Chapter 2 - Breaking the Seal “Adrian, pull your hand back! You’re bleeding everywhere!”
“Shut up, Helen! Help me clear these jagged pieces!”
“He’s not moving, Adrian! Oh God, look at his face!”
“I see him! Lily, stay back with your mother!”
“Is my little cousin going to wake up, Uncle Adrian?”
“Just hold on, Leo! Daddy’s got you!”
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The sharp sting of tearing skin registered nowhere in Adrian’s nervous system as adrenaline flooded his bloodstream. Blood smeared across the dark tinted glass of the rear window as he hooked his fingers into the spider-webbed fracture and yanked backward with every ounce of his muscular frame. The laminated pane finally gave way with a sickening crunch, creating a ragged opening large enough for his arm. Ignoring the deep lacerations slicing into his knuckles and forearm, Adrian reached inside and unlocked the heavy rear door. A wave of suffocating, oven-like heat rolled out from the cabin, carrying the faint, stale scent of baby formula and lavender wipes. Inside the car seat, ten-month-old Leo lay slumped dangerously to one side, his tiny chest barely moving beneath a sweat-soaked onesie. His usually rosy cheeks were flushed a dangerous, mottled crimson, and his little lips parted in shallow, silent gasps. Helen reached the vehicle first, her manicured nails digging into the upholstery as she hauled herself into the back seat, scooping the limp infant into her arms. She pressed her ear against his tiny chest, her face draining of all color until she looked like a marble statue. Lily hid her face in the folds of Helen’s white blazer, her small shoulders shaking with quiet sobs. Adrian’s heart hammered against his ribs like a trapped bird as he stared down at his son, the reality of his negligence pressing down on him with crushing weight. The corporate executives who had moments ago praised his negotiating prowess now stood at a respectful, horrified distance, whispering among themselves and pulling out their phones to call emergency services. But the sirens were still too far away, and every second ticked past like a falling anvil. Adrian gently touched his son's clammy cheek, whispering desperate apologies into the stifling air of the parking lot, praying for a miracle that seemed entirely out of reach.
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