Too Young (The Jewel Project #1)

Chapter 22.1 - The explosion

"No time. Move!"

A loud crack filled the hut as the door ripped in two. The lock remained in place on its plank while the rest of the door smashed against the wall. Kyle rushed in followed by Sam, Tom, Jerry and Billy.

Jessie sighed with relief. Pathetic, but she almost felt like crying out with joy.

Kyle reached Kay and ripped her ropes off with his bare hands. He gave Kay a short kiss and pushed her towards the door, then freed Jessie as well. "I have special orders regarding you."

Jessie rolled her eyes. "Fascinating, but I'll hear his unneeded excuse after we get out of here." She rushed towards the door, but almost tripped over Jerry who was lying on the floor. "What are you...?" she shook her head.

"I just tripped over that thing." Jerry looked over his shoulder and his eyes widened.

Jessie's breath caught in her throat, making her gag. Jerry had tripped over a small box they hadn't noticed before. A box that had a timer and it was ticking away. Only one minute left.

"Everyone out, now!" Jessie yelled and made a run for it.

Christine, Kay and Angie were already running up the hill, Sam and Tom right behind them. Jessie slowed down and looked back. Tina and Jerry rushed past her. Kyle was still next to the door. Billy shoved Alice, trying to get her to safety.

"Oh, no! I want Jimmy to come and get me!" she shrieked. "If he's so stubborn and so—"

"Move, you stubborn bitch!" Billy yelled at her and pushed her out of the hut. She stumbled and fell to the ground.

"Jessie, what the hell are you doing? Run!" Kyle called out. He frowned and sprinted towards her. Jessie turned away, ready to run, but was knocked down by Tina who skidded down the hill and into her legs.

Before Jessie could get off her, Kyle grabbed her arm as well as Tina's and practically dragged them both up the hill. Sam and Tom ran past them in the opposite direction, undoubtedly going to help Billy.

Jessie's pulse thundered in her ears. How much longer until the bomb exploded? The hill seemed to go on forever. Finally, they reached the top and Kyle released her arm. Jessie pivoted towards the valley, but as she was halfway through it, the ground shook with the force of the explosion and knocked her off her feet.

Smoke filled the air and cinder rained from the sky. Jessie sat up, looking down the hill desperately, but she couldn't see anything because of the smoke. A shadow appeared and Jessie let out a relieved sigh.

Alice clambered to the top of the hill, coughing. Jessie got up, expecting to see three more silhouettes coming through the smoke. They never did.

"Where are Sam, Tom and Billy?" Jerry asked, his voice fading so fast that he actually whispered Billy's name.

Alice drew deep breaths. "What, you mean they're not here?"

Something in Jessie's brain cracked. She rushed to Alice and grabbed her shoulders. "What do you mean? They went back after you!"

Angie shoved Jessie out of the way and grabbed on to Alice's collar. "If Tom died because of you, I'll kill you!"

Jerry came over to tare Angie away from Alice, but Jessie didn't care anymore. She kept looking down the hill, hoping against hope that the three would appear. Kyle passed her and ran down the valley.

"No, Kyle, come back," Kay moaned. Tears poured down her face as she crumpled to the ground and hugged her knees.

Tears streamed down her cheeks as she ran blindly. The heat became unbearable the closer she got to the flames and ashes replaced the air she was breathing. She bumped into something soft but solid and fell off her feet.

Jessie squinted upwards. She grabbed on to Kyle's hand and pulled herself to her feet. He gave no sign that he had noticed her there. Jessie followed his gaze. Flaming tongues surrounded the foundation of the hut. Most of it had already been devoured by flames. No one could have survived that.

Tears poured down her cheeks and she leaned against Kyle. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and squeezed. When she looked up at him, his dark-blue eyes reflected the flames. He seemed to be staring through the fire. And at that moment, Jessie would've given anything in the world to take his pain away, to see him smile again. With all the sobbing, it was becoming very hard to breathe. She hadn't even noticed she was sobbing.

She swallowed heavily. "We should go."

Kyle didn't answer, but followed once she tugged him up the hill. The climb seemed much faster than their run down. Jessie wasn't sure why, but time rushed around her.

She stopped when they reached the top. Christine was crying loudly in Tina's arms. Jerry hugged both of them, his face buried in Tina's hair. Angie leaned with her forehead against a tree, quiet and unmoving. Kay was in the same position they had left her; on the ground, hugging her knees, tears in her eyes. Alice was the only one still standing, looking at everyone with wide, curious eyes as though wondering why they were all so sad.

Jessie led Kyle to Kay. "Take care of my brother," she whispered and turned to Jerry who seemed to be the only one paying attention to her. "I'm going to run ahead and warn Jimmy. If I stay here a moment longer I'll go crazy." She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.

"Can't we do anything?" Jerry nodded toward the valley, his voice choked.

"Not until the flames die down." Jessie hated leaving too, but they didn't have supplies to stay there and they had to get back to camp. "We'll come back."

Jerry's chin trembled, but he seemed to accept her logic. "Keep going south and you'll get there." He searched his backpack and handed her a compass.

"Why should you go?" Alice woke up from her contemplation. "I'll go tell him."

Jessie marched to Alice and stopped a few inches from her. "You weren't fast enough to get your skinny butt out of that cabin. Sam, Tom and Billy should've let you die," she said between her teeth, turned away and rushed through the trees.

Author's note: Not much longer now. We only have 7.5 chapters to go and it's all over. As you've probably noticed, things are getting pretty dramatic :)

This chapter is dedicated to ljthomas because explosions :)