Chapter 16 — Beeath the Storm
The sandstorm roared like a living monster.
Wind screamed across the desert, throwing sand into the air like blades.
Outside the collapsed tent, everyone was fighting the storm and the heavy canvas.
Cole, Alex, Keifer, Percy, Ace, Race and the others were lifting the edges while Zein directed everyone.
Inside the tent it was almost completely dark.
Sand filled the air.
Broken poles and ropes lay everywhere.
Care crawled through the narrow opening, coughing.
"Is anyone still inside?!"
A weak voice answered.
"Care…"
Care froze.
"JJ?"
Under the folded canvas, JJ was trapped. The heavy fabric and a bent pole pinned her legs.
JJ's breathing was shaky.
"I can't move."
Care immediately crawled toward her.
Outside the wind howled again.
Cole shouted from outside.
"CARE! COME OUT!"
Care ignored him.
She reached JJ and began pushing the pole.
Ash was nearby trying to move another beam.
"It's stuck!"
Care quickly looked around.
The tent structure was collapsing slowly.
Only one small passage remained open toward the exit.
If the wind hit again, that gap would close.
Care grabbed JJ's arm.
"You have to go first."
JJ shook her head.
"No. Together."
Care gave a small tired laugh.
"There's no space."
Outside, Keifer shouted desperately.
"JJ! ANSWER ME!"
JJ shouted back weakly.
"I'm here!"
Care forced the pole sideways while Ash lifted the canvas above them.
The passage widened slightly.
Care pushed JJ forward.
"Crawl."
JJ resisted.
"No!"
Care's voice suddenly turned firm.
"Go. Now."
JJ crawled through the narrow opening.
Outside—
Keifer saw her.
"JJ!"
He rushed forward and pulled her out.
JJ immediately turned back.
"Care is behind me!"
Cole moved instantly.
But before Care could crawl out—
CRACK
A broken support pole above the tent shifted.
Care looked up.
Too late.
The heavy pole fell directly across her back and shoulder.
THUD
Care collapsed to the ground.
Her vision went dark.
Outside—
Everyone heard the impact.
JJ screamed.
"CARE IS STILL INSIDE!"
For a second—
Everyone froze.
Then chaos exploded.
Lyra's face went pale.
"No… no no no…"
Ash rushed forward.
"Move!"
Cole ran back toward the tent without saying a word.
Alex grabbed his shoulder.
"Cole—"
Cole shoved his hand away.
"Lift it."
They pulled back the canvas again.
Inside the tent—
Care lay motionless under the heavy pole.
Sand slowly covering her.
Cole saw her.
Something inside him snapped.
He grabbed the pole and tried lifting it alone.
It didn't move.
He tried again.
Nothing.
Alex rushed beside him.
"Cole stop—"
Cole shouted furiously.
"THEN HELP ME BREAK IT!"
Keifer joined them.
Percy and Endrix grabbed the other side.
Zein pushed through the group.
"Stop!"
Everyone paused.
Zein quickly assessed the situation.
"If you pull randomly the whole structure collapses."
Ace stepped forward.
"Clear the sand first."
Race began digging around the pole.
Matt helped remove smaller debris.
Ren and MJ held the canvas up.
The wind was still screaming across the desert.
Sand blasted their faces.
JJ stood nearby shaking.
"I should've stayed inside…"
Keifer held her shoulders.
"Don't say that."
Lyra and Ash were both crying but still helping remove sand.
Finally—
The pole became slightly loose.
Zein nodded.
"Now."
Cole, Alex, Keifer, Percy, Ace and Matt lifted together.
The pole moved.
"Again!"
They lifted harder.
The heavy beam finally shifted enough.
Cole immediately crawled forward and pulled Care out from under it.
She didn't move.
Lyra rushed forward.
"Care!"
Ash dropped beside her.
"Wake up!"
Cole gently held her shoulders.
Her head fell slightly to the side.
A thin line of blood ran down her forehead.
JJ covered her mouth.
"Oh God…"
Lyra shook her.
"Care… CARE… wake up…"
Nothing.
The storm raged around them.
But suddenly—
Everything felt quiet.
Zein knelt beside Care and checked her pulse.
Everyone stared at him.
Waiting.
Seconds passed.
Then Zein's expression changed slightly.
And for the first time that night—
The entire camp went silent.