Darren returned her smile. As he took her hand, he jumped as lightning struck once more. The reflection on her face was getting brighter, which meant the lightning was getting closer. "We have to run, so can I carry you?" he asked.

The moment Abby nodded, Darren took her in his arms and ran with her back toward the crowd. Everything around them began to slow. His breathing became erratic as he heard his heart beating in his ears. His body grew heavier as he tried to place one foot in front of the other. There was a lump in his throat that prevented air from passing smoothly into his lungs. Sweat dripped from every corner of his body as the heat in his blood became unbearable.

Darren ran for his life. His vision tunneled. His eyes found Tora standing at the edge of the crowd, waving for him to go faster. She looked at him with wide eyes. Her mouth moved, but the lightning crackled loudly that he could not hear a word she said.

When Darren saw her reach her hand out toward him as she screamed in horror, he knew what was coming. Dread washed over him. The blinding light obstructed his vision; he could no longer see where he was going.

Darren turned around and saw a bolt of lightning headed straight for him. Everything slowed to a halt. He looked at where Tora was standing and realized that he would not be able to reach safety in time. He looked at Abby in his arms. She furrowed her brow as she closed her eyes and buried her face in his shoulder. Her body trembled as tears began to form on the corner of her eyes.

"Mommy," she cried.

Darren wanted to save this little girl. He wanted to protect her. She was separated from her mother and wandered into a dangerous situation. She made a mistake by walking into the middle of the battle. Darren's heart ached at the thought of her getting injured.

He crouched down on the floor, holding Abby close to his chest, shielding her small body with his larger one. The lightning would hit him, and Abby would be unharmed. He would protect her.

With a blinding flash of light, pain seared his back. He screamed as the lightning bolt struck him. In less than a second, all the nerves in his body were on fire. He felt the worst pain in his life in just a moment. And then he felt nothing.

I'm going to die, was the last thought that formed on his mind before he fell to the ground.

"Darren! No!" Tora screamed. She ran into the park, but the lightning struck, stopping her in her tracks. She shielded her eyes with her arm as a brilliant white light blinded her. The force of the lightning strike hit her like an explosion, sending her to the ground. The energy pinned her until it dissipated. Tora groaned as she tried to stand up, feeling weakness in her joint.

She could no longer hold it in as her breath became erratic as her heart was about to burst. The ringing in her ear and the light in her eyes left her disoriented. The moment everything was clear again, she urgently got to her feet and raced toward Darren's location.

She stopped in her tracks, feeling the air leave her lungs. The most horrifying sight was not Darren's seared back, where his clothes had melted and merged into his skin. It was his motionlessness as he was lying face down with the little girl in his arms.

Without hesitation, she crossed into the scorched patch of grass to Darren. She kneeled on the floor next to him and rolled him off the little girl, careful not to touch any place that was burnt.

When she rolled him onto his back on the burnt grass, Darren released a scream of pain.

Tora's breath trembled as she released a heavy sigh. She had never been so happy to see him in so much pain. It was better for him to be alive and screaming in pain than dead and painless.

Her breath shook. "Oh, thank goodness. You're okay." Tora quickly fumbled, trying to find her phone. "I'm gonna call 911."

Darren groaned loudly. He released some short, breathy sounds before he grabbed Tora's hand, holding it tightly. "To- Tor."

Tora could tell he was trying to tell her something. She bent low, her ear to his lips, listening carefully to his words. "Ah- Ab- Abb- Abby. Abby."

Tora furrowed her brow. Who was Abby? She looked at the little girl. Tora placed her hand on the little girl's neck, feeling for a pulse. Her pulse was quick and erratic, but firm. She then put her finger under the girl's nose, feeling the warm air rush in and out steadily. She turned to Darren and said, "She's okay. She's breathing."

Tora finally dialed 911. "911, what is your emergency?"

"Please, send two ambulances to Angel's Knoll. 27-year-old adult male, Darren Kershaw, and pre-pubescent female, Abby, were struck by lightning. They need immediate medical attention. The little girl seemed to have passed out, but she's breathing and only has minor burns. Darren needs urgent medical care, with severe, third-degree burns on his back."

"Thank you for the information. Is the adult male, Darren, awake?" asked the operator.

Tora looked at Darren, who had his eyes closed. She looks down at his chest, but there was no movement. She placed her hand on his neck and blood drained from her face. "I can't find a pulse. I'm starting chest compressions." She handed someone the phone before she pressed forcefully on his chest. Tora tried to keep her voice from breaking, but she could no longer control her emotions. "He's not breathing."

The tears finally fell. Tora placed her mouth on Darren's mouth, breathing a long breath into his lungs. She continued chest compressions, occasionally stopping to take his pulse and give him mouth to mouth. 

Snot and tears fell on Darren's face as she continued to cry until she finally felt his weak pulse again. She cried, holding him firmly until she heard the wailing of the approaching sirens.