Chapter 30 – Emily
I drop to my knees beside Aiden and put his head in my lap. “Aiden?” I brush his hair away from his forehead. “Aiden, wake up. Please wake up.” He’s out cold, and he’s not so much as fluttering his eyelashes. “Tom.” I look up through tear-filled eyes. “Help him.”
Tom scoops Aiden up into his arms like he weighs nothing and lays him on the couch. “Marjorie, get a cold cloth from the kitchen.” He turns to me. “He’s been through a lot, Emily, and I know you’re worried, but you need to give me some space here.”
Nodding, I move to sit in the chair. And then I watch as Tom and Marjorie check Aiden over and try to wake him up.
This entire time, he’s been the calm one, always telling me things were going to be okay, praying faithfully for rescue and safety. He had saved my life, and all I can do in return is sit here. It doesn’t seem like enough.
God, if You’re listening, please let Aiden be okay. I can’t do this without him, and I promise if You don’t take him for me, I’ll be the best daughter ever. I’ll stop drinking and partying. I’ll go to church and be nicer to people. I sniffle and wipe tears with the back of my hand. I’ll do anything to make sure he’s okay. Anything.
A small groan escapes Aiden, and his eyelids flutter. I bolt out of the chair. Wake up. Please wake up. Another groan, and then he sits up. I choke back a sob. He’s okay!
“Easy there, kiddo,” Tom says. “Here.” He takes the bottle of water Marjorie holds. “Take small sips.”
“Thank you,” Aiden says, his voice raspy.
“How do you feel?” Tom asks. “Are you dizzy? Seeing spots?”
Aiden shakes his head. “Just embarrassed.”
Marjorie chuckles.
With Tom’s concerned guidance, Aiden stands. He doesn’t wobble or otherwise show any signs of something more serious that passing out. Aiden approaches me. “Sorry I scared you.” He offers a tentative smile.
I hug him, burying my face against his neck. “I’m just glad you’re okay.” I lead Aiden back to the couch, worried he’s not doing as great as he says, and we sit. “So, now what?” I ask.
“I know our situation isn’t what any of us expected, but we’re alive,” Tom says.
I nod as tears stream down my cheeks. The severity of his words crash down on me. We’re really stuck here. Forever. I’ll never see my parents or my brother or my friends ever again. I go from silent tears to shoulder-shaking sobs. Aiden will never see his parents again, either. The two other people in this room are now my entire world.
“But it’s going to be okay. I’ll go through all of Brenda’s research and see if I can make sense of it. In the meantime, we stay put, all right?”
“Yeah, okay.” I hiccup.
Marjorie nods. “I’ll take stock of what we have for food and other supplies.”
“We need to make sure no one can get down here,” Aiden says. “If we’re going to hide out while you go through Brenda’s stuff, we need to make sure it’s safe.”
Tom nods. “I’ll fortify the door first, then we’ll go through the bunker.”
Aiden stands. “I’ll help.”
I lean back and close my eyes, but sleep is out of my reach. I know I should get up and help, but bone weary exhaustion keeps me rooted in place.
I have no idea what’s going to happen to any of us, or how we’ll survive on the limited supplies in this bunker, but I know, together, we’ll survive. After all, God is with us.