Chapter 179
I can see people moving chairs scraping down, bodies jerking back, someone knocking into a table but it all feels distant. Like I’m watching it from far away as my eyes stay locked on her, she’s not moving mot even a little. Something in my chest tightens painfully
No. No, no, no p>
Before I even realize what I’m doing, I’m out of my seat,my knees hitting the floor hard but I barely feel it as i crawl the short distance toward her, my hands slipping slightly on the mess of melted ice cream m and water on the tiles.
“Hey…hey hey my voice comes out shaky and breathless. J don’t even know what I’m saying or doing, I just… need her to move, need her to react.
I reach her and grab her shoulder, turning her slightly but head lolls.
Everything about it is jus wrong. My stomach flips violently when I realize she might be dead already.
“No I whisper, my hands trembling now.
I lean down, pressing my ear against her chest, I hold my breath for a second Waiting, listening…hoping.
Nothing… no heartbeat, no movement nothing.
She’s gone.
The realization hits me like a punch to the chest, my breathing stuttering.
And then, faintly, through the ringing in my ears I hear high-pitched screamin.
I lift my head to see it’s the two kids, the ones I saw earlier when entering the shop. They’re huddled near the corner, clutching each other, crying so hard their bodies are shaking.
Something in me snaps at the sight, I don’t thin much neither do I hesitate i just move.
I push myself off the floor and start crawling toward them, my palms scraping against the tiles as I go.
“Elaine Aaron’s voice cuts through the noise behind me as strong hands grab my arm, trying to pull me back.
“What are you doing p>
Another shot rings out, louder tthis time and closer. The sound tears through the room and the screaming gets worse as people are dropping lower, scrambling, knocking things over in their panic and screaming for some to call the police.
My heart slams hard against my ribs as I yank my arm out of Aaron’s grip.
“Let go of me p>
I I need to reach the kids, I need to help them, I can’t let anything happen to them…they are just kids I have to help rhem I don’t even look back, I just keep moving faster n now, my knees slamming against the floor as I reach the kids. They are crying uncontrollably, their faces wet, hands gripping each other so tight their knuckles are white.
“Hey…hey I say quickly, my voice shaking but firm enough to cut through their panic.
“It’s okay, I’ve got you…come here.” I say as I grab the edge of a table that’s been knocked halfway over and shove it fully onto its side, creating a barrier.
“Get behind this,” I tell them, pulling them gently but urgently. Rhey don’t argue as they scramble behind it immediately, still sobbing.
“Stay low,” I say, crouching in front of them.
“Don’t come out. No matter what, okay p>
They nod quickly, too scared to speak.
“Where’s your mommy are you here alone p>
The smallest one’s lips wobbles a little like he’s struggling to answer me.
“No our m mom brought us here. Sh she went into the bathroom.” The older one answers me.
Another loud bang echoes through the shop and I flinch my chest tightening again.
But I stay where I am…i can’t leave them.
I just can’t p>
I’m thinking of how I can move them to the bathroom to hand them over to their mom when strong ans fiem arms wrap around me from behind.
Aaron.
“What the hell are you doing?” he snaps, already pulling me back.
I struggle immediately.
“No no wait p>
“They’re covered!” he says sharply, dragging me away from the table.
“They’re safe…move p>
“I’m not leaving them p>
But he doesn’t stop and he doesn’t even slow down. He pulls me across the floor, half dragging me as I try to twist back toward the kids.
“They’re just kids!” I shout, my voice breaking now.
“They can’t fend for themselves, Aaron p>
“I know!” he fires back, his grip tightening.
“But you staying there won’t help them p>
I shake my head violently, my chest heaving.
“I couldn’t just leave them! I i have to help them”
Another gunshot cracks through the air This time much much closer, too close.
Aaron doesn’t give me another second, he hauls me up and pushes me toward a door at the back. I barely register it before he’s shoving it open and dragging me through as we stumble into a narrow hallway.
The noise from the shop muffles slightly behind us but my heart is still racing, pounding so hard it feels like it might burst out of my chest.
Aaron slams the door shut behind us and turns on me immediately.
“Don’t you ever fucking do that again,” he says, his voice low but intense.
I’m breathing hard, my hands still shaking.
“You expect me to just leave them there?” I shoot back, anger flaring through the fear.
“They’re children, Aaron p>
I scream my voice cracking slightly. Y
“I couldn’t just sit there and do nothing p>
My chest rises and falls rapidly, my whole body still buzzing from adrenaline, from fear, from everything that just happened.
“I couldn’t p>
The door flies open and we stumble out into the back alley.
Aaron doesn’t give me time to adjust as his grip tightens around my arm as he pulls me forward.
“Move p>
I don’t argue this time. My legs are already moving, half-running beside him as we rush down the narrow alley.
Trash bins line the walls and tje ground is uneven and damp in places. My shoes slip slightly but I keep going, my heart still pounding violently in my chest.
Behind us, the muffled noise from inside the shop spills out through the open soor.
Then p>