"If people sat outside and looked at the stars each night, I'll bet they'd live a lot differently."
~Bill Watterson

Lilly

The continuous bombardment of debris finally broke the windshield. I don't know how it happened, but before we crashed into the ground, I was ejected into the open air. I remember frantically unbuckling myself, so I could control my fall rather than being at the mercy of landing however my chair did.

I struck the ground hard but remembered to roll to reduce the impact. For a few moments, I lay on my back, catching my breath and gathering my wits. All I wanted to do was stay and wait for a Healer, but then I remembered Caleb was still on the ship.

I panicked.

Adrenaline rushed through me, giving me the strength I needed to push myself up. I could barely walk, and everything remained hazy. The commotion around me caused everything to be even more confusing than it already was, but, somehow, I made it to the wreckage.

"Lilly?" The voice sounded familiar, but for the life of me, I couldn't place where from. "Lilly, are you okay?"

"Caleb. I need... Caleb," I replied, glancing around for any sign of my friend or the mysterious voice.

"Honey, I think the only thing you need to do is sit down." Suddenly Shane Calhoun entered my line of sight. "You with me, sweetie?"

"Don't call me that." My voice sounded weak.

"At least let me help you sit down because you look like you're about to fall over, dear, and you shouldn't be walking on that ankle of yours. I'm not a Healer, but I know ankles aren't supposed to be that big."

"But Caleb-"

"People are looking for him. Now sit."

In most cases, I wouldn't have listened to him, but my splitting headache caused me to cave in, not to mention the ringing in my ears.

"Do you want to lay down?" Shane queried.

"Not with you around. I want to find Caleb. Where is he?"

"You have a very one-track mind."

"Aren't you supposed to be with Chad?"

"Supposed to. Exceptions have been made right now. He ordered me to stay here, which I did. Then I saw you staggering about, figured I'd do some good and help."

"Pretty sure you're trying to get into my mind even with that ankle bracelet on."

"Chad told me the plan you and Caleb came up with. You're quite the actress, I must say," Shane complimented. I could hear the smile in his voice, but my head hurt too much to look up. I still frowned in distaste.

"Miss Snow?" A girl asked. "My name is Kelsey Manning. Can you walk?"

"Yes," I answered.

"No, you can't," Shane said bluntly. "Have you seen her ankle?"

"She'll need to be brought up to the hospital," Kelsey said.

"I can walk," I said indignantly. "I got over here from my... wherever it was I crashed."

"All our stretchers are being used at the moment. Miss Snow, your companion is right. You can't walk on that ankle."

"Fine. Is there any way you can stop this ringing in my ears right now?" I asked her. "My head is throbbing, and the ringing isn't helping."

She nodded, placing a cold hand on the side of my head. "Hold still. I'm trying to mend your concussion. I'm only a beginner Healer, but I should at least be able to reduce the seriousness of it until we can get you inside and take care fo those wounds."

"What wounds?" I asked, the ringing in my ears slowly coming to a stop. All of a sudden, the world became much clearer, the haze slowly disappearing, and I was very much aware of everything going on around me. The sirens, the shouts, the pounding of feet running along the ground, the throbbing aches and pains in my body. How badly was I hurt? My pain tolerance was high, but nausea began to set in, meaning my injuries were anything but insignificant.

"Sir, can you help me lift her up?" Kelsey requested.

"Shane, you should get back to your brother," I said. "He won't like that you're alone."

"I'm not alone. I'm with you lovely ladies," Shane replied coolly.

I sighed. "I meant alone as in without him. Besides, I can assure you Chad won't like you around me."

"Chad? As in Chad Calhoun?" Kelsey queried cautiously.

"The one and only."

Her eyes fell on my acquaintance. "You're Shane Calhoun?"

"I was wondering how long it'd take for you to recognize me. Honestly, I was expecting it to be much sooner." Shane leaned in casually to my ear and whispered, "I'm kind of infamous around here."

"Oh, yes, I know."

"Miss Snow, can you walk if I help you?" Kelsey asked.

I nodded, and she wrapped my arm around her shoulder. My earlier assumption about me being in terrible shape turned out to be correct. The moment I stood up, I nearly collapsed back down to the ground. Not only could my legs barely support me, but my world spun violently.

Someone wrapped my other arm around their shoulder, but they were much taller, making it awkward. Was Shane still trying to help?

"Lilly!" Vivienne exclaimed. My head lifted at the sound of my name, and my vision started going spotty. "Thank god you're okay!"

"She had a pretty bad concussion. Her ankle is most likely broken, and I think she's lost a fair amount of blood from her wounds. We need to get her upstairs," Kelsey said.

"Shane, with me. Now," Chad ordered.

"But who's going to support Lilly?" Shane countered innocently.

"I got her," Vivienne assured, moving my arm over her shoulder.

Kelsey and Vivienne started moving, so I tried hopping along as best I could. Somewhere along the way to the hospital, the headache and pain became too unbearable, and I succumbed to them, slipping unconscious.