S4: #2- Prelude

“Ulm Cathedral” image from http://www.pixabay.com

Prelude

Keisha slowly opened her eyes, frowning. There was something heavy holding her down. She blinked and tried to move. A hand fell down across her face. She saw the hand, the blood. She tried to scream but the sound came out like a croak. Darkness swirled around her, drawing her head back down to the floor.

The air filled with sirens. The dust from the blast was already settling as the first responders entered the sanctuary at a run. Instantly, they headed for the altar area where the choir members lay sprawled out in positions the human body was never meant to lay in. Most of them were unconscious. those who were conscious were sobbing and crying out for help.

‘Let’s start triaging here.’ The lead paramedic called out. ‘Call Careflight and have them send us all the choppers they can. Tell them… looks like twenty, maybe thirty, casualties, unknown conditions.’

‘Aye, Cap.’ Another firefighter acknowledged as he placed the call.

‘This one’s dead, Sir.’ A paramedic gagged as he slid his fingers off the man’s bloody throat.

‘So is this one.’ A second paramedic gulped.

‘Tend to the living.’ The Fire Chief ordered as he joined his paramedics. ‘And, my heaven help us save as many as we can.’

The Reverend was already on his knees beside one of the bodies. ‘My son! My God, why my son?”

‘Got one alive, here. Louie, help me get this body off of her.’ Edward ordered the younger firefighter to action as he drew the hair back from her face and gasped. ‘Kiesha? This is Keisha Wormwood. Someone will need to contact Hope Ranch.’ His voice caught in his throat.

‘Sorry, Sir.’ The younger firefighter acknowledged his co-worker’s pain. ‘She’s alive, Sir.’

‘Great. Let’s get her out from under this mess, then, Louie.’ Edward began lifting another dead body off of her. ‘Then, we’ll assess her injuries.’

‘Small contusion on her forehead, Sir. Possible concussion.’ Lieutenant Jordan began to assess her. ‘Don’t see any broken limbs.’ He ran his hands down her ribcage. ‘No obvious rib breaks… wait… there’s some bruising… we’ve got an internal bleed, Sir. Priority one.’

‘I got her, then. Go to the next one.’ Edward ordered as they gently rolled Kiesha to her back. She moaned softly. Edward felt a tug in his chest at the sound. ‘Dear God, please, let her be okay.’ He prayed.

‘Got another live one here, Sir. Another with possible internal bleeding.’ Lieutenant Jordan spoke from where he was tending to the next unconscious person.

Edwards noted the few choir members who were rising on their own, looking terrified and in shock. He took his mask off as he stood up. With a loud voice, he drew their attention. ‘Ladies and gentlemen, if you can, just sit down on a pew until we can get to you, okay.’

‘My husband!’ One lady screamed as she dove for one of the dead bodies. Another firefighter caught her and held her back while she screamed. Her scream triggered the others to the reality around them. Screams of pain, anguish, and grief rapidly filled the sanctuary.

‘Sir, we’re gonna need more people… anyone who can help.’ Edward called out the Fire Chief.

‘They’re on the way. I put out an all-call to the county.’ Chief Franks answered. ‘In the  meantime, it’s up to us. Let’s see about getting the critical ones out to the landing zone behind the clinic.’

‘Roger that.’ Edward snapped and began directing the firefighters bringing stretchers in.

At a time when mere minutes could mean life or death, the local first responders and volunteers from the street worked in unison to evacuate the church sanctuary. The critical patients were taken to the clinic a block down to await evacuation by chopper. The walking wounded were held in place until they could be evaluated and then transported out to local hospitals. The local fire and police officers worked in tandem, getting everyone cared for in record time.