Rome wiped her eyes to clear her blurry vision. Hart lay crumpled in front of her, barely breathing. He wasn't healed after all, and Rome was enraged at herself for not noticing sooner. The heavy breathing, staggering steps … the pain in his eyes. But she'd been so overjoyed to finally be reunited with him after so long. What a fool she had been.
She threw her arms underneath his and struggled to pull him to his feet. She wished Jakki and Zeus were here to help her- there was no way she could carry him to Dr. Green's office all on her own. But Jakki and Zeus had gone on ahead. She would have to do her best on her own.
"Come on, Hart, please help me!" She gasped and pulled, finally bringing Hart to his feet, then struggled to keep him upright. He was unconscious, and Rome could feel his mind slipping away from her.
"No, please, don't go. Wake up! Hart!"
The tears had returned and now trickled down her cheeks. She looked around for someone, anyone to help her, but the bridge over the dam was empty. Aside from the fallen bodies of the Tubers, of course.
She was completely alone.
"Think, Rome, think!" She whispered to herself, fighting to gain control of her emotions. If she let her grief get the better of her, then Hart would surely die. There must be something nearby that would help her.
"Many hands make light work, so they say."
The voice was young and familiar and seemed to come from behind Rome. She turned her heard and saw a small, shimmering figure coming closer. The creature she was looking at reminded her a lot of strange Quixote, and yet seemed younger and more playful. Rome said nothing, but watched in fascination as the creature stopped beside her and placed a hand on Hart's chest. He suddenly became heavier in Rome's hands, and she lowered him to the ground. When she raised her head again, the second Quixote had gone.
She tried to keep her mind calm but her panic was stilled only by the sound of approaching footsteps. Turning to meet the approaching threat, she was relieved to find that it was no threat at all, but Jakki and Zeus, returned.
"Rome!" Jakki increased her speed as she called out. Zeus was close behind her. They reached Rome short of breath, but saw instantly that something was very wrong with Hart.
"What happened here?" Asked Zeus.
Rome composed herself and, with the help of Jakki and Zeus, lifted Hart. "I'm not sure. He just collapsed. He said he had to get back to Doctor Green."
"Doctor Green?" Jakki looked puzzled, and Rome didn't blame her. Doctor Green worked at the same institution as Rome, though her work was much more mysterious than Rome's janitorial work. She'd always been nice to Rome, but how did her brother come to be Doctor Green's patient in the first place?
Zeus lifted Hart over his shoulder and started back the way they'd come. "There's no time to ask questions. We have to get him back there, and fast. There's a bike on the other side of the dam that we passed on the way here. We can use that." Jakki and Rome followed, half walking, half running. Jakki and Zeus had shown up just as Rome was beginning to lose hope of seeing her brother alive again. Rome only prayed that there was still time, and that Doctor Green was worthy of the faith Hart had in her.