Where was Hudson? He panicked with the thought that his boyfriend was hurt somewhere in this wreckage. He remembered Todd then and some other people whose names escaped him. He rolled to his side, flinching as heated wood and pieces of hot metal touched his skin. Immediately, he returned to his back. He had to find Hudson. He brought his hands to his head and squeezed his eyes shut. Images assaulted him of Hudson and Todd. There was fear and mourning and death. He cried out from the intensity.
In the distance, Shaney heard shouting voices and squawking radios and the rumbling of something large like a truck. He opened his mouth to yell, but no sound came out. Clearing his throat, he tried to yell for Hudson, but the sound barely registered in his own ears.
A muffled shout came from nearby and then he heard someone say, “Holy shit. I found someone.”
Crunching noise filled his ears and Shaney blinked as a face under a large yellow helmet leaned over him, blocking his view of the sky.
“Hey, buddy, can you hear me? Are you hurt?” the man asked, and Shaney had to take a moment to process what he’d said.
Shaney wasn’t sure if he was okay or not. He didn’t care. He needed Hudson. Niggling at his mind was the thought that he was never going to see him again, and that made him want to puke. Did they have a fight?
The man spoke into a radio on his shoulder. “I need a blanket and a stretcher ASAP.”
Shaney shook his head and tried to get up. The man helped him to sit. “Take it easy.”
Shaney caught sight of miles of creamy white skin and his dick hanging out. Oh, fuck. He was naked. He quickly covered his genitals.
The fireman pulled off his jacket and wrapped it around Shaney’s shoulders. Shaney pushed his arms into the sleeves of the oversized coat. “I don’t know how the hell you survived the fire, but you seem to be okay. Any trouble breathing? Anything hurt?”
Fire. Hudson’s barn flashed into his mind. He grabbed at the man’s white T-shirt, desperate for information. “Hudson?” he managed to croak out. Please, be okay.
“I don’t know. A few guys got out. Two people are reported missing. Once I get a stretcher, we can get you out of here,” the fireman said.
Shaney shook his head. “I can walk.” The need for Hudson expanded and filled him with a crush of panic.
The fireman frowned. “You aren’t wearing shoes.”
“I have to find him,” Shaney pleaded, eyes filling with tears. He had to feel Hudson’s arms wrap him up tight and tell him he loved him and never let him go.
“Just stay calm. We’ll find him.”
Shaney pushed off the man and rose on wobbly legs. Blood rushed his ears and he teetered. The fireman grabbed his elbow. “Please, wait for the stretcher.”
Shaney tried to step past the man, who sighed heavily. “Stubborn kid.”
Unceremoniously, Shaney was flung over a shoulder and he fought to keep from throwing up all over the bulky fireman’s back. Although, he didn’t have anything to throw up. Memories of Hudson carrying him like this that night from the cabin, and the events of the past week, swamped him. He squirmed to get down.
“Hold still,” the fireman commanded and then he was moving. “Nix the stretcher. Coming out with a young male. Seems to be unharmed.”
A voice came through the radio “Did you say ‘unharmed?’”
“That’s a ten-four.”
The charred remnant of the barn gave way to the gravel of the driveway and then the fireman lowered Shaney to the ground. Shaney closed his eyes and waited for the spinning to stop. Paramedics rushed him and tried to lay him on the stretcher. Shaney pushed them off and yelled, “Hudson!” with surprising strength in his voice.
“Oh, my God. Shaney?”
Shaney turned to see Caleb, sooty, mouth gaping, and eyes wide with disbelief, as if he were seeing a ghost.
“Caleb.” Shaney wrapped the oversized coat around his body and rushed to Caleb despite the hands trying to hold him back. As he approached, Caleb took a few steps back from the stretcher where paramedics were working on Maximus.
“Y-you can’t be here. I...I saw you...” Shock filled his face, stealing his ability to speak.
“Where’s Hudson?” Shaney demanded.
“He...His heart. He’s not...”
Tears immediately flooded Shaney’s eyes. Shaney wouldn’t survive if Hudson died, no matter what miracle had allowed him to return. “Where is he?” Shaney yelled.
Caleb pointed to an ambulance down the driveway. The back doors were wide open. Inside, paramedics were performing CPR. Shaney bolted to the ambulance, pushing past fireman and police and anyone who got between him and Hudson. As he reached the doors, he found Hudson sprawled on the stretcher eyes closed, limbs limp, shirt cut from his body as a woman pushed on his chest. Another woman pushed air into Hudson’s mouth with some large ball attached to a tube as she cradled a cell phone to her ear. White patches had been stuck to Hudson’s chest and were connected to a monitor that showed a flat line. The symbols Silas had drawn were still noticeable, but parts had been wiped away. Hudson should be okay now that they were messed up. Why wasn’t he breathing?