The Crawl
Noah didn’t think. He just moved.
A man in a hi-vis vest grabbed his arm. “Hey! Kid, get back — it’s not safe!”
Noah pulled free. “She’s calling for help. She’s scared.”
“The fire department’s coming. Stay here.”
Noah looked at the man’s face. Then he looked at the rubble. Then he looked back at the man.
“She’s five. She’s alone in there.”
Before anyone could stop him again, he was climbing over the first broken slab.
The concrete was hot. Rebar snagged his shirt. A nail raked across his shin. He kept going.
“Hey!” he called into the gaps. “Can you hear me?”
A small, shaking voice answered. “I’m here… my legs are stuck… it’s dark…”
“Keep talking. What’s your name?”
“Mia.”
“I’m Noah. Mia, don’t stop talking. I’m coming to get you.”
