The Ring Chapter 36 Drive fast.
Clarke looked at Madi; she was out, but breathing normally. The coagulant was working.
She scrambled back to the driver's seat and hit the gas with that much more determination.
Octavia held Bellamy's head in her lap, stroking his brow. "You're going to be okay big brother," she whispered. She saw his pale face in the moonlight and the blue tint gave him a more deathly look that frightened her.
Octavia wondered what how much he had changed over the 6 years he was away. He had a beard and looked older, but he still looked the same in a way. She had seen him sleeping plenty of times growing up and the times he slept, he always looked peaceful. It was as if all his worries were gone and he had the look of innocence about him; not like when he was awake and the weight of the world sat on his shoulders. She wanted to tell him so much. She thought of hateful things she had said to him in the past. She remembered the time she beat him so viciously and tears sprang to her eyes. "Things will be different Bell, I promise," she whispered.
Clarke drove through the night. As long as she didn't stop she thought she'd make it to Arkadia by noon the next day. "Just hang in there," she willed the injured. Moments would come in her mind of Madi when she was a toddler and they had just found each other. The five and a half years she claimed the child as her own had introduced her to a love she could never imagine; the love of being a mother. Little girl smiles flashed though her mind. She couldn't lose her, she refused to accept it.
Then she would call out to Octavia. "Talk to me Octavia. How are they doing?"
They're both breathing but Bellamy doesn't look good. Can't you go faster?" Octavia would ask.
"Hang in there Bell, don't you give up," Octavia would say to him although he didn't hear anything.
"I'm going as fast as I can," Clarke would call back.
The sun began to light the sky a golden hue as it peeked above the horizon. The rover bounced along the rocky, uneven ground.
Clarke had more determination, "It took 6 years to get you back," she thought, "I won't lose you now." But Clarke was scared. She was scared to death. Her eyes were tired, but she didn't lose focus. She picked up the mic. "Arkadia come in," she said "Arkadia, this is Clarke, do you read me?" she repeated over the coms.
There was no answer.
"Were still too far out," she yelled back to Octavia.
"I need to reach my mom. They need to get medical ready," she thought.
Clarke kept going. The terrain was uneven and the rover hit a hard rut and bounced harder, throwing the ones in back about. Madi cried out in pain. "Nomon, it hurts," she cried.
"I'm sorry Madi," she called back. "Just hang in there."
Hearing Madi cry out was a good sign. Bellamy's silence wasn't.
Octavia soothed Madi. "You're going to be fine. We'll be in Arkadia soon," she reassured the girl. She glanced down at her brother; he was so pale. Fear gripped her and she put her fingers on his neck feeling for a pulse. She couldn't tell because the rover bumping around made it impossible to check for a pulse. She looked at his wound, it was oozing blood, but his entire side was a purple blue. She recovered it and added pressure. "Stay with me Bell," she whispered to him "Were almost home."
"Arkadia come in," Clarke tried again. "Arkadia can you hear me."
"This is Arkadia, I read you," came the response.
"Arkadia, this is Clarke, I need someone in medical, over," she called over the mic.
"This is Arkadia, can you repeat?" said the voice.
"This is Clarke Griffin," she said into the mic "I need someone from medical, it's an emergency. I'm about an hour out," she said "Please, I need my mom," she begged the mystery voice over the radio. "I need Dr. Abby Griffin," she corrected herself; unsure of whom she was speaking to.
The radio tech from Arkadia didn't ask questions, but immediately called over the intercom. "Dr. Griffin, we need you in comms."
"Dr. Griffins on her way…over," they replied.
Clarke kept going. She needed to make sure her mom knew what they would be dealing with.
The radio's static was deafening. "Please hurry," Clarke said to herself.
Time slowed for Clarke and it felt like forever before she heard the familiar voice she would never forget, "Clarke?"
"Mom?" Clarke responded. "Mom, we have two in need of medical attention. Both are gun shots," she said. "I'm an hour out," she added.
Tears sprang to Abby's eyes at the sound of Clarke's voice. She thought for a minute. It'd been 6 years since she saw or even spoke to her daughter. There was so much she wanted to ask, and to tell her. It would have to wait. She had to focus.
"Clarke, I need you to tell me what's going on," Abby said in a slow steady voice.
"It's Bellamy," Clarke said and she tried to keep her composure but she was beginning to break.
"Okay Clarke, take a deep breath and fill me in on what we're looking at," Abby said calmly.
Clarke did like her mom said and took a breath. Her strength and determination kicked in and she was on autopilot.
"The first patient is a 9 year old female. She has a bullet wound to the left shoulder. It has a clean exit wound out the back of her shoulder. We've applied a compress and I gave her a coagulant to help slow the bleeding. She has been in and out through the night." Clarke said. "She is responsive."
"Okay Clarke, and the second patient," Abby asked
"29 year old male, bullet wound to the lower left abdomen, no exit wound. He's pale and losing blood. The abdomen is discolored. We've applied pressure," She said "He's not responding," she added with a hiccup to the last word.
"Okay," Abby said calmly "I'll have a team to meet you at the gate, and we'll get medical ready…and Clarke? I love you," she said.
Clarke put down the receiver and refocused on the trail ahead.
Abby turned and looked at the young radio tech. "David," she said "I need you to radio The Chancellor, and Harper McIntyre. Have them meet me in Medical stat, and get the word out; we need blood," she said as she stood. She turned before she left the room, "I'll be in medical, let me know if you hear anything else from Clarke,"
Abby left in a hurry and rushed to Medical. Walking through the corridor she thought of Clarke's voice. She could hear the worry in it. 6 years had passed and the joyful reunion she had envisioned for years would have to wait. She wanted to take Clarke in her arms and just feel her daughter and talk to her. Why couldn't they ever have peace? She thought about Bellamy and knew how close he and Clarke were. Harper had talked to her about treating his gunshot wound on the ring, and it prompted Abby to bring the girl into medical for training. With only her and Jackson; she was going to need extra hands. Clarke mentioned a 9 year old girl, who was she and where did she come from? The questions would have to wait. "Focus Abby," she told herself.