chapter two
“Help! Help! Help!”
In an instant, the oldest guy, Isaac Hanson, was at his little sister’s side. “What happened?” he demanded. There was no response. “What happened?”
Maddie finally realized he was talking to her. “I . . . I . . .” was all she could manage in reply.
She surveyed the scene. Taylor Hanson was trying to quiet Zac, who was still crying, “Ohmigod! Help!” At the same time, Taylor was also trying to keep his other two siblings, Avery and Mackenzie, away from where Jessica was laying.
Isaac put his arms around his sister and lifted half her body in a pathetic attempt at a hug. “Jessie,” he whispered. “Oh, god, Jessie.”
“No!” Maddie cried, eyes wide. “Don’t lift her like that! Don’t you know anything?”
Isaac glared at her. “Don’t tell me what to do with my sister!” he snapped.
Maddie ignored the harshness of his words. “You have to get her to a hospital. And move her as little as possible. Her back or neck or could be injured - you don’t know. And she probably has a concussion -”
“Shut the hell up!” Isaac hollered.
“Isaac!” Taylor yelled at his brother. Isaac didn’t look away from his little sister. Taylor said something quietly to Zac and then walked over to where his older brother was. “Ike, she’s right. We do have to get Jessie to a hospital.”
Isaac finally broke his gaze from his sister. “How, genius?” he demanded. “We walked here, remember? We don’t even know where a hospital is. And I don’t see a pay phone around here to call an ambulance. What are we supposed to do? Knock on people’s doors and hope they let us use their phone?” He was angry. And scared. Pained tears filled his eyes.
Maddie spoke up. “Take my truck,” she said. “I know where the hospital is.”
Taylor nodded vigorously. “See, Ike? Now, we’d better go.” He walked to the passenger side of the truck and tried to open the door.
“Here,” Maddie called, tossing the keys to him. “It’s locked.”
He just gave a small nod and unlocked the passenger’s door. “All right. Zac, Avery, Mack, get in the truck, okay?” he said calmly. The three of them obliged and climbed in.
Isaac took Jessie up in his arms. “Get the door,” he said to Maddie, motioning with his head to the driver’s side. Maddie did and climbed onto the back bench seat of the truck.
“Hand her to me,” she said to Isaac. He seemed to debate whether or not this was a good idea. “Come on,” she prompted.
Finally, Isaac handed his sister over to Maddie. She held Jessie carefully and tried to move her as little as possible. Finally, when she was safely inside, she rested Jessie’s body on the bench seat, cradling the girl’s head in her lap.
Isaac wiped his eyes and looked at Maddie. “Where are the keys?” he demanded.
“Here,” said Taylor, jingling Maddie's keys.
“You really shouldn’t drive,” Maddie said quickly, carefully.
“What do you suggest? We let you drive?” Isaac snapped. “Sorry, but we don’t have any room in here for another victim.”
His words stung Maddie’s heart. She sniffed hard in an attempt to rid her nose of the tingling sensation that shot through it and blinked back the tears that threatened to form. She couldn’t believe what she had done . . .
Maddie took in a breath. “I’m just saying that you’re in no condition to drive. You’re upset and -”
“She’s right,” Taylor agreed. “Ike, you really shouldn’t drive.”
“Then who will?” he asked.
Taylor shrugged. “Me,” he suggested.
“You’re fifteen! You don’t have a license!” Isaac cried.
“That never stopped you from letting me drive before,” Taylor shot back.
Deciding the battle wasn’t worth it, Isaac nodded slightly and made his way into the back of the truck. After a moment of moving and maneuvering, he sat down and rested Jessie’s feet on his legs.
Taylor climbed into the driver’s seat and slammed the door behind him. After putting on his seat belt and adjusting the rearview mirror slightly, he started the engine and put the truck into gear. “Where’s the hospital?”
Maddie cleared her throat. “Follow this street all the way down. When you come to the end, you’ll have the choice to turn left or right. Turn right. About a half mile from there is the hospital. It’ll be on your left,” she explained succinctly.
Giving a small nod, Taylor hit the gas pedal.
Mackie turned around in the front seat and looked at his older sister. “Is Jessie dead?” he asked in the innocent way only a child of four could manage.
“No,” Zac said quickly. “Jessie’s sleeping. Now turn around and sit down.” Mackie obeyed.
Isaac reached across the back seat and touched the side of Jessie’s face with his hand. “It’s okay,” he whispered as if she could hear him. “Everything will be okay.” He leaned back across the truck and took Jessie’s hand. Eyes still locked on his sister’s face he whispered, “What did you do to her?”
Ashamed, Maddie looked out the window. She could bring herself to reply.