner had he stood up when the floor seemed to shift. How odd he thought and almost ran back outside. He quelled his fear and reluctantly carried on ignoring the pain on his back and chest.
He came to the end of the corridor and saw a large metal pole lying diagonally in the way.
"Laurie?" he called out and winced as it made his chest tightened painfully.
"Nick? Please help me, I can barely breath..." her voice trailed off in a fit of coughing. Nick approached the bar and peer past it into the gloom. He could make out Laurie, she was bent down coughing and was clutching her arm. Without moving the metal, she was trapped.
"I'll try move the pole," he called and reached out to then flinched back, it was scalding to touch. Laurie noticed and Nick saw her disappointment, he felt so guilty looking at her the hopelessness in her eyes.
"It's okay Nick, just save yourself. I've lived a good life," her words might have convinced him if not for her eyes which he hadn't looked away from. She his friend, he couldn't just leave her and lose someone else he cared about. James. Alvin. His mother. No, he thought and steeled himself against the pain as he grabbed the pole. Pain shot to his hands as he heaved the pole out of the way, he smelt his skin burning and cried out in pain.
"Nick, look out!" Too late Nick saw another pole come flying towards him, it smashed into his right hand and wrist, slamming them against the brick wall and the momentum throwing him against the brick wall. He screamed and passed out.
Nick was awakened by someone shaking his shoulder and saying his name.
"What?" he groaned them suppressed a scream at the agonizing pain in his right hand and wrist. He glanced at the remnants of his mangled hand and squeezed shut his eyes miserably trying to block out the pain.
"We have to get out of here, the building is collapsing," Nick opened his eyes at her words, she looked as tired as felt. He nodded and stood clutching his mangled hand. Then led the way down the corridor.
The building kept shaking as they walked unsteadily down the corridor, he didn't know how long they had before it collapsed. Abruptly they came to the gap, Nick was surprised to find it was wider than before.
"I'll go first," Nick told Laurie. Taking a couple of steps back he ran and leapt across grabbing the side with his good left hand. He dangled in mid air for a moment surprised he'd made it. Then manged to climb up using his right elbow for support, all the while afraid of passing out from the pain. Eventually he lay gasping on the other side in a pool of his blood, from his hand/wrist. He could almost fall asleep...
"Nick!" Laurie yelled. Nick opened his eyes and stood up. She was standing on the other side, Nick noticed one of her arms lay limp at her side while the other one waved at him.
"Ready?" she called, Nick nodded absentmindedly. He watched her take a couple of steps back then run and jump. She started to fall short of Nick's side so reached out and grabbed her outstretched hand. She was heavier than he thought, Nick noticed while he pulled her up or maybe it was because he had lost so much blood or because of the smoke.
No sooner had Nick pulled her up then a section of the ceiling collapsed. Nick gasped in terror scooped Laurie up and ran.
Nick sped outside and put Laurie down, turning in a daze to see the building crumble.
"Nick, oh my god, your hand!" Nick hadn't noticed his Dad coming up beside him. He was so tired and his hand and wrist hurt so much. His Dad started wrapping his jacket around Nick's mangled hand and wrist.
"Gotta, gotta stop the bleeding. Put pressure on the wound and all that," his Dad was saying. Nick nodded. He was in so much pain and it was so hard to stay awake but Nick felt if he fell asleep, he wouldn't wake up. Nick heard sirens but ignored them.
"Dad," Nick began, struggling to speak through the agonizing pain, "I know that I haven't always... I know I'm not the perfect son but.." Nick broke off as he started to cry, "I... I love you Dad and... and I'm sorry that I'm such... such a disappointment to you, and I'm just sorry. I love you Dad. And please tell Lulu..." Nick gasped, he couldn't stay awake anymore. And then there was no more pain...