Chapter 18
Ryan
I narrowly missed the glass as it was pushed through the window and fell into the house. I was sick with fear and worried about Marcus. He had gone away and I heard him yelling. I didn't know why whoever was on the steps turned around and went back upstairs. "Ryan, hurry. Come here. Are you okay? Can you come through this opening? I'll pull you the rest of the way through." I looked up at Bill, who was in the window well motioning at me. I needed to move fast and get to safety. That's all I could focus on. I was a mess of trembling, shaking, terrified nerves.
I slid against the wall until I was in front of the window well and Bill's arms. I raised my right arm. My left one I wasn't even going to try to move. It hurt so bad just hanging down that I couldn't imagine how bad the pain would be if I tried to raise it. "I can't move my left arm. I think the shoulder is dislocated."
Bill blanched, moved his position in the window, and leaned further into the room.
"Walk into my arms. I'll pull you and then push you up. The car is behind the house on the street. As soon as you get up, run. Ok?"
I nodded my head and prepared for pain. Bill tried not to bump my left arm, but it wasn't possible as he pulled me through the window. I tried to stay as quiet as I could but I couldn't stop a high keening sound that escaped. It was the only thing that kept me from screaming due to pain.
I didn't remember passing out, but I must have. I suddenly heard someone yelling for people to get on the ground with their hands behind their heads. I hoped those were the good guys and not my dad's friends. I thought my heart was beating loud until I realized the loud thumps were slowing down and came from behind me. Was there a helicopter?
I opened my eyes to see people running towards me. I flinched and then cried out from the pain of my shoulder. I hoped they didn't take me back into the basement, or take me to another place where Marcus and Bill couldn't find me. I couldn't even move, let alone try to defend myself.
People were suddenly crouched next to me. "Hi, I'm David and I'm an EMT. Can you tell me where it hurts?" I stared at him and then moved my eyes to stare at the guy on the other side of me. They had official looking jackets with patches. My God, hope really was here. I cried. I was embarrassed and sure as hell didn't want to start bawling like a baby, but I had gone through an emotional ringer in the last few hours. I could cry if I wanted to.
"I understand you've gone through a traumatic experience, but we need to know where you're injured and if you have any medical situations we need to know about. We'll get you to a hospital as soon as we can."
"I'm Rick and I'm going to be putting a blood pressure cuff on your arm." The other EMT grabbed something, ran it across my forehead and down my neck. I had calmed down, but was still crying. I was so overwhelmed and scared. I didn't know where Marcus was. I didn't know where Bill was. I didn't know if my parents had been shot, ran away, or if they were going to try to take me away again.
"Do you know-" I sobbed, "where Marcus is?" I sobbed and hiccuped.
"I'm sure he's fine." That was a bullshit answer if I had ever heard one. What happened to Marcus? What happened to Bill? Where the hell was everyone? Was Marcus dead? Was he injured? Was he bleeding out, asking for me? Did my parents kidnap him and take him away? What the hell was going on? I kept crying. I was so scared.
"Do you have any identification on you? Can you tell us your name?" I nodded my head, but I couldn't stop crying. It felt like my entire world was gone. I guess I just didn't have the strength to hold myself together anymore. I raised my right arm and pointed down to my left butt cheek where my billfold should be.
"Are you in pain right there?" One of the EMTs raised my shirt up. "It looks like you're pregnant. Is that correct?" I nodded my head with tears still running down my face. I had stopped crying hysterically and was now only tearing up.
"My wallet is in my back pocket, but don't move my left arm. I think they dislocated my shoulder." The EMT nodded his head and they both worked out some maneuver where I was barely tilted off the ground and they were able to get my wallet out.
"You're Ryan Hodges, correct?"
I nodded my head.
"Do you have any other injuries?"
I nodded my head again.
"My ribs hurt from when they threw me down the stairs. And-" and here I started to cry again. "I'm worried about the baby."
"The fluid and the fat surrounding the baby is very protective. You'd be surprised at how much trauma a body can go through and be fine. Do you have any other injuries besides those? We can see your facial hematoma."
I nodded my head. That side of my face was swollen and hurt like hell now that I thought about it.
"It does hurt really bad, but nothing else is screaming out in pain besides what I already told you."
"Okay, we're going to lift you on this blanket, set you on this gurney here, and get you into the ambulance. You'll be in the hospital in no time."
I trembled. I couldn't go to the hospital. The cops would get me there. My dad was a cop. I didn't know who else was involved in this kidnapping but I couldn't be at the hospital. They'd get me. I didn't know whether I was paranoid or whether I was thinking clearly and recognizing danger, but I knew for certain there was no way in hell I was going to the hospital.
"Is something wrong? You looked scared when we mention the hospital."
I nodded my head.
"My dad, the one who did this, along with my uncle, they're police officers. You can't take me to the hospital here, you can't. I have to go to a hospital out of town. I need to get back. Take me to a hospital back in the city." I even grabbed the EMT's arm. The sheer terror in my eyes should have helped let them know that they had to keep me out of this little town's hospital.