12-Donovan

"OH, MY GOD!" Shorty screams as the truck hits the water, and we slowly submerge. As we sink into the dark water, we're knocked around like the ball in the ping-pong machine. Shorty lets out a cry when her head smacks against the window. I reach for my seatbelt, desperate to get Shorty out of the truck.

"Fuck!" My eyes took a moment to adjust to my surroundings. A metallic taste stung the back of my mouth. My ears rang loudly; I couldn't hear anything else.

"Shorty, are you ok?" I yell.

She doesn't answer.

"Baby, I need to get you out of here," I steady my breath and try to calm the panic twisting inside.

"How?" She cries.

I yank on the door handle, pushing it with all my strength, but it doesn't budge.

"God damnit!" I grunt in frustration and panic as I slam my shoulder against the door.

"Donnie," she whispers.

When I turn to face her, a trail of blood slides down the side of her face. My heart throbbed in my ears, but I barely heard it, for my mind was clouded with fear.

"Fuck, baby, you're bleeding." I struggle to remove my seatbelt, but eventually, it clicks open. I reach over and remove Shorty's seat belt.

Suddenly, my worst fear came to life. The cold water begins to fill the truck. Shorty's eyes widen, crippled by fear, and she freezes in place. The water continues to rise at a quicker rate. I could feel my survival instincts kick in, increasing my heart rate and flooding me with added adrenaline. I need to get my girl and baby out of this fucking truck.

"Baby, I have a plan, but it will involve swimming."

"I can't swim," her teeth chatter as the cold water rises.

"I know, but I'm going to pull you out of here, ok?"

Shorty looks around franticly with wild eyes.

"Baby, listen to me. I will get you out of here, ok? But I need you to trust me. Do you trust me?"

She nods with trembling lips that are starting to turn blue.

"Ok, water will fill the car when I open this door."

She gasps.

"But I'm going to pull you out," I quickly add. "Are you ready?"

"Yes."

Using my foot, I kicked the door as hard as I could, once, twice, three times, until a loud pop flew the door open. The water pours in, and I grab Shorty's hand, pulling her closer to me. The water covers our limbs, and I tighten my hold around Shorty's waist.

"Keep your chin up. Hold your breath when I tell you to. Don't let go. You got it? Don't fucking let go."

"O-ok."

The cold water continues to rise, hitting our chins.

"Hold your breath. Now!" Within seconds, we are completely engulfed in the water.

I grab Shorty and push us out of the door with her clutched to my side. The freezing water felt like an electric shock. I kicked with all my might and swam upward. My lungs were burning the harder I swam. I could feel Shorty's body go limp in my arms.

No! No. No. No.

I keep swimming, ignoring the pain soaring through my body.

We're almost there.

Light!

It's starting to get brighter as we get closer to the surface.

When I hit the surface, I swallowed all the air in my lungs.

"Donnie! Sadie!" I saw red and blue lights and Javi and Carter running down the hill to us.

I dragged Shorty onto the bank and laid her flat on her back.

"Baby." I gently tap her cheek.

No response.

"Come on," I plead, checking for a pulse.

Her lips are turning blue, and her skin is pale. I start chest compressions, tilt her chin, and perform two rescue breaths.

"Baby, come on," I cry, tears blurring my vision, but I don't stop.

One one-thousand. Two-one thousand. Three-one thousand.

Push. Breathe. Push. Breathe.

"Come on, baby, please! Wake up!" I beg. "Don't you fucking leave me." Breathe. Breath. Push. Push.

"Donnie, the paramedics are here. Let them help her." Javi says calmly.

Push. Push. Push.

"Donnie, let go."

When I don't move, another set of hands is replaced with mine. "It's ok, you can let go." A female paramedic says.

I step aside and watch as they work to bring my girl to life. I stand frozen as the memory of her being stabbed and lying in a pool of blood resurfaces.

She's going to be ok. She's strong. She survived the worst.

"She's pregnant," I blurt, wiping the water from my face, but it keeps coming back. That's when I realize their tears.

Shorty is put on a stretcher as they walk her up the hill and into the ambulance. I run towards her, but Javi stops me.

"What are you doing? I need to go with her!" I roar in his face.

"Relax," he says. "I'm going with her, and you will ride with Carter." He demands without room for argument.

I grab his arm. "Don't let them fucking die." I fight to breathe air in my lungs.

"I won't." Javi runs and jumps into the ambulance. I watch as my girl is whisked away.

"Come on," Carter slaps me on the back.

I follow and climb into his car.

I can't lose my girl. I can't lose my baby.

When I find out who tried to take her from me, they will regret ever being born.