Paradise Falls: Chapter 19
- Paradise Falls: Prologue
- Paradise Falls: Chapter 1
- Paradise Falls: Chapter 2
- Paradise Falls: Chapter 3
- Paradise Falls: Chapter 4
- Paradise Falls: Chapter 5
- Paradise Falls: Chapter 6
- Paradise Falls: Chapter 7
- Paradise Falls: Chapter 8
- Paradise Falls: Chapter 9
- Paradise Falls: Chapter 10
- Paradise Falls: Chapter 11
- Paradise Falls: Chapter 12
- Paradise Falls: Chapter 13
- Paradise Falls: Chapter 14
- Paradise Falls: Chapter 15
- Paradise Falls: Chapter 16
- Paradise Falls: Chapter 17
- Paradise Falls: Chapter 18
- Paradise Falls: Chapter 19
- Paradise Falls: Chapter 20
- Paradise Falls: Chapter 21
- Paradise Falls: Chapter 22
- Paradise Falls: Chapter 23
- Paradise Falls: Chapter 24
- Paradise Falls: Chapter 25
- Paradise Falls: Chapter 26
- Paradise Falls: Chapter 27
- Paradise Falls: Chapter 28
- Paradise Falls: Chapter 29
- Paradise Falls: Chapter 30
- Paradise Falls: Chapter 31
- Paradise Falls: Chapter 32
Sofia stumbled along, blind in the darkness, her left hand tracing the painted concrete wall to her left, the other clutched to her aching ribs. She stopped, planted her back flat against the stubbled surface, and listened.
Staccato curses echoed and bounced through the black passage, Jax’s angry voice peppering her with rancid fear.
Her breaths came in quick gasps as she thought through her next move. Where am I? Sofia peered around the unlit corridor, but could only make out vague shapes.
She didn’t know this stadium. Her thoughts flew to the last game she had caught with her dad at home. Sofia could almost hear the whack of the bat hitting a ball and smell the savory aroma of roasted hot dogs and nacho cheese. Despite the looming danger, she let herself remember the day.
“You want some cotton candy?” Marcus asked.
Sofia quirked an eye at him. “Mama doesn’t let me.”
“I know.” Marcus raised both eyebrows in comic conspiracy.
“I’m not a little kid anymore, anyway, Dad.”
Marcus’s grin faltered, then faded.
Sofia reached up to smooth her hair and pulled her shoulders back. She felt small, childlike, and had always dreamed of waking one morning with a tall and willowy body. A passing man painted her from head to toe with his gaze, smirked, and winked. Blood rushed to her cheeks, and Sofia savored the fluttering in her stomach.
“She’s 15!”
Sofia whirled toward her father. “Dad!”
Marcus huffed. “Pervert.”
“Dad, you’re so embarrassing!”
“You gotta watch out for guys like that, hon.”
“Whatever. I like getting noticed.”
“I just want you to be caref–.”
“–Drop it, Dad, please.”
They spent the entire game in awkward silence and passed occasional stilted niceties.
Back in the present, Sofia blinked away tears.
“I’m going to find you, you little bitch!” Jax yelled.
Terror twisted in Sofia’s stomach—his voice sounded much closer. She had to move.
Her hand resumed trailing the wall as Sofia crept further down the curving hallway. The ground beneath her sloped downward. Before she could wrap her mind around that fact, she slammed into glass.
“Ooomph!” she grunted, and stifled a cry of pain.
She moved her palm over the smooth surface, feeling for an opening.
“Where are you?” Jax roared, louder. Closer.
There! Sofia’s hand brushed a metal handle. She pulled, and the squeak of unoiled hinges cut through the humid air. A grimace pulled at her lips, but she slipped through the opening and groped for the wall.
She heard her shoe squeak against the linoleum and froze. Jax had stopped screaming after her, which only ratcheted her panic to new heights.
Sofia pulled off her shoes and carried them, breaking into a silent jog.
After a few seconds, she heard the door hinges high-pitched screech.
Jax was right behind her.
Marcus spat a curse as his foot slipped off a step.
“Y’okay?” Fitz grunted.
“Yeah, fine.” Marcus regained his footing and adjusted his grip on Esme’s stretcher. Matty held Bella on his small hip at the top of the staircase, watching their progress with worry carving small lines in his forehead.
The lobby flooring glistened under a foot of seawater, which was still rising.
Marcus glanced at his wife, concerned by her pallid color.
Pain consumed Esme’s consciousness. Every careful movement sent shards of agony up her legs and into her hips. She felt her children watching her and focused on her breaths to keep from crying out.
Wild screams pushed against her lips, which she pressed tight to hold them in. She reined her mind in with all her willpower. Breathe in—out—in—out…
“Here,” said Fitz. “Gently.”
The men lowered Esme between them, setting it on the tiled hall floor. Esme released a quick burst of air with a hint of a groan, then fell silent, eyes closed.
Marcus breathed heavily and peered over the balcony edge to the lobby below. He couldn’t see the water coming through the seams around the doors, but the waterline had already reached the third step.
“Are we high enough?” he asked Fitz.
Fitz shook his head. “We’ll need to go up one more, at least.”
Marcus sighed and let his eyelids fall. He had to block out his reality, if only for a moment.
“We can bunker down in a condo on the next level and wait this thing out.”
“How long will it last?” Marcus asked.
Fitz shrugged. “Could be 12 hours. Could be 24.”
Twenty-four hours. Marcus doubted Esme’s legs had that kind of time. She needed to get into an operating room as soon as possible.
“Let’s do it,” Marcus said. “We all need a rest, but we won’t get it with a flood right behind us.”
Fitz took in a deep breath and nodded.
“Esme?” Marcus said as he kneeled next to her. Her eyelids fluttered and her gaze found his face. “We have to go up another level. The water’s still coming.”
Esme’s jaw clenched. “Do it.”
Marcus scooted to the end of the stretcher and met Fitz’s gaze. “Ready?”
Fitz nodded.
The two men strained up from a squat and began their next ascent.
“Matty, head up in front of us,” Marcus said.
Matty scuttled ahead, clutching his sister to his chest.
“Dada!”
“I can hold you soon, baby,” Marcus grunted. Bella pouted but didn’t cry.
“Does she seem okay?” Esme asked through her teeth.
“She does,” Marcus said.
“And Matty?”
“Holdin’ up like a champ.”
Esme stifled a cry as Marcus readjusted his grip on the landing halfway up.
“Sorry.”
Esme didn’t answer.
When they reached the top of the second flight, sweat dripped down Marcus’s neck, adding to the sticky sheen already there.
Glass broke, the sound loud and jarring.
“Daddy!” Matty cried.
Marcus glanced over the railing and saw two of the entry doors had shattered. Foaming water poured in.
“It’s okay,” he said. “We’re high enough now.” Marcus glanced at Fitz for confirmation, who jerked his chin down in confirmation.
“Let’s set her down and try to get into one of these places,” Fitz said. “The kids can take a load off, and they might have some food.”
“Will anybody be here?” Marcus asked.
“Nope. Everyone’s evacuated except us.” Fitz sighed. “We don’t have floating ambulances. That’s that.”
Marcus focused on his form as he lowered Esme to the ground again.
Fitz headed to a door marked “3B” and tried the handle. Locked.
Marcus walked past him to 3C, but it was locked, too.
Matty whimpered at the sound of more breaking glass and rushing water from below.
Marcus strode to Esme, Matty, and Bella while Fitz tried 3D, which was unlocked. He swung the door wide and wedged a rubber anchor-shaped stopper between the bottom edge and the cool white tile.
“Found one,” Fitz said as he returned to the group.
“Follow us, Matty,” Marcus directed, as he bent to pick up the stretcher once again.
“Marcus—your back,” Esme whispered.
“I’m fine,” he snapped.
Fitz shot him an enquiring look, which Marcus ignored.
They carried Esme into the apartment, down the hall, and toward the family room.
“Bedroom,” Esme croaked. “Please.”
The men swiveled the stretcher, maneuvered it into the master suite, and set it down on a teal blue comforter patterned with pale yellow paisleys.
“I need a minute,” Esme said.
Marcus looked down at her for a moment, and then said, “Okay. A minute.”
He walked out behind Fitz and closed the door behind him. As soon as the latch clicked, he heard soft groans, punctuated by muffled sobs.