Page 8 of Tye

Ward skated towards me, and I saw horror cross his face. Ward’s mouth opened, but I didn’t get to hear what he was going to shout.

Someone hit my body mid-stomach, and they hefted me up off my feet and slammed me against the glass. Screams and shouts erupted as the stadium turned ugly.

I didn’t have time to get my bearings before I was tossed onto the ice. My head bounced several times in my helmet, and the air in my lungs left in a whoosh. Disoriented, I tried to drag oxygen back in, but there was a crushing weight on my chest, and my head continued to bounce on the ice.

The edge of my vision started to blacken as I panicked.

I couldn’t breathe.

The weight disappeared, and I heard my name being bellowed, but it was from a distance. Terrified, I couldn’t get air into my lungs. I couldn’t fuckin’ breathe.

I clawed the ice in desperation, and then everything went blank.

???

Cold air hit me, and I dragged it into my lungs, which burned. Frantically, I panted, relieved my lungs were working. But they didn’t seem to be taking in enough air. Panic flooded through my body once more, and I grasped someone’s arm tightly.

My eyes blinked in the flashing blue and red lights, and I wondered what the fuck was happening.

???

Sirens wail, and I winced. My head hammered, and I was certain my brain was trying to leap out of my skull. Confused, I reached up and touched my helmet.

Odd, I was still wearing it.

A hand moved mine away and placed it back on my chest. There was a mask on my face, and oxygen was being forced into my lungs. A woman cried and begged me not to leave her. Why the hell was someone saying that? She kept pleading with me to fight and not give up. Overwhelmed with confusion, there was only one person I wanted…

Mom.

???

Bright lights whizzed by me as I wheeled past them at a run. I still struggled to breathe, and the agony in my lungs and head almost made me scream. Tears streamed unchecked down my face. Shit, I’d never experienced such agony. I was slammed to a stop, and voices shouted orders as I tried to figure out what the hell was going on.

A torch shone in my eyes, and the pain worsened.

Flinching, I cried out. And once more, everything went black.

???

The beeping of monitors woke me up, and I glowered. My head was no longer riddled with pain, but a dull headache lingered. Relief swamped me as I realised I was breathing normally. Damn, I never wanted to experience that again. The helplessness and panic would be a memory that wouldn’t fade for a lifetime.

A hand held mine, and I shifted my gaze and found a head lying on my bed with blond hair spread out around it.

“Jodie,” I said hoarsely, and my sister jumped as she blinked sleep away.

“Tye?” Jodie whispered as her eyes searched my face. “Oh, thank fuck!”

“What the hell happened?” I demanded, trying to pull the oxygen mask off.

Jodie’s hand slapped over mine. “Bro, let me call a doctor and tell them you’re awake,” she said, attempting to get to her feet.

Nope, I needed my sister and clung to her.

Jodie stopped and sat back down. She reached over and pressed a button instead and smirked.

“Touché,sis,” I muttered.

“How you doing?” Jodie asked as she ran her fingers down my cheek.

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