#amtaf

The sound of screeching metal startled him awake. He tried to pry open his eyes but one was stuck shut. His face felt wet, he breathed rapidly as he began to panic. What's wrong with his eye?

"Hey," A soft voice reached his ears and he desperately leaned toward it as he gasped for air. 

"You're going to be okay, kid but I need you to breathe for me. Can you do that?"

A gentle hand landed on John's chest, grounding him and helping him ease his breaths. "That's it you got it. What's your name, son?"

"J-john." The flashing lights and shrill sounds around him assaulted his senses and made his head swim. He was tired, he just wanted to go home. 

John blinked against the fog that had settled over him in his panic. Finally it cleared and he could see a firefighter silhouetted in the window. The car window, why was he in the car?

Where was he? 

"Wouldn't you know that's my name too. Most people just call me Price though. I'm going to get you out of there, okay?"

John nodded slowly something about the way Price spoke, full of familial warmth, sparked a sense of comfort in his brain. He tried to look around, look at the rest of the car but a hand on his chin stopped him. 

"Keep your eyes on me, son." Price spoke as he began prying the mangled car door open with his tools. "How old are you?"

"Twelve."

"That's cool, what kind of hobbies do you get up too?" Price finally pried the door away and knelt in front of John. 

John tried to look around again but Price stopped him. John's memory was slowly coming back. 

"Where's my mum?" He tried to turn but Price's grip was firm yet gentle as he guided John out of the car. 

"Where's da?" Tears welled in John's eyes but Price kept his hands on John's shoulders as he guided them toward an ambulance. 

"My sisters?" Price sat him down on the gurney, careful to keep himself in between John's eye line and the mangled car. Price knelt so he was eye level and tried to keep his features reassuring. 

"You were in a car accident." Price spoke slowly, carefully selecting each word so as to not startle the young boy. Price's soft eyes never left John's. "I'm sorry, son, they didn't make it."

The dam broke, John sobbed, loud gasping cries. Price instantly leaned forward and wrapped his arms around the young boy. Price's grip tightened with each shuttered inhale and he slowly rubbed his gloved hands over John's back. 

When John's breathing calmed down a fraction Price pulled away, setting a large hand on John's bloodied cheek. Price gently turned John's face to look at the gash over his eye. 

"We need to get you to the hospital so they can take a look at this cut. Do you have any relatives we can call?"

John just shook his head, another fit of sobs wracking his small frame. 

"That's alright." Price spoke softly as he wrapped his arms around John again. "I'll look after you. Everything will be okay. I've got you, John."