Cole sucked in a breath, and without another thought, threw herself forward.Flashes of her past flood her mind. Like looking at shiny gold treasures in a chest. Cole remembered the moments when her parents smiled, when her sister giggled, when things were simple, safe and beautiful…Her ears filled with distant flutters of bird wings. Until the flutters became pops again and murmurs became shouts."COLE!"All at once, her gray eyes opened, and the full moon’s glory filled her vision."COLE WHERE ARE YOU?" A voice shouts. Cole's heart pounds as she realizes it was Tuck shouting for her. She frantically looked around, seeing that she had indeed landed on the terrace. While her attacker lay unconscious on a broken table; which was crushed under his weight."COLE!"Another shout makes Cole turn her head to the right, finding the house door. Right away she knew Tuck was checking every room on the third floor.The floor creaked, drawing her gaze left again, and Cole's gray eyes went wide. A
"There's time for that later". Went Vincent, as he looked her over for other injuries before slipping on an extra mask over her face. "Take deep breaths. Don't think about anything else".Cole breathed in and out; feeling his gentle touch on her arm. "You're going to be okay…"A moment passes. Then another, as Cole mentally processes what happened. Turning her head to see the man, Lucas, lying in a pool of his own blood with a piece of a chair leg nearby. The wooden thing was stained at one end. Immediately Cole knew what the Doctor had done…“Oh… Oh he’s dead…” Cole repeats as her breaths become harder."Breathe Cole". Vincent touches her cheek. Guiding her vision away from the sight when her breathing becomes feverish."V-Vin… M-My window". Cole tries to speak, starting to feel the pain in her bones. In her mind, she remembered the trio that broke into the house."I know". Went Vincent. "They broke in. It'll be over soon"."Come here". Vincent carefully lifted Cole to sit up. One han
Natalie's scream pierces through noises of gunfire. The sound reaches Eris, who rushed from his spot near the front door. Into the living room, where Natalie was pinned under a man who hasn't met him yet.Eris yanks him off, slamming him to the floor and beating him in a rage. Natalie got up, firing shots toward the yard as she neared Eris. "They're retreating! Eris! Those bastards have our supplies!"Standing up straight, Eris stood over the unconscious man and glanced at the window. Then at Natalie. "You're injured". he says, looking at a bullet wound in her left arm."It's just a flesh wound". Natalie sniffles as she casually reloads her silver pistol. "I'll be fine…" She exhales, but Eris could tell she was trying to hide her pain."Let's go get our stuff back". Natalie takes the lead and heads for the door.--Curled up on the floor, Cole holds her sore stomach while the intruder reaches down for the weapon. Only to be shoved into another wall. Cole turned her head to see Vincent
Cole lay in bed, eyes open and staring blankly at the white ceiling. The room was filled with morning light. She breathed lightly, waiting for whatever analgesic Vincent gave her to finally kick in.Eventually, it did. The soreness in her bones was nonexistent, except for some slight stinging in her right thigh.A bag of blood dangled to the left of the bed. The intravenous tube extended carefully to the bed. Vincent eyed the blood as it traveled through the tube. Cole observed the side of his face that was partially protected by the mask. A red streak on his skin showed beneath his jaw. As if someone had attempted to strangle him…Cole turned away before he could see her face. Hoping he didn't notice tears spill from her eyes. She breathed deep and willed herself to stop. Though her heart remained sore.The sting of fluid didn't help as Vincent started cleaning her smaller injuries.Once it was over, Vincent put away his kit and ordered Tuck to stay with the patient. Whatever was goin
"Cole." Eris's husky voice was softer now, laced with an undercurrent of tension. He exhaled, his brows knitting in concern. "I know I can’t force you to eat… or make you sleep. These things aren’t easy. But my hope—" he paused, choosing his words with care, "is that someday, when the world’s not so broken, you and Tuck will get to be kids again. Do normal stuff… stay out late, go to school, have holidays…" His voice trailed off, distant, as if lost in a memory. "You remind him of someone important. His best friend. They got separated when she got sick."Cole blinked, her eyes rising to meet his, a flicker of curiosity there. Eris seemed to catch himself, his expression guarded now, like he had revealed more than he intended."I’m telling you this so you understand what’s coming. When Tuck finds out you’re not eating…" His gaze shifted briefly to the shadows beneath her eyes, the fatigue evident in her pale face. "And not sleeping either."Eris fell silent, studying her. For a moment,
"I…" Cole blinked nervously, looking down at her hands in shame. Even though Vincent showed no sign of anger. "I think I overslept."Vincent was quiet and had an air of calm surrounding him. His seated form shadowed hers. Vincent was wearing a pair of dark blue trousers and the protective mask covering his face. Seeing he was shirtless and with wild hair of his own. Cole guessed he rolled out of bed and slipped on a mask. It wasn't proper protection, but Vincent did not seem to care."Vin, if you get sick, I'll never forgive myself". Cole spoke, peeking up at him. "You should go put s-something else on".Vincent took a deep breath, letting it out slowly as he extended his other arm. Reaching, he cups her chin in his hand and brings her gaze to his again. "There are worse things to die from…" He says, chewing on his lip as a thought crossed his mind. Cole read the look in his green eyes as they traveled to the bruises on the side of her face. Pain surfaced in them, darkening the light i
After years of isolation, Cole got used to sleeping alone. Now there was someone snuggling her like a mama cat.It felt good.Safe…Vincent continued this every night, until the power was restored.The next few days felt like a month. Salvaging parts, fixing the power, doors repaired, broken windows boarded, and damaged walls patched. Cole was resting, Tuck was ordered to go scouting with a separate team. All while Vincent and Eris were summoned to the training room. They faced a restless 'Natalie' who was determined to train them harder. Both Eris and Vincent were back in training with Lieutenant Natalie Yuki. She went over close combat, weapon assembly, all types of potential escape routes and vulnerable points within the house. Plus, how to store explosives to keep from blowing the whole house up."I think I remember why… I chose to go to med-school…" Eris pants, laying on the training room floor. Right next to Vincent, who got tossed out of the ring as well by Natalie's best soldie
"Cole. I need you to listen." Vincent tries to speak, but Cole was already on the verge of tears."You can't know that. I'm not going. Vin, I'm not going." Cole dodges his reach when he gets too close."Cole, I need you to put this on." Vincent sighs, growing impatient as he holds onto a suit meant for the patient."No. I don't need that cause I'm not going.""Cole, if we stay here you won't survive." Vincent finally says. "The people that attacked us took supplies. Some of them are damaged… We can't care for you properly if we don't have what we need."Cole fell silent while she processed it all. "I can’t go" She shakes her head, stepping back again when he stepped forward.“I won’t go”. Cole shivers out, emotions swirling in her dark gray eyes. “I won’t go” she repeats in a firmer tone."Cole." Vincent gave a warning tone. A tense look on his face as he stares at his patient. He steps forward, while Cole takes a step backward. Losing her balance when the back of her leg bumps the bed