Nel whimpered from the driver's seat. “I didn't see it!”
Alice leaned forward, panicked.
“Is he okay?”
Rob was frozen in horror.
“Rob! Is he okay?” Alice screamed.
“Wait, you guys know each other?” The taller EMT said incredulously.
Alice didn't hear him. Her senses were flooded with concern for Will. Nel climbed into the back and sat down next to Alice.
“I'm so sorry!”
Rob's hands flew as he worked.
The monitors started going crazy.
“What's wrong? Rob!”
“Shut up!” Rob yelled. He pointed with his eyes at the EMTs. “Get your hands in here and stop this bleeding.” he said to one. To the other he said, “Start charging the paddles.”
Alice held her head; watching the monitors and Rob simultaneously. The monitors added sound to her panic...the heart monitor was slowing at a frightening rate.
“I severed an artery.” Rob managed to tell Alice as he worked.
Alice closed her eyes and tried to regain her calm, but to no avail. Forcing her eyes open, she leaned forward. “Tell me what to do, Rob.”
“I need more clamps!” Rob cried.
“Are you sure about that?” The blond EMT said.
Alice looked up....and stared right into the barrel of her own gun.
The EMT had grabbed her gun without her noticing.
“This isn't a real hold up, is it?” he demanded.
Alice didn't say a word. Nel sat frozen, her eyes huge.
The other man was standing behind his comrade, looking uncertainly from the gun, to Alice, to Rob, to Will, and back again.
“You're a tough one, huh? Maybe he'll talk.” the paramedic with the gun turned to Rob, who crumpled against the ambulance with his arms over his head.
“No, please don't.” the doctor pleaded. “I'll tell you anything.”
Alice stole a glance at Will. Will's blood pressure was dropping rapidly.
“Rob....”
The petrified man didn't move.
“Listen to me. I'm sorry we lied to you.” Alice spoke to the paramedic quietly, urgently. “We were just trying to save our friend. Please, let me save him.”
The brave paramedic hesitated, glancing at Will.
“James, what should I do?” he muttered behind him.
James stepped forward bravely. Maybe stupidly, but bravely.
“Look, I don't know who you two are. I don't know who this guy is. All I know is that this is really, really suspicious.”
His friend nodded in agreement.
“I think...yeah. We should get out of here, Sam.”
Sam nodded. “Yeah...let's go.”
They backed out of the ambulance, keeping the gun and their eyes firmly on Rob and Alice.
Alice felt like puking.
Hurry up, hurry up.
The minute they'd closed the door, Alice spun around to Will.
“Hang in there, Will. Hang on. Rob!”
Rob was still in the corner, curled in a ball.
“Rob!” She reached forward and slapped at him. “Come on, help me!”
He was shaking, but he sat up and looked at Will. “I don't know, I...”
“Rob. What does he need? I'll do it.” She yanked on a pair of gloves.
“Yeah, okay...” He shook his head moments later. “He's a goner.”
“No, no he's not.” Nel stood up and touched Will's hand.
Alice was bent over Will, working furiously as Rob weakly directed her.
Soon, Rob was recovered enough to help Alice. Ten minutes went by, and Will's condition didn't change.
“We're running out of time.” Alice cried. “Nel, take my phone and call speed dial four. That's David's number.”
“What do you want me to say?” the other woman asked, seizing the phone.
“Tell David to come get us. He can track my location from my watch. Do it, now!”
Nel made the call.
“He'll be here in twenty minutes.” she said, hanging up.
“I need more clamps!” Rob shouted.
The monitor's beeping became one long sound....Will's pulse was gone.
“Alice, get your hands out.” Rob grabbed the paddles and raised them in his hands.
Alice pulled out her hands and collapsed against the wall of the ambulance.
“Charging....clear!”
Will's body jolted.
“Charging...clear...”
“Come on, come on...” Alice muttered.
Silence.
Nel's lips were trembling.
“He's gone.”
Rob cursed.
“No, no...” Alice stood up and took Will's face in her hands. “No...”
“Try again, please.” Nel whispered. “Please!”
Rob slammed his fist into his palm.
“He's gone, okay?”
“Try again! Now!” Alice grabbed a scalpel and pointed it at her fake boyfriend. “I'm not kidding, Rob.”
Rob stared at the blade. “Alice...”
“Now, Rob.”
Rob picked up the paddles, his hands shaking.
“Charging....clear.” his voice trembled.
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