CYOA Page 106
Sep. 13th, 2013 02:30 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lumy12You decide you can't risk getting trapped in that window-less back area. The prospect of practically climbing through fire isn't pleasant, but... just go NOW, just do it-- deep breath--
Keeping to your side of the window as much as possible, but with your back to the flames, you stick one leg through -- something falls off the wall above you! -- the curtain rod? -- and your back leg feels extremely hot -- you hurtle out the rest of the way and roll a few times on the ground. You immediately succumb to a coughing fit; that deep breath saved you from inhaling the smoke you just pushed through, but it's not like there was any clean air in there to begin with...
"Ellie! Ellie-- are you okay?!" Joel is rushing toward you!
You nod, but when you try to speak, you just cough some more. Thank God he didn't go in there! You let him help you stand up, then twist around to look at the back of your 'hot' leg -- your pants aren't on fire, at least.
Joel follows your gaze. "Singed," he observes. "C'mon, let's get away from here." He puts his arm around your shoulders and walks you out to the street before looking over the rest of you. "That smoke..."
"I'm okay," you assure him.
"You sure? You can breathe okay?"
"Yeah."
"It don't hurt?"
You hesitate. "The coughing hurt." That's probably why you still feel some discomfort in your chest and throat, just leftover from that. "I wasn't in there very long. I didn't breathe in that much of it."
Joel frowns. "We need to get to that hospital as fast as we can. You can ride with me an' I'll take--"
"I said I'm okay," you cut him off, not unkindly; you know he can't help being concerned, but it's like he didn't even hear what you said. "I can ride. What about you? Are you okay?"
Naturally, he says he's fine... and since he's not bleeding, limping, or wincing, you suppose he's telling the truth (you are both in the habit of downplaying things, so as not to worry the other -- also, there's just no reason to whine about every little scrape and bruise, is there?).
You're not really okay. At least, not completely. But it hurt to breathe when you had cracked ribs, too, and there was nothing you could do about it. You just had to wait it out. It sucked, but you healed. You feel like Joel doesn't need to know; you can tell he's worried about you enough as it is, with the way he's watching you more than your surroundings.
You push on farther that night than perhaps you otherwise would have, which is also an indicator of Joel's concern for you... his eagerness to get to the hospital. But he's also concerned about you overdoing it, so not too much farther. You stop for the night at a little house far enough away from the highway that Joel feels comfortable. He doesn't want to have a campfire (even though you told him it's fine!), and he insists on you going to bed while he finishes the nighttime chores. You're quite tired, so you don't fight him on that.
Yes, you're exhausted, but it's hard to fall asleep when you can't breathe properly. You're hyper-aware of every painful breath. You try deep-breathing... counting your breaths... it reminds you of trying to get through a panic attack. Man, I haven't had one of those in ages...
Maybe it's the power of suggestion, but right after that thought occurs to you, it feels exactly like you're starting to have a panic attack. You switch on your flashlight, because the darkness makes it worse. You're taking big, gasping breaths that don't succeed in transporting air into your lungs, your heart is racing, I'm gonna die is flashing through your brain--
You didn't see Joel come in, but his hand is on your shoulder. He's saying something about breathing... that you're okay, you're safe... he recognizes this. He knows there's nothing he can do. Sometimes his presence helps. This time, though... this feels different... are you even having a panic attack?
If you are, turn to page 183.
If you're not, turn to page 187.
Carlos
Date: 2020-12-17 06:23 am (UTC)RE: Carlos
Date: 2020-12-17 01:42 pm (UTC)