CHAPTER 35

The Cliffhanger

"Adrian!"

Flora's scream rent the air as Adrian crumpled to the ground.

Time slowed. The world narrowed. Nothing existed except the red spreading beneath him.

"No, no, no—Adrian!" She was already on her knees beside him, hands pressing against the wound before she even realized she'd moved. His blood was hot, slick, slipping between her fingers. Too much.

Adrian's breathing was ragged, uneven. His eyes fluttered. "Flora…"

Shh, don't talk," she whispered. "You're gonna be fine. You hear me? You have to be fine."

Jace was shouting something, Alice was moving, but all of it was distant. White noise. The only thing that mattered was Adrian, and the fact that he was bleeding out beneath her hands.

Then—another gunshot.

Flora flinched, ducking instinctively over Adrian's body.

"Sniper!" Jace's voice was sharp. "We need to move—now!

Alice cursed. “They’re trying to pick us off.”

Flora barely registered the words. She was too focused on Adrian’s pale face. “Adrian, stay with me.”

His fingers twitched against hers. His lips moved, but no sound came out.

Another shot hit the ground near them. Dirt sprayed up.

“Dammit!” Jace grabbed Flora’s arm. “We have to go!”

“I’m not leaving him!”

“We can’t help him if we’re dead!”

Flora shook her head wildly. "No. No, I won't—"

Alice was beside them in a split second, the speed almost blurred. "We get to cover now or none of us make it."

Another shot.

Jace swore and fired blindly into the dark. "We're sitting ducks!"

Flora's mind screamed at her. Move. Move.

But her hands were on Adrian, and he was slipping.

"Flora," Alice said tightly. "Trust us."

She looked up. Met Alice's eyes.

And then she moved.

Jace and Alice grabbed Adrian between them. Flora pressed her hands to his wound as they lifted him, trying to keep pressure even as they ran.

Bullets chased them.

The night was alive with gunfire. Trees cracked. The ground kicked up dirt and dust.

Then—shelter. A half-collapsed shed at the edge of the property.

Jace shoved the door open. "In!"

They stumbled inside. Alice dragged a crate in front of the doorway. Not much, but better than nothing.

Flora barely noticed. She was already back on the ground, pressing against Adrian's chest. His breathing was shallower now. His skin too cold.

Jace cursed. "We need a medic."

Alice gave him a dry look. "Oh, really? You think?"

Flora tuned them out. "Adrian, can you hear me?"

His eyelids fluttered. "Mine."

She gave a choked laugh. "Liar."

His lips twitched. The faintest ghost of a smile. Then it was gone.

Panic clawed at her. "Stay awake. Stay with me."

Alice crouched beside her, ripping open Adrian's shirt. "Let me see."

Flora moved her hands just enough for Alice to get a look.

Alice's jaw tightened.

Flora's stomach dropped. "How bad?"

Alice didn't answer right away.

Jace's voice was grim. "Bad.

Flora shook her head. "No. We can fix this. We will fix this."

Alice pressed her lips together. Then—she nodded. "Okay."

She pulled a knife from her boot and cut a strip of fabric from her own shirt. Pressed it against the wound.

Adrian flinched.

His eyes cracked open again. "You're ruining your shirt."

Alice snorted. "Oh, shut up, you idiot."

Flora breathed out the breath she hadn't known she'd been holding on to. If he was joking, then he was still in there.

For now.

But time was ticking away.

Jace prowled the floor near the door, his gun at his side. "We need to move."

Alice nodded in agreement.

Flora swallowed. "Where?"

Jace looked down at his ammo. "Back to the compound."

Alice frowned. "Too far."

Flora's heart racing, "Then where?"

Alice seemed to waver.

Jace expelled a hard breath. "There's someone. A medic. Not far.

Alice's head whipped toward him. "No. Absolutely not."

Flora looked between them. "Who?"

Jace hesitated. Then—"Lorne."

The room went still.

Alice shot to her feet. "You have lost your damn mind."

Jace met her glare. "He's our only option."

"No. No." Alice shook her head. "We do not trust that bastard."

"He saved us once."

"And he almost killed us before that!"

Flora gritted her teeth. "Enough!"

They both looked at her.

She turned to Jace. "You trust him?

Jace hesitated. Then—he nodded. "Enough to save Adrian."

Flora exhaled. Looked at Alice.

Alice swore under her breath. "Dammit."

Flora didn't hesitate. "Then we go."

Alice groaned. "I hate this plan."

Jace moved to Adrian's side. "We don't have time for a better one."

Alice glared at him. "If he betrays us—"

"He won't."

Alice's eyes narrowed. "You better be right."

Flora looked at Adrian. His breathing was ragged. Shallow.

They didn't have time.

"Let's move."

The night was dark. Too quiet.

Jace carried Adrian, muscles straining but steady. Flora stayed close, eyes scanning for threats. Alice took the lead, gun raised.

The road stretched ahead, empty.

For now.

Jace exhaled. "If this goes sideways-"

Alice cut him off. "It will go sideways."

Flora swallowed hard. "We don't have a choice."

Jace muttered something under his breath. Kept walking.

Then-lights.

A cabin in the distance.

Alice let out a breath. "This is stupid.

Flora ignored her. Stepped forward.

Knocked.

Silence.

Then—the door opened.

Lorne smirked. "Well, well."

Flora didn't waste time. "He's dying."

Lorne's gaze flicked to Adrian. Then—he stepped aside.

"Bring him in."

Jace hesitated. Then—he moved.

Alice muttered curses under her breath the entire time.

Flora barely heard. She was already kneeling beside Adrian as they set him down.

Lorne kneeled beside her. Examined the wound. "Damn. You really let him bleed out, huh?

Flora's hands curled into fists. "Can you fix him?"

Lorne's smirk finally faded. "I can try."

Flora's heart pounded. "Then do it."

Lorne didn't argue.

He got to work.

Time blurred.

Lorne's hands moved fast, stitching, cleaning.

Adrian barely stirred.

Flora held his hand.

Jace paced.

Alice glared at everything.

Then—

Lorne exhaled. "Done."

Flora's breath caught. "He’s, okay?"

Lorne wiped his hands. "He'll live."

Relief crashed over her so fast she almost collapsed.

Alice sighed. "Hate to say it, but—thanks.

Lorne smirked. "Don't get used to it."

Jace exhaled. "We owe you one."

Lorne's eyes darkened. "Yeah. You do."

Silence.

Then—Adrian stirred.

Flora was on him in a second. "Adrian?"

His eyes opened.

He looked at her.

Smiled.

"Told you,” He murmured. "Mine."

Flora laughed. A broken, relieved sound.

Jace muttered, "Idiot."

Alice sighed. "Welcome back, dumbass."

Adrian's smile faded. His eyes flicked to Lorne.

And then—

He whispered, "They're coming."

Flora's blood ran cold.

Jace stiffened. "What?"

Adrian's voice was hoarse.

"They know where we are."

The room was silent.

Then—

A shot.