Help is on the Way

As Axel approached the overturned truck, he could see the man and a woman in the front seats, with two children seated in the back. Despite their battered appearance, relief washed over him as he realized they were all alive.

"Hey, are you okay?" Axel called out.

"Does this look like we're fine? Help my wife and children."

The man, probably the father, weakly responded.

Axel edged toward the other side, catching sight of the woman's leg pinned and shredded beneath the unforgiving metal door. He recoiled in disgust, his stomach churning at the grisly sight.

Determined, he grasped the door and pulled with all his might, but the woman's anguished cries filled the air.

"Stop! Don't touch it. It hurts so bad. Please, don't touch me."

He quickly withdrew his hands, feeling helpless for a moment. He debated what to do, realizing he needed to focus on helping the others first. If he spent too much time on her now, they'd all be in deep trouble.

He dashed to the other side, reaching the man, and only then did he understand why the man hadn't been moving much or attempting to escape the wreckage.

There, protruding from the man's stomach, was a steel rod.

"Holy crap!"

Axel couldn't help but stare in utter shock at the gruesome sight.

"My kids..."

The man's voice cracked, his gaze shifting to the back seat where the children were crying – or perhaps just one was crying. A small boy and a teenage girl.

"They're... they're safe. But... you..."

"Just get them out," the man interrupted, urgency lacing his words.

'Fuck!'

Axel cursed inwardly. He couldn't move the rod without risking the man's life.

'Fucking hell!'

Just as smoke began to billow from the truck and the mother's wails mingled with the children's cries, Axel hurried to the back.

He attempted to pry the broken door open, but it stubbornly refused to budge. His mechanical arm groaned and hissed under the strain, but it seemed futile.

"Help..." The girl whimpered.

"It's stuck. Dammit," he muttered, frustration bubbling up.

Glancing back at the man, he noticed tears streaming down his face.

He attempted once more, but the door remained stubbornly unmoved. He was too feeble to shift the heavy weight even an inch.

"Help! Somebody, please!" he cried out desperately.

'Damn it! I've got to do something. I can't just stand here.'

"HELP!" he yelled again, his voice echoing through the darkness.

Axel spun around to face the Commander. She was still entangled in combat with the Rhino. Bodies dressed in Authority armor lay strewn across the area, motionless. There wasn't a living soul in sight. Maybe everyone had fled. At least, that's what he hoped.

"Meow!"

Axel's attention snapped to attention as Byte called out from the other side. He quickly closed the distance, finding her tapping at the backdoor.

The overturned truck showed a slight shift on that side. If he could just lift it a bit, perhaps he could open the window.

Axel scanned the area and spotted a thick pipe nearby.

'This should work.'

He positioned it under the truck and exerted all his strength, muscles straining with effort. Beads of sweat formed on his brow as he pushed against the weight, but the truck remained unmoved.

"Hnnnggghhhh," Axel groaned, straining with all his might.

Then, to his relief, there was a small shift in the truck, creating just enough space for Byte to slip through.

"MEOW!" 

"Quick, open it!" Axel panted, struggling to move the truck any further.

Then, a small snap echoed as Byte managed to open the door from the inside. With a slight creak, the door began to inch open as Axel used his leg to widen the gap.

Letting go of the pipe, he crawled inside the truck. However, in his haste, he failed to notice the flames licking at the top of the overturned vehicle.

"Don't worry! I'll get you out," Axel reassured the girl, and she nodded in agreement.

He reached inside and located the button in the middle, quickly pressing it to unlatch the seat belt. With a firm grip, he pulled the girl towards him.

As he did, he noticed the fire spreading, growing more intense.

"Hurry!" 

Axel swiftly grabbed the girl and pulled her outside, holding her close for a moment to ensure her safety.

"See if you can get any help!" 

However, the girl, visibly shaken and crying, was in no state to listen or respond. Her distress was too overwhelming for her to comprehend Axel's words.

Her blue short hair was matted with blood and dirt, and her eyes were wide with fear, darting around in a panicked frenzy.

Desperate to get her attention, Axel grabbed her head gently but firmly, forcing her to look at him.

"Look at me. Look at me."

Her unfocused gaze continued to wander until Axel's voice rose to a scream.

"LOOK AT ME!"

Startled by the sudden intensity, she jolted and focused her eyes on him, finally locking onto his gaze.

"What's your name?"

Axel asked, trying to maintain a calm tone despite the urgency of the situation.

"N-Nova," she stuttered, her voice trembling.

"Good. Nova, I'm too weak to help your parents myself. Can you go and get some help? Please."

"M-my-my p-p-p-a-rents. P-pa-papa?" Nova struggled to speak, her words barely audible.

"I'll help your parents. Can you please go and get help?" Axel pressed gently.

"N-y-yes," Nova replied shakily.

"Yes?"

"Y-yes," Nova confirmed.

"Go then! Run as fast as you can. Go to the nearest person and call for help. Tell them to hurry. Go," Axel instructed urgently.

With a nod, Nova darted away, her legs wobbling, her steps faltering. The ground was rough, scattered with rubble and glass. Smoke choked the air, burning her eyes but Nova pressed on.

He hurried back inside the truck, where the fire was spreading rapidly, casting flickering shadows on the walls and the mother's cries had grown more desperate,.

Rushing to the small boy's side, Axel attempted to unbuckle him, but the seatbelt was jammed, refusing to budge. The little boy's tears flowed freely as he sobbed in fear.

"Shh. Shh. I'll get you out. Okay," Axel murmured soothingly, trying to calm the frightened child.

What Axel didn't realize was that this was going to be a lesson he'd never forget—a haunting experience that would stay with him forever.