Chapter 215: Cherish
"I'll go chat with the head honcho," Larry mused for a sec, then got up to find someone.
Twenty minutes later, Larry came back, saying the boss man planned to dig two tunnels from different directions. Our tunnel would lead straight to the school gate. The main goal was to rescue those stuck in the classrooms first. If we didn't get everyone, we'd expand from there. The time trapped wasn't long, and the disaster wasn't too bad, so there were definitely survivors. As long as the survivors knew where others were, the rescue would go smoothly.
The two tunnels: one connected the classroom door to the school gate, and the other linked the back door of the classroom to the outdoor restroom.
After getting the lowdown on the rescue plan, the boss man said progress would be quick, and everyone got pumped again.
It was clear that many folks doing the same work as us were locals. We were doing it for Brad, and they were doing it for their homes and loved ones, all busting their butts.
I had never done such hard labor before and could barely feel my legs and arms. But I kept pushing myself, holding on to the belief that I needed to save Brad, which kept me steady every time I was about to collapse.
No one spoke, no one complained, and no one gave up.
Midnight hit, and everyone's energy was tapped out.
The boss man told everyone to stop working, grab some grub, and rest for three hours before continuing.
The folks who followed us into the valley brought the food.
I was so worried about Brad that I couldn't eat a bite. Before coming here, I thought things wouldn't be so bad. It was only when I got here that I realized how serious it was. And what I could do was so limited.
For the first time, I felt so useless. Besides crying and worrying, all I could do was shovel sand and mud.
Time flew by, but the digging was still slow. I was so scared I wouldn't be able to save Brad.
"Eat something," Daniel handed me a bowl of soup and some bread. "If you get sick, we'll have to take care of you."
He was right. I was a girl, not exactly built for this, and if I didn't take care of myself and got sick, I'd just slow everyone down.
I forced myself to eat, and as my body warmed up, I seemed to regain some strength. I got up to keep working, but Adam pulled me back.
I turned around, a bit ticked off. Adam was holding my sleeve with his left hand, and Daniel's right hand was still in the air, not yet pulled back.
Their eyes met, silently clashing, neither willing to back down.
In this round, if I were an outsider, I'd call Adam the winner. After all, he was holding my wrist.
But right now, I had no time to be proud of having two great guys fighting over me. My mind was full of Brad's safety, and nothing else mattered.
"Let go of me, I need to work."
"No, you need to rest."
This time, they were actually on the same page and stopped me in unison.
"Let go, I'm not tired."
Was I really not tired? I was exhausted, but I didn't dare rest. I was afraid that a moment of rest would cause Brad more suffering. I was even more worried that if I was a little late, something might happen to Brad, and I'd hate myself forever.
With them holding me back, I couldn't break free. I started to struggle like crazy.
I was making such a racket that I woke up the folks resting nearby. Everyone looked over, and I realized I was causing a scene.
"Jane, cut it out. You can't do much on your own. Follow the plan and rest. If Brad's hurt when we find him, how will you take care of him?" Larry snapped at me, and even Hugh came over, backing Larry up and telling me to chill.
Hugh said he was just as worried as I was, but we couldn't go rogue.
I had no choice. I couldn't fight them all, so I found a spot next to Larry and lay down.
I must've been running on pure adrenaline. As soon as I relaxed, I passed out in minutes, not even dreaming.
I slept for a long time until cheers woke me up.
When I opened my eyes, I saw the blue sky and white clouds above, surrounded by green trees and blooming flowers. The wooden board I was lying on was rough, but I saw the tunnel in front of me had been dug all the way through. Dozens of people were crowded in the tunnel, cheering, with hats flying in the air.
Turns out, while I was asleep, they not only dug through the tunnel but also rescued everyone. Otherwise, the cheers wouldn't be so loud.
Feeling lighter than ever, I jumped up and ran towards the tunnel.
The rescue was a total success. The workers, all in their twenties, were grinning as they walked out, talking about where to go for a celebratory meal.
The path was narrow and crowded, and I had to push hard to get to the end of the tunnel.
What I saw were a few wrecked houses that were now unrecognizable. My friends stood outside, peering into the interiors.
Larry saw me and smiled, pointing inside. "Brad's fine. He'll be out soon."
"Awesome, I want to go in and get him." I leaped forward with joy and ran inside, not caring about the muddy water and dirt.
As I passed Daniel, he gave me a complicated look and turned away.
I felt a sudden chill down my spine, and my previously light and joyful mood turned cold.
As I was trying to figure out Daniel's look, I saw Brad carrying a woman out.
He was covered in mud, his suit in tatters. He held the woman in his arms with great care, not even looking up, speaking gently to her, "It's okay, I'll take you to the hospital right away."
The woman wrapped an arm around Brad's shoulder, burying her face deeper into his chest, saying something I couldn't hear.
Brad strode past me with such urgency that he didn't even see me standing right in front of him.
I suddenly got why Daniel gave me that look.
In the two days and nights of the incident, or maybe in the month since Brad left for Silverbrook City, what had happened to make Brad so tender and protective of another woman?
The look and tone I thought would belong to me forever were now directed at another woman.
Who was she? What was her relationship with Brad?
My heart was in turmoil, sour and painful, with countless thoughts flooding in. My ears were buzzing.
Two days and nights, life and death together, no matter what happened, it would leave a deep mark in his memory, possibly unforgettable for a lifetime.
It wasn't until he walked several steps past me that I finally managed to say, "Brad."
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
