((Hey! I know I should be working on the second chapter of Anything is Worth the Risk, but my brain decided to be mean and come up with this scenario. The plot of this is Jonah decides not to leave the house and get Adam, but his heart might have been through too much...))
Jonah sat in the driver’s seat, gripping the steering wheel tightly as tears streamed down his face. This is it. They did it. The alternate got Adam and he told him to leave. The things he said to him... He can’t take it back now. He said the most horrible thing he could think of. He knew how much Adam wanted to look for her, how he wanted to be reunited with her, despite him knowing the truth. And yet, he threw the fact that she was gone directly in his face, causing him to blow up at him. The words Adam said to him were like poison, rendering his whole body paralyzed. His heart felt like it was being squeezed by a compressor and he couldn’t stop his hands from shaking.
He could barely breathe, his lungs refusing to function. He chalked it up to him having an intense emotional reaction to losing his best friend. But he couldn’t ignore the fact that he was starting to feel a little discomfort in his arms. That was not normal, he thought. He was feeling a cold sweat on his skin and he felt nauseous. He should be running in there. He should be getting Adam out of that basement instead of sitting in the car. Why isn’t he doing that? Why is he acting like a coward now?! He felt useless. Nothing had changed since they started BPS. Adam and Sarah had to do all the hard work while he sat back and watched. He thought he would get braver the more he went on his jobs with Adam, but he hasn’t gotten braver. He was still the same pathetic wimp he was since high school. All those kids were right.
He was about to turn the lever to reverse when he heard the radio crackle to life. And then, a voice he thought he would never hear again.
“Jonah...? You there...?”
He had to do a double take at that. Why is Adam calling him on the radio? After what he said, after what he did, there was no way he could be calling him. Was it the alternate in the house trying to mess with him? Jonah couldn’t think. He tried to think, but it was difficult with this pain in his chest.
“Jonah... Please talk to me... Please let me know you’re there!” Adam shouted.
Well, it did sound like him. And he sounded... scared? Why would he be scared? Adam has little to no fear. He wasn’t scared of anything! Jonah knew him best! Hell, even Evelin knew that! Did the alternate finally break him? What were they planning on doing with him? The thought of that thing hurting him made Jonah want to rush into the house and destroy everything that could serve as a hiding place for them. He couldn’t leave him. Not now. Not ever.
With a trembling hand, he picked up the radio, fingers nearly missing the buttons before he turned it on. “Adam, I-I’m here...” He wheezed. Shit, he could barely get any words out. He needed to calm down. He needed to breathe, but it was getting more and more difficult.
“Jonah, are you okay?! You sound a little-”
“Don’t worry about me. What are you seeing right now?”
“I-I see a TV... It’s asking me if I understood something... I don’t think I want to understand.”
“Adam, I need you to listen to me. I need you to get out of that basement right now. If it is what I think it is, then you’re in great danger.”
“Yeah. Yeah, I think I need to leave. I don’t like this at all.”
Jonah barely breathed a sigh of relief. Good. He’s still here. “Okay, i-is the door locked?”
He could hear shuffling footsteps go up the basement stairs before he heard the doorknob turning. “I-It’s unlocked... Why would it be...?”
“It doesn’t matter. Just come outside. I really want to see you.” That came out a bit more desperate than he meant it to, but the pain was beginning to get unbearable now. He put his hand to his chest to try and massage it, but that only made the pain worse. He can’t let Adam see him like this. He already had to deal with being tormented by an alternate. He can’t have another incident happen right after. He just needs to stay awake.
Through his blurry vision, he could see Adam exit the house, radio in hand. He would’ve sobbed with joy if he wasn’t on the verge of losing consciousness. He tried his best to act normal and wave to him, signalling him to get in the car. Adam gave him a look of concern as he approached.
“Here. Let me drive. You don’t look so hot.”
“Hey, I’m fine. I’m just...”
“Just give me the steering wheel, Jonah."
He hesitantly got out of the car on shaky legs and almost stumbled to the passenger seat. Adam was about to ask him if he was okay, but Jonah just flashed him a small, albeit pained smile. He was sweating bullets now despite the cold weather. Now feeling uncertain, Adam drove away from the house, unaware of the hooded figure smiling at them through the window.
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As Adam drove down the road, hoping to see a sign that says “Leaving Mandela County”, he could see that Jonah’s condition was getting worse. He was wheezing audibly and he was grabbing at his chest. “Dude, are you okay?! A-Are you having a heart attack?! Do I need to call Sarah?!”
“No! Y-You don’t have to! I-I’m fine.”
“Jonah, you’re not fine! You’re grabbing at your fucking chest! You need medical help!”
“Adam, y-you know a hospital i-is not an option. Remember, w-we’re on the run.”
“Shit, just don’t talk, okay?! I’m gonna get you to a place where you can rest. Hopefully, I can find a doctor that can help you. God, I’m so stupid! I shouldn’t have went back in! This is all my fault! I shouldn’t have-”
Jonah touched his arm and weakly squeezed it, giving him his attempt at a comforting smile. “Hey, d-don’t apologize. This isn’t your fault... The alternates are s-smart bastards... T-They almost got us, but luckily... W-We’re gonna get out of here soon...” His eyes started to flutter. “Whoa... T-The lights look so pretty... They’re just like stars...”
“Jonah, just keep your eyes open! We’re almost there! Just hold on!”
“Adam.... I-In case I don’t wake up from this.... I want to let you know that I...... I-I love you.....”
That was the last thing Jonah said before he slumped over, hand falling limp in his lap.
“Jonah!!!” Adam slammed on the brakes and shook him. He remained motionless and he noticed that his chest wasn’t rising. He put his fingers to his neck, desperately looking for a pulse. He felt his own heartbeat speed up when he couldn’t find his at all. “Oh shit! Shit, shit, shit, shit!!” He was already opening the driver’s side door and getting out, running to the other side as quickly as possible. He opened the door and dragged Jonah out, trying to ignore how heavy he was. Lying him flat on the ground, he tried to take deep breaths. His dark skin was already turning ash grey and his lips were worryingly turning blue. Oh god, what do I do?! Okay, calm down, Adam. Remember what Sarah taught you. You can do this.
He put his hands on Jonah’s chest and started pumping. He didn’t know how deep he was supposed to go, but he thinks he’s pressing down deep enough for his heart to be compressed. His body shook slightly from the rapid compressions, but he didn’t respond. Of course, he didn’t expect Jonah to. This isn’t a movie. After he counted in his head thirty times, he tilted his head back and pinched his nose. He had to swallow before pressing his lips to his and blowing air into his lungs. His chest expanded, telling him that he did good. He repeated the cycle of thirty compressions and two breaths for a few minutes. Jonah still didn’t respond. His head fell to the side as Adam continued to press down.
“C’mon, Jonah. You gotta wake up. You gotta breathe. C’mon!” He muttered. He was already starting to feel the exhaustion, but he can’t stop. If he did, Jonah was as good as dead.
He could hear crackling static from somewhere. Then, a voice spoke from the car.
“You killed him, Adam.”
“Oh god...”
“What will you do without him?”
“Shut up...”
“His blood is on your hands.”
“Leave him, Adam. He’s already dead. You can’t save him now.”
“You’re already being punished for resisting our message.”
“Open your eyes. Open your eyes. Open your eyes.”
“SHUT UP!! He’s not dead!! I’ll bring him back!! I will!!” He continued CPR for another few minutes with no luck. Jonah laid still in the snow with a peaceful expression on his face. That peaceful, cute expression that Adam would see when he would wake him up in the morning.
“C’mon, please... Don’t do this to me, Jonah... Please...” He knew compressions alone wasn’t working. He knew his heart had entered a dangerous rhythm, so he needed something to jumpstart it. He didn’t have a defibrillator with him so he had to make due with what he got. He raised his fist high in the air, aiming for the center of his chest and slammed it down, causing Jonah’s body to jolt slightly from the force. He did this a few more times, hoping that his chest blows would be enough. He checked his pulse again. Nothing.
As he continued, he thought back to simpler times with him, Jonah and Evelin. The three of them were practically inseparable. It always had been ever since high school. Despite him being the third wheel while Adam and Evelin went on their dates, their friendship always remained strong. He would always tease them and act like a child when their parents showed affection whenever they showed their young love. After the creation of BPS, Adam and Evelin’s relationship started to grow strained. Jonah always made sure to be the mediator whenever he and Eve had their problems. He didn’t know why he stayed with him when he pretty much was in the wrong for everything.
He and Sarah were the only people he had left after Evelin left. He wanted to be better for them. He wanted them to know that he had changed. What he said to Jonah was absolutely inexcusable and he didn’t know why he stayed. He guessed it was probably God or something else trying to mess with him. Jonah basically dropping dead in front of him was just twisting the knife in even deeper.
He wouldn’t admit it to him, but despite Jonah annoying him, his voice always seemed to calm him down. He was actually looking forward to getting pizza with him after all of this was over. The way he smiled at him, the way he attempts to make him laugh with his jokes even at the most inopportune times, and the way he holds his hand whenever he’s in a silent mood... He liked that about him. It always made his chest feel warm. He wanted to keep him here so he could feel that same warm feeling.
Even though the body beneath him was cooling, he continued to make his heart beat for him. All while the voice from the GPS continued to mock him. This torture, this madness... They were trying to break Adam’s resolve, trying to force him to give up and leave Jonah for dead. But he won’t let them get to him. He won’t let them win. He’ll keep the blood pumping and keep Jonah’s brain alive. He’ll keep his best friend, no, he’ll keep the person he loves alive, no matter the circumstances.
Finally, after another agonizing minute of trying to revive him, Jonah took a sharp breath and began coughing. His heart leapt with joy as Adam immediately turned him onto his side and rubbed his back. Jonah was heaving, struggling to get his failing lungs to work.
“Hey, Jonah, it’s okay. You’re okay, just breathe.” It all came out in one breath as the exhaustion hit him full force. His hands were like pins and needles and his own heart was racing. Even though it should be impossible for him to restart his heart on his own, he actually did it. He brought him back. He turned back to the car, smirking at the GPS. “Heh, how do you like that?”
Jonah vomited on the pavement, the contents from his stomach spilling out onto the snow. Adam continued to rub his back, whispering comforting words to him. Eventually, his breathing gradually grew normal. Adam held him in his arms, hoping to warm his body back up. That road was really cold. It was not good for someone who almost died of a heart attack. No, that couldn’t be right. Jonah was healthy. He couldn’t have possibly-
He took in a sharp breath. The stress from the past three days... The argument...
“Oh god... Jonah, I’m so sorry. I didn’t realize...” He stroked his hair, hoping his words would reach him. He kissed his forehead and lifted him up, legs trembling. As he carried him back to the car, he saw the snow beginning to fall.
