By now, everyone had gathered in the lobby to see what was going on.
"What happened here?" Garret asked quickly, concerned.
"I don't know…I
came up in the elevator and that guy was waving around a gun, telling
me to drop mine, and then fired one shot at Nigel. Is he
alright?"
Lily and Bug were at Nigel's side, trying to pry his
hands off his niece. They quickly noticed blood on his shirt. Lily
gasped. "NIGEL! Nigel, are you alright? Were you hit?"
Nigel continued to sit quivering on the floor, grasping his niece.
"He……it
got….why….wha….she…" Nigel try to speak through weeping,
gulping for air.
"What is it Nige? Did Julia…" Bug started
to ask, but stopped as he looked at his distraught friend.
"Woody, get over here and help." Garret said as he bent down by Nigel.
Woody, as the man from the elevator was now identified as, hurried over.
A muffled cough was heard. The group looked at Nigel, who was not coughing, only crying.
"Nigel let go. Come on mate…she might be alright." Bug tried to reason. Another faint cough and gasp came from inside Nigel's arms. Nigel loosened his grasp. Julia lay in his arms, struggling to get better breaths of air.
"Ju..hic lia" Nigel struggled to say, relieved but still incredibly worried. "Where..how.."
"Shoulder." Julia grimaced. "Don't let any cough anyone leave."