20
Evelyn saw the toys clutched in the child’s arms, more scattered at his feet. She remembered the child’s mother had passed away; these were her last gifts.
Evelyn made a decision. She told the male teacher to take the child; she’d follow, bringing the toys to school.
After the teacher left, Evelyn quickly gathered the toys into a burlap sack. As she lifted it, the landslide smashed, through the window!
Time froze; rigid terror gripped Evelyn. She saw only the muddy torrent, thick with debris, roaring over the windowsill, a gaping maw of death; the stench of mud filled her nostrils, suffocating her.
Her mind went blank; her body felt boneless, collapsing as the wave of destruction rushed towards her.
Then, a figure burst through the churning mud, cutting through the chaos, towards her!
Evelyn’s eyes widened.
Sebastian. How…
She watched him skid to a halt, his gaze instantly locking onto her in the corner.
Without a word, he bent down, his shoulder forcefully against her abdomen. The immense force lifted her off her feet; she was spun around bef being hoisted onto his shoulder like a precious burden.
With incredible strength, he carried her towards the only possible escape–the wooden door leading to the neighboring hillside–smashing against it!
A family had reinforced the door with a wooden lock to prevent their livestock from escaping.
The escape route was blocked; disaster loomed closer!
Then, a dull, teeth–grinding ripping sound, short as a hallucination, followed by Sebastian’s body convulsing. A stifled groan escaped his clenched jaw.
Evelyn froze, looking down in terror, her heart freezing–as the door burst open, a wooden splinter, like a cold finger from hell, had pierced Sebastian’s right abdomen!
“Sebastian!” Instinctively, Evelyn touched the wound…the hot, viscous fluid stained her hands; she couldn’t hide the blood gushing from the wound
But Sebastian seemed impervious to pain, comforting her as he continued to
A soft crack. Cold wind, carrying the scent of rain, rushed in.
The wind cut her face, bringing the precious sting of survival.
batter the door.
She glimpsed a corner of the leaden sky, its oppressive gray surprisingly bright.
The door was open.
Sebastian, gritting his teeth, carried her towards the hillside; the landslide receded.
They were safe.
Evelyn thought this, then the world spun.
Sebastian, carrying her, collapsed but managed to shield her.
“Sebastian!”
The sharp roar of a helicopter echoed in the distance.
“Help!”
Evelyn removed her coat and frantically waved it towards the approaching helicop