The blow to her head caused Ruby to fade in and out of consciousness.
She was vaguely aware of Steve bathing the wound at one point. And another time Kyle played with his fire engine on the floor beside the bed.
It seemed much later when she came around again as the light was fading and the temperature had dropped.
Startled by a sound to the side of her, Ruby turned to find Kyle dressed in a fireman’s outfit including a shiny helmet.
“Hello, Fireman Kyle,” Ruby said.
“I-come-to-rescue-you.”
“Thank you, Kyle.” Ruby began fading again.
When she regained consciousness, cold air hit her face and she realised she was upright. Kyle half-carried and half-dragged her through the garden, her bare feet skimming the ground.
“KYLE!” Steve yelled from somewhere close behind them.
“Kyle—you come back here this minute.”
“Can’t. It’s-an mergency.”
Ruby tried to move her legs to help Kyle, but she couldn’t. However, he seemed strong enough to keep going at speed.
“Kyle!” Steve yelled again.
Ruby didn’t know where the garden ended and the dense forest began, but Kyle didn’t seem perturbed—he just sped on regardless.
“Kyle!”
Ruby couldn’t understand why Steve didn’t seem to be following them. His voice was getting fainter the further they went. She still felt woozy and sleepy, but she forced herself to stay awake. Stray twigs and branches dug into her arms and legs as they rushed between the trees.
“Where are you taking me, Kyle?”
“Safe-place.”
Ruby was too exhausted to say anything more.
They eventually came to a clearing and, as far as Ruby could tell, a dead end. A steep rock wall surrounded them on three sides. The only way out was back the way they came.
Kyle eased Ruby down onto a fallen tree branch. “Wait-here.”
Ruby watched as Kyle produced a key from his jacket pocket and then began pulling at the dense ivy that scaled the rock wall.
Suddenly the green growth came away with a loud snap, unveiling an old gate covering a tunnel into the rock. She remembered Cody telling her the land used to belong to a mining company.
Kyle fiddled with the lock and the gate creaked part way open. “Safe-place.” Kyle pointed inside the tunnel.
He helped her to her feet and eased her towards the opening.
“I can’t go in there, Kyle!” she squealed.
“Safe-place. Goes-to-river.”
“I can’t! I’m scared of the dark.”
“It’s-an-mergency.” He nodded, urging her through the gate.
Ruby gripped at one of his hands and looked him in the eyes. “Please, Kyle, I’m scared.”
“Safe-place. River.”
“Can’t I get to the river another way?”
“No-it’s-rock.” He slammed the flat of his hand onto the granite above her head, in case she was in any doubt it was real. “Safe-place. Promise.” He unpeeled her fingers from his hand and pushed her inside, closing the gate behind her. She cried hysterically as he replaced the padlock and pulled the ivy back into place taking the last of the light.
“Kyle, please let me out,” she called.
“Safe-place. Kyle-rescue-you.”
Then she heard his footsteps trudge away.
Petrified and light-headed, Ruby staggered a few feet in total darkness. She began to feel her way.
The further she went, the narrower the tunnel became. Eventually, she slid to her knees and crawled. Her head thudded and her eyes grew heavy.
She gave in to the darkness.