Chapter 2: Bleeding for the Truth

Chunks of rubble tumbled as Derek strained at the slab. I couldn’t bear to picture my mom, pinned in darkness. My stomach twisted. I shoved Derek, wild with panic.

Loose debris scattered. He staggered, steadying himself with Lillian’s help. His eyes flashed—cold and furious.

“Emily, don’t push me—”

Before he could finish, I slammed my head against a stone. Blood spattered, hot and fast, down my face.

I screamed, “You don’t believe my mom’s under there? I’ll bet my life!”

I jabbed at the slab, blood and tears blurring my vision. “Listen! My mom’s knocking, calling for help. Why won’t you believe me?”

My vision flickered black, and I slumped, dizzy. Somewhere, a car alarm wailed on, ignored.

Derek yanked me upright, conflicted.

Lillian sniffled, “If that’s the case, Derek, go check.”

She bit her lip, turning away. “Max is strong. He’ll wait.”

Derek sighed, ruffled her hair. “You’re still the kindest.”

He shot me a glare and finally checked the other side, pressing his ear to the slab. I forced myself to breathe, heart pounding.

I prayed, Mom, please hang on.

But as I moved closer—Derek shoved me, slamming me into the slab. My face and arms scraped against rebar, blood trickling down onto the concrete, leaving a visible mark.

He snarled, “Listen for yourself. Hear anything?”

The sting of metal and chaos in my head. [This guy is such a jerk. Dump him, girl.]

[Her mom’s probably already passed out.]

[Guess I’m just the supporting act in someone else’s happy ending.]

Panic roared inside me. My head pounded so hard I couldn’t hear.

No—there was no sound.

Lillian whimpered, “Derek, Max’s voice is fading. Is he dying? What do I do?”

Derek moved to go.

“No!” I grabbed him. “My mom’s unconscious. We can’t wait. Help me save her!”

My words trembled with fear.

Derek paused, then scoffed.

“Emily, you’ll say anything to compete with Lillian. If your mom was really stuck, we’d have heard her by now. Stop making things up.”

He shoved my head against the slab, his breath hot at my ear. “Why didn’t your mom call out? She lose her voice?”

He straightened, checked his watch, and glared. “I’ve wasted ten minutes on you. If Max dies, don’t even think about us getting married.”

He went to Lillian, wiping her tears. “Don’t worry, Max will be fine.”

Lillian nodded, gazing at him like he was her hero.

“Derek, don’t blame her. I made her mad, and Max suffered.”

I stared at my blood and tears streaking the slab.

My mother’s gentle face floated before me. She’d always said, “Our little Emily’s grown up. You choose who you love. As long as you’re happy, that’s all I want.”

No—without Mom, I’ll never be happy.

I wanted to hold her, to take back every mistake, to see her smile again.

“Mom, please, don’t leave me. I’ll save you. Please.”

I blinked furiously, fighting tears. I dug with bloody hands, ignoring the raw pain, the grit under my fingernails. When Derek called for neighbors, I was still clawing at the dirt, my blood smearing the concrete.

They saw me kneeling, fingers torn, nails lifting from my skin, bleeding for the truth.