“What are we going to do?” Lucy’s voice was panicked. She practically pranced at the top of the broken steps.

  “Wait here.” I held my palm up as I slowly descended.

  Lucy nodded, chewing her thumbnail. “Be careful.”

  Every step groaned under my shoe. The screen of my flip phone didn't do much to illuminate the space, but I was able to figure out which step had broken and gingerly step over it. Only to scream.

  “What?!” Lucy’s phone-light blinded me.

  “An old rat’s nest.” I shielded my eyes with a hand. “Get that out of my face, will you?”

  “Sorry.” Lucy gulped, lowering the light.

  “It’s okay.” I kneeled on my step, peeking over the edge. “Keep shining it on James.”

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  The ghostly beam of her phone made the shadows grow somehow. The hollow grooves of our friend’s face and throat deepen with each shallow intake of air.

  “Okay, keep it there while I climb down.”

  “Okay.” Lucy’s voice trembled with the light. I moved to the edge and turned, slowly inching myself backwards until I could lower myself by the arms. This close, I could hear the pained moans between James’ breaths. His arms were wrapped around one leg, holding it to his chest. Even in this lighting, I could see the unnatural twist between his knee and ankle. “James?”

  He didn’t reply.

  “I think his leg might be broken,” I hollered to Lucy.

  “Can you bring him up?”

  I shook my head. “We can’t risk it.”

  “Oh, come on Molly!” Lucy’s voice came down in an angry hiss.

  “It’s not that!” I shouted. “The steps are falling apart; I had trouble getting down here on my own.”

  “I couldn’t see Lucy’s face but her tone left little to the imagination. “So, what? Call nine-one-one?”

  “No…” James' wheezed plea startled me. “My dad’ll kill me.”

  I knelt by him on the cold concrete. “I know he’ll be mad–”

  “No!” James growled. “My dad can’t know I was here.”

  “Your leg is broken.” I stand, flipping my phone open. “We don’t have a choice.”