So here's chapter 19! I'm actually running out of prepared chapters so updates might get a little less regular soon but I will definitely finish this story, have no fear! Thanks to everyone who has reviewed - especially Kirsten, Scribbles97, Pinkbeauty63, plus anyone else who regularly reviews; you guys make my day and I'm so grateful for all your amazing support!
baao xo
Chapter 19:
How people could be so stupid to take a lift in an emergency was just beyond Virgil as he wrenched back the emergency release system to allow his father's employees to escape the rapidly burning building.
The lift was nearly at the floor, but had gotten stuck during its descent - Virgil was sure that when the doors finally opened, he'd be able to see the occupants' feet and they'd have to jump down to get out of the lift, though they needed to get out as soon as possible, considering the lift could give way any second now.
Sweating with exertion and pushing through the pain from the battering his body had received in the explosion, Virgil gave the lever a final tug and the doors to the lift sprang open, revealing three pairs of feet.
"Hello?" called Virgil up to the occupants "can you hear me?"
Almost immediately, a woman's face appeared, her eyes searching for Virgil. As soon as she spotted him in the dim emergency lighting, her face morphed into an expression of complete relief.
"Oh, thank God someone's here!" she exclaimed "We've been so worried no one was ever going to help us out!"
"How many are there of you up there?" asked Virgil, trying to hide any irritation left in his voice from his initial anger of the situation.
"Three," the woman replied "but one of us got injured when the lift dropped. Michael is with him now."
Virgil sighed but kept his composure. Having one of his father's employees injured could make the exit from the lift tricky, not to mention leaving the rapidly burning building that was Tracy Corps.
"How injured?" asked Virgil nervously, dreading the answer. The woman's face disappeared as she retreated back into the lift. He heard her speaking quietly with the other occupants before she returned to Virgil.
"Michael says Askay has probably broken his right leg, and he hit his head but it seems okay - just bleeding a little." she reported.
Virgil could've laughed in relief - the injured man, Askay, certainly didn't have any life-threatening injuries. Broken legs were more of a nuisance if anything, but they were easily treated. Virgil could splint it right here if he could find the right materials. Now all Virgil had to think about was how to get all three of the employees out as fast as possible without any further injuries occurring.
"Right, we need to get you lot out of that lift pronto - I'm worried it could fall again. Could you..."
"Julie," the woman put-in, noticing Virgil's hesitation.
"Julie," continued Virgil thanking her with a nod of his head "climb down here first then help me get the other two out?"
"Sure," she said, nodding. She turned back once more and Virgil assumed she was telling the other two what was going on now. She ducked and slid her legs out through the gap so she was sitting on the floor. She hesitated slightly and Virgil realised why - he could see the drop wasn't more than five feet or so, but to her it must huge, especially with the lift shaft in her vision.
Virgil felt his International Rescue side come out once more when he realised he would likely have to encourage Julie to make the jump down. There had been many instances on rescues when a victim couldn't do a small drop down to himself or one of his brothers, even if the initial accident had been a lot worse. Virgil supposed a lift dropping however many floors could be classed as a pretty big reason for someone to potentially go into shock, so he stepped closer to the woman.
Holding his hand out for her, Virgil began to reassure Julie that the drop wasn't as big as it seemed and after a few minutes of coaxing, Julie had joined him on the floor and only her two male colleagues were left in the lift. Virgil approached the lift once more and called out to them:
"You two need to start moving closer to the door now - Julie and I will help you down."
Virgil could see who he assumed to be Michael turn and face him; he looked a little pale but otherwise in good health. It was impossible to see the remaining injured colleague, so Virgil was just hoping his injuries were exactly as Julie described them.
"I can get Askay to the doorway, but I'll need your help to get him to the floor - I'm pretty sure his leg's broken." said Michael, speaking for the first time.
"Don't worry about that," assured Virgil "let's just get both of you out of there so we can finally get out of this building."
Michael nodded in response and began to help his fallen colleague across the lift and towards the door. After what appeared to be quite a bit of hard work and groans from Askay (and mumbled apologies from Michael), the two remaining employees managed to manoeuvre themselves into a position which allowed Virgil and Julie to help them get back onto the ground. With everyone finally out of the lift, Virgil finally took the opportunity to look at Askay.
Crouching down, he did a quick scan of any injuries before rising and speaking to the group:
"You're right," said Virgil, directing his words at the two uninjured workers, "he probably has broken his leg but there's nothing we can do it about it here." Virgil ran a hand through his already messy hair before turning to speak to Askay who was leaning on Michael. "You'll be alright, but the sooner we're out the better, then the paramedics can see to you."
"Thanks," replied Askay with a grateful though pained-looking smile, "we really appreciate your help! Who knows what could've happened if you had left the building already!"
Michael nodded in agreement: "Thank God you hadn't left with everyone else - I dread to think how much worse everything could've been."
"Well, let's not think about that," replied Virgil, keen to get everyone moving "let's get out of this hell-hole and find some help."
Slowly but surely, the group made their way towards the exit of Jeff Tracy's building. Michael supported Askay as he hobbled down the corridors on one leg, Julie hurried along in front of them, clearly desperate to get out of the burning office block, and Virgil stumbled along at the rear, wincing as each step jarred his damaged knee.
Suddenly, Julie's voice broke the silence that had descended upon the group:
"How did this even happen?" she exclaimed, loudly "I mean, we all saw what happened on that horrid video but it's hardly our concern - why did the Tracy's have to bring us, the public, into their mess?"
Virgil held his tongue, and tried to ignore the conversation that was in front of him.
"It's hardly their fault," replied Michael, breathlessly as he continued to aid Askay down the corridor "they couldn't have predicted that this was going to happen. If anything, I feel bad for Jeff Tracy - imagine if this happened in your family, Julie."
Julie huffed indignantly but did not reply. The foursome continued in silence until they reached the stairs when Julie finally gave her answer:
"Well, this is hardly likely to happen in my family, Michael; we're nowhere near dysfunctional enough. And can you believe it? Jeff Tracy not even paying for one of his sons – I always knew he was heartless but this is a new low!"
Virgil was struggling to keep his retorts back and was grateful when Michael offered a response to Julie's raving instead.
"Why work for Mr. Tracy if you don't even like him?" asked Michael, patience all gone from his tired voice as he aided Askay down each step.
"Dental," replied Julie bluntly.
Virgil couldn't stop himself anymore and addressed Julie himself: "what about the things he does for charity? You don't even know him!"
Julie snorted: "why do you care? It's not like we'll ever meet him – I bet that Hood man is right and he doesn't even host those charity balls himself. As for his sons, what a waste of space they are; pretty boys, all of them."
Counting slowly to ten, Virgil caught Michael's eye and shook his head in disbelief at the woman's attitude. He appreciated Michael's support for his father, though he feared many more of the employees would share Julie's negative view of the Tracy family.
The group finished their journey in a tense silence with Julie leading them in fast strides whilst the rest of them struggled to keep up. Michael was taking more and more of Askay's weight as the exit came closer and closer; Virgil was starting to lag behind as his injuries from the explosion were making themselves more and more known.
(Mostly) limping along, the group finally stumbled across the emergency exit on the south side of the building and there was a collective sigh of relief. Flashes of light glinted through the windows of the doors and Virgil felt his heart sink – the cameras were already here and no doubt they would want to speak to someone about the bomb. Julie turned to the men, a mixture of apprehension and excitement on her face at seeing the crowd.
"Finally," she said, breathlessly "come on, let's get our voices heard!"
She burst out through the doors, with Askay and Michael following behind and a clamour of noise came rushing through the doors at Virgil as he hung back to compose himself. Taking a deep breath, he stumbled out into the dusty street.
"Virgil Tracy!" boomed a voice, and before Virgil could even look for the source, a deafening silence crashed down upon the crowd and in that moment, Virgil knew he should never have gone to that reunion last night.
Seems I can't stop dropping these cliffhangers, but they are so fun to do. Hope you all enjoyed, and as usual, let me know what you thought!
P.S. To anyone who also reads my other fic Space Race, I really hope to have an update out in the next few days (I'm actually writing chapter 4 as I post this fic) but I'm still super sorry about the delay!