Dimitri
She called my name when the gun went off. The fear in it making me dive on top of her. There was no pain, there was just silence, muffled yells, muffled screams. I lay on top of her, shielding her with my body, ready to take any gun fire that was being shot our way. I pulled up slightly, trying to get a good look at her, to see if she was hurt, to see if she was hit. Her eyes were closes, her forehead burning as her lip trembled as she shivered. She was whimpering silently to herself, her eyebrows fusing together in discomfort.
"Roza, are you hurt?" She didn't answer my question. She moved her head in my direction, her eyes were still closed.
"Am I in hospital?" I looked at her, moving the hair out of her eyes as it clung to her forehead with her sweat. I could hear footsteps running towards us. I slid up, grabbing Roza in my arms as she whimpered, squirmed and mumbling to herself.
"Come on Roza, we have to run." I started to move again.
"Roza? Me? Is that me?"
"Dimitri!" The voice was familiar but I didn't turn around. I kept running.
"Dimitri!" This time I did turn.
I never thought of a man as beautiful before, but right there and right then, Abe was the most angelic man I have ever seen. I stopped mid run and nearly fell to my knees. Abe rushed over towards Rose, who was still mumbling and whimpering to herself.
"They're over here!" He yelled falling to his knees beside me. I held Rose tightly, unwilling to let her go. Janine fell beside him seconds later, her hand automatically going to Rose's forehead.
"She's paralyzed and burning up, she's completely delirious - I didn't know what to do!"
"We need to get her to the hospital." Janine breathed, worry written all over her face. I nodded, adjusting myself so I could lift her up again but she yelped in pain, rolling to her side and vomiting. "Now!" Janine yelled. Abe scopped Rose up quickly, and getting to his feet. Another man, this time in shirt and bullet proof vest, wrapped an arm around my shoulders and helped me to my feet.
"We better get you checked out in the hospital." He said. I looked at him and looked around the room.
"Tony-"
"You don't need to worry about him." I nodded, allowing myself to be guided around the grounds and out into a driveway where they were already loading Rose in an ambulance working quickly.
"Is she going to be okay?" I asked but got no response. "Is she alright?" The ambulance door slammed with Abe and Janine inside, Janine was clenching Rose's hand and putting it to her lips as tears fell down her eyes before they closed the door. The sirens boomed as the lights started flashing frantically as it tore out of the parking lot. "What's wrong with her?"
"We just need to check you over; your parents must be worried about you." I swallowed thinking about my mother. I missed her; I don't even know how long we were gone. I did as I was asked as a light was shun in my eyes before being strapped into the ambulance.
It didn't take long for the doctors to check me over and told me I would have to stay overnight to help with nutrition and dehydration but I was fine. No one would answer me as I asked about Rose, no one even acknowledged I asked, they just pretended to keep busy. When my mother was allowed in, along with all my sisters and nephew.
My mother's eyes were red, bloodshot from crying for so long. I found out that we were gone for five days - not too long but it felt like longer. My mother walked over to my bed, and cupped my face in her hands, running her thumb over my skin as fresh tears fell from her eyes.
"I'm okay, mama." She collapsed into my chest wrapping her arms around my neck and sobbed. I looked over at my sisters, tears falling from thier eyes as they joined my mother. Yeva stood in the doorway, slowly making her way down to one of the visitor's chairs before collapsing.
"Have you heard anything about Roza?" My sisters pulled back as my mother stood up and went to sit next to my grandmother.
"Why do you want to know? She's the one that caused this." Viktoria mumbled, crossing her arms over her chest with a sigh.
"She didn't cause anything." I said flatly. "Don't ever say that again."
"It's true!"
"No, it isn't!" I snapped back glaring at her. My mother cleared her throat.
"She was rushed into emergency surgery." Yeva said, answering my question without beating around the bush. I leaned back into the pillows.
"She'll be okay." My mother comforted as she grabbed my hand and ran her fingers over my hand trying to calm me down. I gripped my mother's hand, needing her comfort, need her.
"Don't lie to the boy, Olena." My mother hissed at her mother looking over. My mother gripped my hand tighter. "They don't know what the outcome will be. They're telling Abe and Janine to prepare for the worst."
"Good riddance." Viktoria whispered. Sonja elbowed her in the ribs glaring at her.
"Viktoria Belikova, you will stand there and be respectful." My mother snapped, angry. I have never seen her this mad or mad at all in general. Viktoria flinched at the harsh tone and looked at the floor. Then the police came in.
I was asked many questions, what happened? Do I know what happened to Rose? Do I know what happened to me? They left not too long after that, thanking me. I don't know why they were thanking me. If I had gotten out sooner, Rose wouldn't be in the condition she is – whatever it was without me. There was another knock on the door.
Adrian and Mason both walked in, their hands in their pockets. They both looked tried, they're eyes just as red at Mama's, their hair messy, sticking up in wall directions. Adrian cleared his throat.
"Thank you." He started, his voice breaking. "You gave her a better change." I looked over at him.
"Is she going to be okay?" Adrian shrugged his shoulders unable to speak. Mason answered instead.
"She's out of surgery, they had to do a peritoneal wash. She's in ICU."
"She's going to be okay though, right? She's out of surgery and-"
"She had a fifty-fifty chance." Mason started.
"Because you managed to get her out – those few extra minutes helped her a lot."
"She'll be okay." I whispered trying to convince myself that she would be. Adrian took in a breath and rubbed his face with his hand.
"She's not even eighteen." He whispered clenching his fists. I looked over at him. "She's not even eighteen for another two days and she can die before then." Mason shoved Adrian's shoulder. Adrian swallowed and looked over at me. "Thank you." He and Adrian left.
"I want to see her." I grumble, sitting up and taking out the IV drip in my arm. My mom protested, shoving me back on the bed calling for the nurses and the doctor. They eventually agreed to let me go see her, I just had to be in a wheelchair and the IV still connected.
I watched through the window as Rose lay on the bed, a breathing tube and wires connected all over her body. She lay still on the bed, not moving, her hair sprayed out on the pillow beneath her. Janine was sitting at the edge of a seat, gripping Rose's limp hand as Abe held the other. He looked over to the window and waved us in.
"I'm sorry I couldn't do more." I whispered. Janine turned to me, her eyes wet with tears as the steady rivers on her cheeks glistened in the hospital room lights.
"You gave her a chance. The doctor said if she got here any later-" Janine cut off, looking over at Rose and then back at me. "We wouldn't have found you guys soon enough; you gave her a chance. I owe you everything."
"Thank you, Dimitri." Abe said, extending his hand. I shook my head and went to the end of the bed, standing from the wheelchair. I leaned heavily on the bed.
"I couldn't get to her." I whispered looking at the fragile, ashen girl lying in the bed. "I couldn't stop him."
"Dimitri-"
"I'm sorry I couldn't save her." I collapsed at the side of the bed, grabbing her hand and cried.