In the Balance

#Chapter 95:

The world whizzed around James in a strobe light blur, cut-off voices, and paramedics busting around hard, sweating over Lily. They didn't look all that hopeful-not that James needed the distressed expressions to convey the message he'd already gotten loud and clear. This was not looking good.

"Sir.

"No," James mumbled, still feeling too stunned. "I can't leave her."

"We're trying to help her," the paramedic told him firmly. "Please, just let us do our job."

At last, James let them take Lily away. He stood in a complete state of helplessness, watching as they pulled his little daughter onto a stretcher and into an ambulance that had apparently been simply waiting for her.

A policeman approached him. "Mr. Watson? I'm Officer Chen. Can you describe the events of tonight?

James's eyes had already welled up, blurring. "Louis. He shot Lily. He ran into the woods. And Ava." Then clarity returned to his mind again. "Ava! She has to be out here somewhere. We have t