Chapter 4: Daylight
By the time they reached the third floor, Liam's muscles were screaming. Carrying a full-grown adult down endless flights of concrete stairs while wearing fifty pounds of gear was a monumental task. Behind him, Sarah was running on pure fumes. Her contractions were coming closer together, but she hadn't let go of his coat once.
"Rescue Three, this is Command. Status?" his radio crackled.
"Command, Rescue Three," Liam grunted, sweat stinging his eyes. "I'm in the East stairwell, passing floor three. I have two pregnant civilians. One unconscious with head trauma, one conscious and in early labor. Have medical ready at the lobby doors."
"Copy that, Rescue Three. Medics are standing by."
Two minutes later, Liam kicked open the ground-floor exit. The sudden influx of natural sunlight and the chaotic noise of the staging area washed over them. Dozens of first responders swarmed the lobby.
Instantly, hands were on them. Paramedics lifted Mary from Liam’s shoulders, transferring her onto a gurney and rushing her toward a waiting ambulance, shouting medical shorthand.
Another team guided Sarah onto a separate stretcher. As they laid her back, she pulled the oxygen mask off her face. She looked frantic, her eyes darting around the sea of uniforms until she found Liam, who was leaning heavily against a concrete pillar, catching his breath.
"Alex..." she whispered, her voice weak but urgent.
Liam walked over to her stretcher. He reached into his deep pocket and pulled out the diamond ring. He held it up so she could see it glinting in the daylight.
May you like
"I have it," Liam promised, his soot-stained face breaking into a reassuring smile. "I'm going to find him, Sarah. And I'm going to make sure he puts this right back on your finger. Now go let them take care of you."
Tears of immense relief flooded Sarah's eyes as the paramedics rolled her out into the bright morning air.
