Monstrum by Ann Christopher Read Free Book Online Page B

metal in both hands and trying to decide which end I need to lift to get the thing to release. It doesn’t go well. My teeth are chattering, my hands are shaking, my brain is panicked, and any nerve endings I may possess in my fingertips have now been frozen solid, so I can’t really feel what I’m doing.
    How can poor Macy even breathe in this ice bath? Surely she’s got hypothermia on top of a concussion or skull fracture or whatever dire head injury she’s sustained.
    That thought, more than anything else, spurs me on.
    I give the buckle a final, desperate yank, and am rewarded when it gives way.
    â€œYou did it!” Espi cries.
    â€œYeah,” I say grimly, because compared with what we have to do now, undoing the seatbelt was the easy part. “Let’s get her up. Grab her under the arm. No, other side. There you go. Macy? We’re going to get you out of here, okay? Try to help us if you can.”
    She groans.
    Working together, Espi and I each bend a little, take one of Macy’s arms and sling it over our shoulders. When Macy’s safely positioned between us, we straighten, pulling Macy more or less upright.
    This time, Macy makes a different noise. It’s the unmistakable high-pitched whimper of someone in pain. I think about her poor head, and how you’re not supposed to move people with head or neck injuries, but there’s nothing we can do about that now.
    â€œSorry, Macy,” I murmur as we begin to move. “I’m really sorry.”
    Grunting and lurching, Espi and I head for the door. Macy hangs limply between us, more rag doll than person. Still, getting her out of there is like trying to move an elephant. I had no idea that one snotty little size-0 girl could be so heavy.
    We’re making slow progress until Espi yelps and stumbles on something, nearly taking me and Macy down with her. Staggering, we try to regain our balance.
    â€œSorry, Bria,” Espi says, and I can hear the low sobbing in her voice as she struggles to get the words out. “I’m r-really sorry. F-for everything.”
    â€œYou’re fine,” I say gruffly, not quite sure what she’s apologizing for. Is it for needing help? Being mean to me the entire time we’ve been in school together? What?
    Plus, I don’t do emotion well. Never have. It’s one thing when I’m the upset or scared person, but something entirely different when someone else loses it. It’s really weird, but it’s almost like Espi’s momentary weakness strengthens me.
    If Espi can’t keep it together, then I have to. Simple as that.
    Espi and I get into this weird, half-walking, half-swimming rhythm that seems to work. The water fights us every bit of the way, and it feels like there are three million miles between us and the door. The water’s up to my neck now, and I find myself tipping my chin up to keep it away from my mouth. Pretty soon that won’t work, and I’ll have to press my lips together to keep this foul ocean from getting inside me. The only good thing about this whole rescue situation is that both the back and front ends of the plane seem to be sinking at the same rate, so we’re not climbing
uphill
through the water.
    And then, suddenly, I can see where plane gives way to sky, and we’re there, at the door. To my joyous astonishment, the raft is also right there, or nearly there, propelled by Gray and Carter, who are manning the oars on either side. Best of all, the plane has now sunk so much that getting out of it and into the raft won’t require a jump. More like a short, doggy-style swim.
    I hope.
    A round of cheers rings out when we appear in the doorway, and the guys row harder. Maggie, An and Sammy, meanwhile, shift around in the huge raft, coming to the side nearest the door and reaching out their arms to help us.
    â€œHere,” says Maggie. She’s got Macy under one armpit now, and Sammy and An grab her