Perhaps it was the sight of blood, or the flames that were still reaching for the sky, but the little boy seemed shaken. His eyes growing wide as if seeing for the first time what was truly happening around him. He was watching the driver of the tanker who was walking up behind me as I swayed there on my knees. Only a hint of movement and pressure gave warning to the sudden surge of pain from the screwdriver being yanked out by the driver of the tanker. My vision grayed and for a minute it seemed as if I was going to pass out.
“Hey! What did you do that for!” It was the boy.
“She was done with it.” The driver said as if it was obvious as to why he had done it. And then as if nothing was wrong, paying no heed to blood on the screwdriver, the driver left.
“What’s going on?” The little boy asked me as I sat down on my legs and checked my pockets for something to put pressure on the wound with. I finally settled with my right hand as I had nothing and was too dizzy from the pain to move to get something.
“Why is everyone acting so strangely?”
“I don’t know.” I answered him weakly. “I’m trying to figure that out.” Though how I was going to do that now, I wasn’t sure. No one seemed to notice or even care that I was hurt, other than the kid.
“You need help first!” He exclaimed. “You’ll bleed to death if you don’t get that taken care of! We‘ve got a first aid kit in the car, just a sec.” He turned and made a dash for the car he had been in, taking a moment to climb in and then run back over with a small case in hand.
“What’s your name?” He asked as he opened up the case and began to pull out bandages and start working them under my shirt in front and back before finding a way to semi wrap them in place and then make a temporary sling for my arm.
“Crystia. What’s yours?”
“I’m Jim.” He said a little shyly as he finished up, closing the medical kit.
“Thank you Jim.” I gave him a little smile. “You did a good job with the bandages.”
He blushed a bit, muttering something about learning how to do so in school and then looked around as if checking to see if anyone else was hurt. When it was clear that no one was and that they were all still behaving as if nothing was wrong, he set the kit down and told me to stay put while he ran over and tried to get someone to help. But they were busy talking on their cell phones, making arrangements for someone to come and get them. Jim's pleas for assistance went unanswered.
I was wondering what would happen next when of all things a helicopter came in to land. It seemed to be there for some actresses who were at the island to do a play for the wealthy families. Though how I knew why they were there, I couldn’t have told you. I just did. It was clear that Jim was having no luck convincing someone to help out since they were ignoring him altogether. So I struggled to my feet and made my way over to where the helicopter pilot was arguing with Jim.
“I’m telling you...” He was saying. “She needs to be flown to the mainland! The hospital won’t open for another week and she needs medical care!”
“What are you talking about? Everything is fine Master…”
“Everything is not fine.” I interrupted the pilot, fighting to stay standing and then smiling a tiny bit when Jim moved to support me, wrapping his arms around my waist as he steadied me.
“Does this look fine to you?” I indicated my blood soaked shirt. But like the rest of the people, even that was not enough to let him see that things were going wrong. What the hell is the matter with these people? I felt myself starting to sway, even with Jim’s help I was not going to be able to stay standing for long.
“That’s enough arguing!” Jim snapped! “You’re to take her to the mainland at once!”
To my surprise the pilot nodded at Jim, accepting his order. “Very well Young Master, but we must stop at your parent’s house to get their permission first.”
Ten minutes later, we were on our way, the pilot heading for one of the large mansions that were situated on the highest point of the island. The view was beautiful, with the calm summer like air and the surrounding ocean, but I was in no mood to appreciate it.
