'PART SIX'
"Clear." Everyone stood back. The car park was deathly quiet, the hospital smoking in the background. The patient obscured as they looked on in horror. The tension mounted as the patient was shocked. Nothing, no output. Heart thumping, Jac Naylor took hold of the portable defibrillator and tried again. "Clear!" Still no output. "Come on!" Jac cried desperately. "Charge again, three-sixty, clear!" Jac checked again, once more the output remained the same. Tears were streaming down her soot-covered face, every inch of her body ached horribly as if every part of her had been whacked with a boiling hot frying pan. Her hands were burnt but she dared not give up, she would not give up. She was still a doctor, and she would save their life. She cried again, "Charging three-sixty, clear!" The unseeable chest rose up as the shock was delivered, Jac checked the reading. No output. Jac stood back, her arms hung uselessly at her side and barely noticing, she let the defibrillator fall slowly out of her hands. It clattered to the floor as a wave of painful emotion showered her. She looked down at the body, unable to revive. She looked up, closing her eyes as she did so. In her head, she could hear a song growing louder and louder, filling her mind. As it grew louder, she found herself quietly singing aloud. "On the hills of fire the darkest hour, I was dreaming of my true love's pyre..." Someone placed a hand on her shoulder, Jac felt different. Then they whispered,
"It's over..."
ONE HOUR EARLIER...
"Joseph!" Jac shouted as a new obstacle presented itself to her. Joseph was still a little way behind, Little Jac clinging desperately to his back. As Jac's voice floated eloquently to his ears, Joseph called back.
"I hear you, what is it?" He didn't wait for her reply as moments later they rounded the corner and were right behind her. Jac turned to face them.
"The wall's collapsed in on itself, I can't shift it alone but I don't think you're strong enough." Joseph quietly detached Little Jac from his back and placed her gently on the ground.
"I'm going to have to be," he told Jac solemnly. Hobbling, Joseph crouched down, bending his knees and began to lift the sizeable lumps of wall from out of their way. As if luck would have it, the pieces were relatively light and Joseph was able to quickly manufacture a safe route through. However, he strained on the final pieces, holding his back, grimacing. Jac held him back with her hand and taking a deep breath, finished moving the remaining pieces. Letting Little Jac climb up onto his back again, Joseph followed Jac through. The sight that greeted them was horrendous. Charred carcasses lay in burnt out beds, limbs littered the floor; as she walked through Jac looked down and saw that she had placed her foot in a puddle of blood, garnished with a solitary finger. She shuddered. She shook her foot slightly, before moving on. Behind her, Joseph and Little Jac navigated the ward
"Cover your eyes," Joseph said kindly as he took special care not to step in any of the remains. Little Jac did as she was told and covered her eyes fearfully. At the far end of the ward, Jac wrenched open the door, her eyes widening as the metal handle burnt her hand. On the other side, she shook her hand whilst wincing with the pain. Not able to give up, she decided to grin and bear it. She looked at the way ahead. It was clear.
Henrik Hanssen climbed despairingly down the lift mechanism searching desperately for the ground floor exit. The vision of Elizabeth falling still haunted him. Every time he closed his eyes, there she was, hanging on...slipping...falling, the scream, the dreadful blood-curdling, ear-piercing screech as she fell. Hanssen's whole body shook. His whole life had been turned upside down in one single evening. Then he saw it, the ground floor exit doors. Mercifully they were open, but Hanssen couldn't think why. Perhaps the force of the explosion had blown them open. In any case, what did it matter? Hanssen took a deep breath, calculating the gap between the mechanism and freedom. It was close enough to jump, but mistime it and he'd been joining Elizabeth. He looked down, the fire seemed closer, he could almost feel its heat upon his face. There was nothing for it. He went for the leap of faith. Hanssen leapt. He felt himself soar through the air towards the open exit. Then he began to lose momentum, he felt himself falling, saw the gap to freedom widening...Panicking he made a grab for the ledge, relief washed over him as his hands made contact. He heaved heavily and rolled forwards into the lobby. It was in ruins but thankfully, nothing was burning but yet it smoked dangerously. Hanssen picked himself up, and dusted off his suit. He reached into his top pocket and pulled out a hair-comb. He passed the comb through his hair. Satisfied that he had pulled himself together, Hanssen stepped forwards through the thick black smoke and found himself faced by two firemen manning what had once been the front doors. They halted him. Hanssen gave them a withering look.
"Henrik Hanssen, Director of Surgery," he said in one single exasperated breath. The firemen parted and one on either side they strode out of the hospital.
Mark could see shadows moving towards them. Three people. He turned to nudge Elliot.
"Someone's out," he said, his face hopeful. Who was it? The shadows came closer, Mark and Elliot could just about make out the two firemen but the shadowy figure in the centre was still unrecognisable. "Come on Chrissie, please, please..." Mark said under his breath. But it wasn't Chrissie. Mark groaned as Henrik Hanssen revealed himself. Elliot's elation sank. He strode up to Hanssen.
"Ah Mr. Hope," Hanssen said, his voice hollow, not as eloquent as it usually was. Elliot detected something in Hanssen's speech that shocked him.
"Mr. Hanssen, are you okay?" Elliot asked. Hanssen stared at Elliot with gaunt eyes.
"I've been better."
"Were there any others with you?" Elliot pressed anxiously. Hanssen opened his mouth, then closed it. He sighed.
"It is with the deepest regret and sadness that I must inform you all of a terrible accident..." The watching crowd looked up at him, a sense of dread overcoming them. Hanssen bit his lip. "I was trapped for quite some time with a truly remarkable nurse. Some of you knew her well. Elizabeth Tait." The crowd gasped in horror. Hanssen continued but uncharacteristically his voice was cracking as he spoke. "She saved my life, at the risk of her own." He looked directly into Elliot's eyes. "She fell..." Silence swept over them. Cold, unbearable silence. The silence of humility for Henrik Hanssen. At last Elliot broke it.
"You're the first you know..." he said croakily.
"No one else has got out?" Hanssen asked, surprised.
"They're still searching. So many dead." Hanssen thought fast.
"Who else is missing?"
"Jac Naylor, Joseph Byrne, Frieda Petrenko, Penny Valentine, Oliver Valentine, Chrissie Williams - "
"Chrissie Williams?" Hanssen repeated. Mark looked up at him, listening intently. "That can't be right, she left early this morning...".
"Are you sure, are you absolutely sure?" Mark said fast and furiously.
"Completely. Mr. Williams, Chrissie is not in there."
"Oh thank God. I thought I'd lost her..."
Frieda and Penny could hear voices approaching them. They broke apart. Frieda unconsciously decided to shout.
"Hello, is anybody there?" They waited with bated breaths.
"Can you hear me?" Penny's heart rose.
"Yes! We're in here!" Penny shouted back.
"We're making our way through, just sit tight. Don't panic." Penny glanced at Frieda. Frieda glanced back. They said in unison,
"We're getting out..." They hugged.
He was cackling to himself. Shivering. He surveyed the chaos he had caused and simply kept on laughing. His neck was bleeding, but he could hardly notice it. He didn't seem to care. He stepped out into a burning corridor and began to walk quickly away. He stopped. Staring down at burnt corpse, he kicked at it dispassionately. Then he hurried away...
Joseph gasped for breath. He lowered Little Jac to the floor to allow himself a small rest. Hearing his gasps, Jac stopped. She looked back, her eyes narrowed.
"Joseph?"
"I'm alright. I just. Need. To. Rest." Joseph blinked fast. Then he shook his head, trying to clear it. His eyes felt foggy, the lids droopy. He fought to stay awake but he felt so tired. Jac could see him faltering, she ran to his aid.
"You mustn't sleep. Keep awake, Joseph, do not sleep." Joseph nodded. Then his head dropped. "Come on Joseph! We haven't got time for this, we have to get out now!" She forced Joseph to his feet and beckoning Little Jac they set off again.
He swept around the corner in a trancelike state, the surroundings barely sinking in.
Jac, Joseph and Little Jac walked huddled together towards a corner in the corridor.
He was walking down the corridor into the direction of the fire, although he didn't know it. Then something caught his eyes, three people, a man, a woman and a girl walking towards him. They looked utterly dishevelled. He kept on walking, ignoring them. Jac stopped and stared as he strode past. She grabbed him by the arm.
"Hey, you, where are you going?" Jac felt the man wrench his arm away from her. He spat in her face. Joseph found some new strength and swung his fist at the man, making contact with his face.
"She asked where you were going..."
"That not any of your business!" The man snapped, his voice low and pulsing. Joseph was amazed.
"You do realise you are walking right into the heart of the inferno?" The man said nothing. He merely scowled. Joseph looked at his hand. A small burn grabbed his attention. It wasn't a burn from the fire, it looked like more of a burn caused by a wire. Joseph thought fast. Then it hit him. "It was you wasn't it? You did this..." Jac gasped. The man just smiled.
"You got me. I thought someone would." He grinned and shrugged. Then pulled out a pistol. Little Jac shrieked in terror. Joseph took a step backwards, making sure Jac and Little Jac were behind him.
"Joseph what are you doing?" Jac whispered urgently. "He's a madman!"
"I'm sorry, I can't let you go!" The man raised the pistol and cocked it. Little Jac began to sob.
"Come on now, put the gun down. It's over. No one else has to die..." Joseph moved forwards his arms out in front of him to show he had no weapon.
"Joseph...be careful," Jac told him.
"Wrong! You have to die," the man retorted. Jac stepped forwards next to Joseph.
"Jac, get back!" Joseph said quickly. Jac took hold of his hand and squeezed it, then let go.
"Why?" she asked the man. "Why do all of this?" The man replied by firing the pistol into the ceiling, showering them with plaster. Jac was beside herself. "There is a bloody child in here you madman!" she yelled. The man looked straight at her.
"So. What." Joseph couldn't believe what he'd heard.
"You really don't care do you..."
"Not one bit." The man cocked the pistol again. Little Jac covered her eyes, shaking. She peered through tiny gaps between her fingers. She could see the man pointing his pistol at Jac. She could see Joseph edge in front of Jac, blocking the man's shot to her. Everything seemed to be happening at twice their normal pace. The man's finger moved to the trigger. Joseph saw his chance...
Frieda and Penny were out. Frieda stood detached from all around her as Elliot ran to hug Penny.
"Dr. Valentine! Thank God you're alright..."
"It was touch and go Mr. Hope. Have you seen Ollie?" Elliot nodded and pointed to an ambulance.
"They brought him out five minutes ago. He's being taken to St. James'." Penny sighed with relief. "We're still waiting on Jac and Joseph..." Penny looked back up at the hospital. The sheer magnitude of the devastation was incomprehensible. She gulped.
"I hope they make it..." She walked towards the ambulance carrying Ollie. The doors were still open and Penny climbed inside. She called to Frieda. "I've got to care for Ollie!" Frieda nodded, understanding. Penny turned to Ollie, lying on the stretcher. "Hey, you..."
"You made it," Ollie said weakly...
Joseph leapt at the man, making a grab for the pistol. They grappled tenaciously. Jac made an attempt to help but was thrown back. Joseph snatched at the man's legs, causing him to fall. Then without warning, without any indication, the pistol fired like a whip cracking. Jac closed her eyes, waiting for the bullet to strike her. But it didn't. It whistled past her side. Their ears were ringing. Chaos. Jac looked around desperately. Who'd been shot? The man had already run off. Jac couldn't see anything, the shock of it overcoming her. She could make out a gagging noise coming from somewhere near her. Then a voice shouted. It was Joseph.
"Jac! I need you're help quickly! She's losing too much blood. We have to get her out!" Jac stared in horror at the full reality of the situation. The unthinkable had happened. Little Jac was flat on her back, blood pouring from a wound in her chest. Blood dripped out of her mouth as she gagged and coughed. Joseph was applying pressure to the wound with his hands. Jac couldn't think. She had no idea what to do. Joseph kept applying pressure. Jac regained herself. She knelt down beside Little Jac and took her hands. She smiled.
"You're going to be fine. It's alright...it's alright..." Tears covered her face. "That's right isn't it?" Jac looked up with bloodshot eyes at Joseph. "She will be alright?" Joseph said nothing. Jac's lips trembled. "Why?" she asked the air. "Why?!" Jac was screaming. "Why her? She's just a child!" Jac was hyperventilating. She took a long deep breath. "She's just a child..." Joseph looked up into Jac's eyes.
"I know, it's grossly unfair. We have to focus..." Jac was shaking with anger.
"We were so close Joseph! So close!" Joseph checked Little Jac's pulse. Nothing. He released his hands. Stepping back. "No you can't stop Joseph, you can't!" Jac shrieked.
"There's nothing we can do."
"We have to at least get her out! There's still a chance." Joseph nodded. He scooped up Little Jac in his arms and began to hobble on. Jac put her arm around his shoulder and helped him.
"Help! We need some help here!" Jac was screaming. Joseph carrying Little Jac. They had finally got out. Elliot rushed up to them and stared in horror as Joseph lay Little Jac on the ground.
"Dear lord, what happened?" Elliot asked. Jac whimpered.
"She's been shot...it's my fault." Two paramedics were walking towards them, one carrying a portable defibrillator. Jac snatched it away from then and charged it. She placed it on Little Jac's chest and tried to resuscitate. There was no output...
"It's over..." Jac turned to see Joseph's hand upon her shoulder. "There's nothing else you can do, she's gone..." Jac nodded. Then collapsed sobbing into Joseph's chest. The watching crowd were silent. Jac and Joseph in the centre of the circle, Jac visibly distressed. Joseph holding her tightly.
"I'm so sorry," Jac said tearfully.
"You saved my life Jac," Joseph said. "I would have died without you...Thank you." Jac looked into his eyes.
"It wasn't your fault...you tried to stop him. You did everything I expected of you...and more. It wasn't your fault."
"I was reckless. Her death was needless."
"He could have killed us all. I felt safer because you tried. Thank you." Jac and Joseph were staring into each other's eyes. Their heads moved closer together. They kissed.
"You are the perfect man..."
"We are each of us imperfect..."
"For me, Joseph. You are my perfect man."
'THE END'