Page 8 of Engulfing Emma

“Do you have rope or something else that can be used as a tourniquet to stop the bleeding?”

It sounds like she’s riffling through boxes. “No, there’s nothing.” The panic in her voice is getting worse.

“Emma, I know this is an impossible situation, but try to stay calm. We’re going to help Carter. You and me, okay?”

“Okay.”

“Can you ask one of the people on the other side of the door for a belt?”

“You want me to go out there?” she asks, her quiet voice rising in horror.

“It may be the only way to save Carter.”

“All right.” She takes a few deep breaths. “I keep thinking that Carter is someone’s son. He’s only nineteen. What if this had happened to Evelyn? I’d want someone to do everything they could to help her.”

“Evelyn?”

“My daughter.”

“I think Evelyn has a very brave mother. I can tell that about you. Do you have a pen? I’d like you to write down my number in case we get cut off.”

She laughs quietly. But it’s not a genuine laugh. How could it be? “Pens I have. About five boxes of them. Go ahead with your number.”

After I give it to her, I ask, “Are you ready to open the door? You’ll need to put the phone down and cover it. But leave the line open so I can hear what’s going on.”

“I’m putting it down now. Please don’t go anywhere.”

“I’ll be here, Emma. Go ahead.”

I hear her put the phone down and then I hear another voice. “You’re going out there? Are you crazy?”

That must be Carter. At least he’s still talking.

“I have to,” Emma says. “You’re losing too much blood.”

“Be careful,” Carter tells her.

I hear a knocking sound. “Hello?” Emma shouts. “Can you hear me? I need a few things in here.”

She bangs on the door a few more times, and then I hear an angry voice. “I thought I told you to stay in here, you stupid bitch.”

My heart sinks. What have I done to her?

Chapter Four

Emma

Face to face with the gunman, my heart is beating out of my chest. He’s so close I can smell the rankness of his breath.

“I know you told me to stay in here,” I say, “but you also told me to keep him alive. I need a few things to do that. He’s bleeding very badly.”

He looks over his shoulder, presumably to make sure nobody is going to jump him from behind, but from what I can see, everyone is sitting in a corner, huddled together. Becca’s mascara is running down her face, and she’s holding hands with the other woman.

Our annoyed captor glances at Carter, who’s still moaning. He pauses before giving me an answer. I wonder if he’s weighing his options. “What do you need?” he asks.

“A belt,” I say. “A bottle of water, and some hand sanitizer.”

He looks down at his own belt, but then shouts behind him, “You, Skeletor, take off your belt and slide it over here.” His attention turns to Becca. “You go through those bags and shit over there. Chicks always keep water and hand sanitizer in their purses.”

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