CHAPTER THIRTEEN
(chapter title- No Way Out)
"JOHN!" Eileen and Jules called. They had been looking for John for at least two hours and there was no sign of him. Joanne, Maureen and Anna were searching the West End of town while Benny and Alison searched Greenwich Village. Jacob and Roger were searching Central Park and the area surrounding it. Mark and Hannah were at the loft, waiting by the phone just in case if anybody called with information about John.
"Eileen!" a faint voice called from somewhere behind her. Eileen turned around and went down an alley. She walked about two feet when she saw a figure pressed against a wall. She broke into a run and ran to where the person was. She gasped in horror when she got closer to the person - it was John.
"JULES!" Eileen called. She went to John's side and sat down next to him. His right foot was pinned between the dumpster and the wall behind him.
"Oh my God! John!" Jules whispered ten minutes later. She whipped out her cell phone and dialed the loft. She talked to Mark to let him know where they were and to send the others.
"How's John?" Mark asked. Jules looked over at her friend - he was shivering and there was blood on his hands and knees.
"He has a few cuts, but I'm sure he'll be okay." Jules answered. She heard Mark let out a sigh of relief.
"I'll have your dad, Benny, Alison and Jacob come to where you guys are. What's your location?" Mark inquired.
"Um, the alleyway behind Emil's Deli on North Queens Street." Jules said, not taking her eyes off of John.
"I'm sending them there now." With that, Mark hung up the phone just as Jules' hung hers up. She kept it on just in case her dad or somebody called. She went to sit with Eileen and John. As they waited for someone to come, Jules sung a song from her choir class called Arms of the Angel. She was going to perform it for what would have been Angel's birthday in a couple weeks. She never knew or got to know Angel, but from what Collins had told the kids about her, she seemed like an Angel after all.
"Spend all your time waiting for that second chance
For the break that will make it ok
There's always some reason to feel not good enough
And it's hard at the end of the day
I need some distraction or a beautiful release
Memories seep from my veins
Let me be empty and weightless and maybe
I'll find some peace tonight
In the arms of an Angel far away from here
From this dark, cold hotel room, and the endlessness that you fear
You are pulled from the wreckage of your silent reverie
You're in the arms of an Angel; may you find some comfort here
So tired of the straight line, and everywhere you turn
There's vultures and thieves at your back
The storm keeps on twisting, you keep on building the lies
That you make up for all that you lack
It don't make no difference, escaping one last time
It's easier to believe
In this sweet madness, oh this glorious sadness
That brings me to my knees
In the arms of an Angel far away from here
From this dark, cold hotel room, and the endlessness that you fear
You are pulled from the wreckage of your silent reverie
In the arms of an Angel; may you find some comfort here
You're in the arms of an Angel; may you find some comfort here" As she finished the song, Roger, Benny, Jacob and Alison came running towards them.
"John, are you okay?" Roger asked, kneeling down and looking at John.
"No - my leg's pinned and I think it's broken." John answered, tears coming to his eyes. Jules hugged him tightly and told him it would be okay.
"Jules and Eileen, go stand with Alison." Roger demanded. Jules and Eileen went to where Alison was standing without a protest. Together, Benny, Roger and Jacob pushed the dumpster away from John so that he could get out easily.
"One, two three push!" Roger grunted. Alison, Jules and Eileen had tears streaming down their cheeks. Benny, Roger and Jacob pushed with all their might. Alison hugged the two girls close as a light rain began to fall. Jules turned her head away and buried her face in Alison's very expensive blouse, but she didn't seem to care. She was watching Roger, Benny and Jacob struggle to get John out from behind the dumpster. Eileen had gone to call Mark to let him know what was happening with John.
Ten minutes later, John was out. Everyone took their turn hugging him while Mark called 911. The ambulance arrived exactly ten minutes later, which Mark was so happy about. Mark climbed in with John in the back of the ambulance, holding John's hand. John smiled weakly at his dad as the ambulance doors closed and they zoomed off into the rain.
A/N - don't own the lyrics to Arms of the Angel.