Chapter 33 The Fallen

I am thankful that my seatbelt was strong enough to hold me tightly on my seat despite the collision of the aircraft against the hard ground. Dirt went flying everywhere as the propeller hit it while it was still spinning. I felt Jayson's body pressed to mine as he shielded me from everything that might harm me. I wanted to tell him to worry and save himself instead of me but the situation happened so fast that I was not able to speak even a word.
The helicopter rolled to its side several times. I couldn't comprehend what was going on anymore. I couldn't open my eyes and I felt that Jayson wasn't in front of me anymore. There were no shrieks nor screams from anyone anymore. Another powerful bump shook me and the straps of the seat belt had finally torn, making me sprawl inside the pad. My body hit the metal interior until I flew outside of it. Eyes shut with fear, hoping that my body won't be caught within the range of the spinning propeller, I plummeted against the hard ground, knocking the air out of my lungs. I rolled twice and coughed, as I tasted blood on my lips.
My head must have hit something inside the pad. The pain in my head was killing me, making my vision so blurred I couldn't focus my eyes on the surroundings. I winced and crawled, looking for any of my friends. Did everyone survive? Where's Jayson?!
"HARRIET!!"
Hearing Timothy's voice, I struggled myself to stand up. I felt a rubbery feeling on my leg and when I looked down at it, my jeans were torn and a huge blackening bruise. I moved the hand that had just been newly mended and confirmed that it was good and didn't take any damage from my fall.
"Harriet! Oh, thank goodness you're alive!" Tim embraced me tightly and stared at my face. He looked so frightened and worried. "Are you alright? Any injury?"
"I'm good. Just got a bruise on my leg." I answered him, wincing, as I felt the sudden deep, sharp pains on my left shoulder. "Where are the others? Is everything alright?"
He didn't answer me. Instead, he looked at the crash site and so I turned to observe also.
I feel like I almost fainted at the view. The front of the helicopter was smashed against a huge tree. Its propeller was detached from the aircraft, lying a few meters away from it. There was smoke coming from it which is bad because the enemies might see it and Creepers might be on their way upon hearing the thunderous noise of the impact.
But the most horrifying thing was the pilot was still inside.
"Timothy... he must still be alive..." I murmured to him but he stopped me from going towards it.
"No, Harriet. It's too dangerous to get near it. The engine was sparking and any minute, it might explode."
"What?..." I looked again at the pilot. My eyes widened as it moved groggily, shaking his head. He couldn't get out of the cockpit. His body must be stuck inside it because the front of the aircraft was completely destroyed.
"He's still moving, Timothy! He needs help!"
"But—"
"Let me go." I took his hand away from me and I walked towards the cockpit. Jayson must have seen me because I heard his voice yelling my name.
I must do something to save him. We can't just watch someone die...
As I go nearer the site, the face of the soldier becomes clearer to me. He was pushing himself away from the panel that was compressed by the collision. It appeared that his legs were stuck from it. I tried to walk faster. He must be bleeding badly! I was stopped when he looked at me and shook his head. His eyes are wild with fear.
A loud explosion baffled me. Someone had shoved me down the ground and covered me with its body. It was Timothy!
Another explosion happened inside the cockpit and I saw the pilot burned alive together with the aircraft. I screamed in anger. I was so close... I could've saved him if...
"No, Harriet! Stop it! It's not anyone's fault!"
I didn't realize I was bawling with tears if Timothy didn't speak. I watched how the pilot's body burn to ashes, the dark thick clouds of smoke soaring high to the starry night sky.
"This is bad. We must get out of here. The rebels might see us here if we won't move quickly." Timothy said between his teeth and pulled me up from the ground.
I still couldn't move on from the horrible sight of the explosion. My chest feels so heavy. I could still remember the soldier's eyes before that nightmare happened. I feel so bad about it. Why is it that someone has to die? Is it my fault because I forced the idea to save my family and in exchange for my selfishness, the life of that poor soldier.
I hope the last expression on his face won't haunt me down on my dreams.
"Harriet!" Jayson came rushing towards me and Timothy and grabbed both on my shoulders. "What are you thinking! You were almost blown to bits!
"I couldn't save him..." I looked at Jayson's upset face and the tears that I'd been holding fell incessantly. My shoulders shake as I sob, grieving for the guy that I don't even know the name. "I'm so sorry it's all my fault! If I didn't just—"
"Stop it, Harriet. Whatever happened isn't your fault ok? We'll save your family and bring them back to Zone Twenty-eight." Jayson tried to calm me as he stared straight into my eyes. "Everything will be ok. We have to get out of here as soon as we can."
"Hey." Li came rushing towards us too. Our eyes went wide with worry when we saw his shirt drenched in blood.
"Li!"
"No, it's not mine!" Li answered Tim nervously, his breaths were shallow and his face looked sick and green. "Please help Mona. One of the soldiers has a serious injury."
We didn't ask any more questions because it seemed very urgent. We ran as fast as we could to Mona's location and we saw them sitting under a tree. She's pressing the soldier's stomach to stop it from bleeding but when we looked closer, my face darkened to see the insides of the soldier appear on its ruptured belly.
No matter how much we want to help, I know deep within me that this man is beyond saving.
Upset and full of guilt, I turned my back and walked as far as I could as tears fell from my eyes. I can't take this kind of guilt anymore. I am starting to feel regret. But what should I do? Dad and Carl need me. And I can't just let them suffer on the third level of that bunker while I have all the luxury in bunker four that Timothy provides us. Maybe this is the way things should be. To sacrifice someone's life to save others.
The smoke from the burning helicopter is thinner than minutes ago. Everything was still and the sky was clearer as more stars appeared above. The last time I gazed up from the top floor of the building where we used to stay, it was cloudy and heavy, and the wind was getting cooler on my skin. It must be past midnight.
All I could do is blame myself. I can't look at a dying person's face anymore. I had enough for a day.
I felt Jayson's hand pat my right shoulder and I looked at him as I wiped the tears in my eyes.
"He's gone. Let's move." He murmured in a sorrowful voice. He gave me my rucksack that he must have searched from the ruins and pushed me gently to walk alongside them.
I can't look at the other soldier and Col. Morgan whose faces are both appalled at what had happened. Both of them were holding their weapons, wary of any hostile movement and strange noise in our surroundings. I don't know what to say to them. Should I apologize for the death of their fallen soldiers? If I do that, I wonder if they'll get upset about it. I don't want them to hear that they must protect us. For now, it will just sound stupid in my ears.
Mona's hand is stained with blood and Li was helping her wipe it from her hands. I wonder how she can manage to face that gruesome scene with a straight face. She's the bravest girl I know next to my mom.
"I can't communicate using my radio to the armored mobile. Something is jamming the signal." Col. Morgan informed us while holding his radio, looking frustrated. "We must find a vehicle around this place and get to the planned route."
But before we're just about to suggest anything to the soldier, a loud screech filled our ears.