SIXTH CHAPTER

--- Miguel’s POV ---

“Is she ok?” I asked as soon I was close; I almost fell onto Ericson as I fell to my knees next to him. It really irked me that he was still holding her. Yeah, I know he got to her first and was with her as she passed out, but doesn’t he know you shouldn’t move a person. Especially with how high she fell from though I knew she didn’t hit her head but for everyone else it might have looked like she had.

“She’s ok for the moment but we need to get her to hospital to be sure.” Ericson tells me while still looking her over without moving her or upsetting Crispin. Like his feelings better. I mean yes, he was the first in the whole schemes of things, but he wasn’t the most important person in her life.

“Miguel is she ok?” Miguel?” Looking up I see Lucy fighting against both Adam and Larry, who are trying to keep her back.

“For the moment she is but she needs a hospital. Lucy, go get your mom. We need a ride to the hospital.” I scream at her. She just nods her head before racing home with Adam and Larry hot on her heels. It was the only thing I could think of to keep her occupied while we waited for help. I could hear the sirens and for once was happy that they were getting close.

“Miguel is Mery ok?” I hear someone ask from behind me. Turning around I see Cathy, Chad, Steve, and Terry standing nearby but scared to hear if she wasn’t. I know they mean well as they really do like Merida, but the truth is I still don’t trust them, especially Cathy. Considering it wasn’t that long ago she was one of Nastasha’s lackeys let alone she was part of the cheer squad with Louise.

“I’m hopefully but we’ll know more when she gets to the hospital.” I say as there is nothing else to say about the entire situation.

Just then the police officers arrived and started directing traffic and asking people to make way, as well as directing traffic. That is when I notice that a lot of people are watching us and some of those people are still in their cars. I quickly get up and move behind Crispin and pray I’m not asked to leave. Though I wish he would put her down.

“Can someone tell me what happened here?” one officer asked us as he approached and caused the others to step aside.

“This young lady was waiting on the median for traffic to clear so she could cross to the other side.” Ericson explains as he stands to his full height of 6’2” and looking down at the poor officer. Yeah, Ericson is an intimidating guy until you learn that he is a big softie. He doesn’t believe in violence and in his position, I think it’s hilarious, given he advises the scariest guy out there. Another thing I need to ask is why he is here instead of by HIS side. Then again, I probably won’t get an answer even if I do ask.

“When a car just drove over the median, hitting her square on and sending her about 8 or so feet into the air.” explained Chad given no one else was speaking. Chad really is fearless.

“How fast do you think he was going?”  the officer asked, after regaining his composure and pulling his notebook out of his pockets.

“He was going normally till two houses down and then gunned it. There should be tire marks over there.” Terry explains as he steps up and points back down Carousal Road. At this point the ambulance pulled up alongside us and the paramedics rushed to us.

“Can you tell me her name, age, and what happened?” one says as he kneels next to Mery and starts opening his bag.

“Her name is Merida Cogswell, 14 years old and some manic just hit her with his car while increasing in speed.” I say leaning around Crispin. He snarls at me underneath his breath, but I just squeeze his shoulder hard as the paramedic asks him to put her down. At first Crispin doesn’t till Ericson pats his other shoulder and tells him it will be ok. They then cut her shirt, so they could hook her to their machine while taking her vitals. I just try to focus on her heartbeat as the machine beeps it out.

“Do you get his license plate?” the officer asked.

“WZE-4678. A white scoundrel was behind the wheel.” I barely registered that I answered until Steve patted me on the back and spoke. “Come on dude let’s give them space.” I really didn’t want to move, but one look from Ericson and I was moving back.

“Can you describe what the driver looked like?” the officer asked as he stepped towards me. I didn’t even know what to think of that scoundrel or help the cops find him. I even know Ericson would also want to handle this himself, whenever I get the opportunity to tell him that. I just stood there looking at Mery and said nothing.

“He had sandy brown hair and looked tall, but he was hunched in that dinky little car. His head was touching the top. I remember that, for he was leaning over the steering wheel as he drove at her and then as he drove away, he kept looking out the window. I thought it weird to drive like that, let alone act like that. Then there were his eyes. His eyes looked black, like solid black but I think that was because of the glare from the light on the windows. Plus, he was light-skinned like Miguel said.” Cathy rambled as if it was burning to get out of her. She never once looked at any of us, only looked at the ground. There was something going on with her, but that will have to wait for another day.

I glanced at Ericson, but it was Crispin’s reaction that caught my eye. He was still kneeling by Mery and holding her hand but now he was shaking in anger. Shit, I forgot he could hear my thoughts. Most likely he now knew who it was and wanted first dibs. *I want to be there and don’t say I can’t because I will be there no matter what.* I just about shouted at him in my mind. I see Ericson looking at us and I just bow my head at him. He caught on that we were mentally communicating. During this time no one spoke as if they knew there was nothing more to say or that there was nothing they could do as we waited for the paramedics to finish their assessment.

“She looks to have fractured her arm and legs most likely, though the hospital will be more accurate. Has she come to at all?” asked a paramedic as he looked at Crispin. Crispin, still seething, just shook his head, though he finally did move as they got Mery ready to be transported.

“Which hospital are you taking her to?” Ericson asked just as they were getting her on the stretcher.

“The community ho…” one paramedic started to say.

“Take her to the tribal hospital on High Spirit Trial!” Ericson demanded as he grabbed Crispin and dragged him away. Crispin tried to fight at first but stopped. Most likely due to something Ericson said through his thoughts and at that Crispin sprinted away.

The officers and paramedics were shocked and tried to question him but a girl I had never met stepped forward and gave them a card. Then she just left; disappeared. The officers looked pale, given their dark coloring, as the color drained from their faces and hurriedly told the paramedics to hurry to the best hospital in the area; First Dynasty Hospital.

I just shook my head at their blatant prejudice. Just because Mery is white, and we are in a low-income neighborhood does not mean she is nobody. I just wish I could scream at them for who she is and watch as they shit themselves, but it is not time. Just not yet.

I watched as the ambulance rushed away and then turned to everyone else. “I’m going to the hospital.” Just as I said that I heard honking, looking over I saw Lucy’s mom waving me over. “I’ll call you all later.” All I said as I ran across the street, Lucy was holding the car door open for me and got in after me. The police officers waved us forward, most likely realizing we were her family. Whoever that girl was I must thank her for making all this much smoother than the headache it should have been.