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Footsteps splash through the puddles of blood I’ve created and stop above me.
“For all that is fucking holy,” Kai mutters with a breathless gasp.
43
Terra
For a moment, we all stand paralyzed by what Elias made of the Darkflies. I’ve never witnessed such gore and complete disrespect for life. It’s harrowing and triggering, bringing me back to the night he killed the soldiers in the field. But before I can fall into ruin, I see my brother lying on the ground.
My hands shake violently above Edgar’s torn body. His chest and face are completely ruined. His organs, beneath the thin layer of charred skin, flutter weakly, moving the tissue with each pulse of blood his heart can manage.
Tears stream from my eyes, dripping onto Edgar’s pale face. He’s unconscious, thank gods. I can only pray he didn’t witness his friends being torn to pieces. My stomach curls; my intuition tells me he probably did.
None of what’s happening to us is fair or just, so why would that change now?
“It’s okay, Edgar.” I bite my bottom lip.
I’m not entirely sure how long ago this wound was inflicted, but I try to heal it, stretching my trembling hands over his chest and closing my eyes. I’m able to reverse time on wounds, but I can only go so far back. My skill is improving with training, but it’s still not perfect. I clench my fists and force myself to look back at his body.
Elias’s bloodied hands clasp around mine. I flinch at the cold wetness of them but meet his gaze. “I don’t think—” He cuts himself off and shakes his head. His gray eyes glimmer in the dark with remorse.
“I have to try,” I say with less determination than I was going for.
I let my hands fall to Edgar’s gaping chest, calling upon Amser. The Shadow’s energy swells around my brother’s chest. I seal his entrails back inside, but only with a thin wall of flesh. My Shadow whispers, Any more is beyond our ability. He’s been down for too long.
Elias leans by my side and firms his mouth. Then he mutters, “Eight minutes. Time to go.” Raine bends down and helps him lift Edgar’s limp body, dripping blood as they return to the portal.
Finn and Kai approach with two survivors: Lucina and Aervin. I can’t find the will to be happy about it, but a weight does lift a bit.
None of us speak as we cross the bloodied field of carcasses. We don’t speak when Corvus berates us with questions and panic as we cross back to Alkrose. We just continue steadily toward the infirmary with heavy heads and somber hearts.
I stumble into the corridor leading to the infirmary behind Raine and Elias as they deliver Edgar to the medical personnel. My vision is blurry and Finn’s hushed, comforting words don’t quite reach me.
“Huh?” I say, looking up at Finn’s sunken eyes.
He slows down, holding my hand softly so I stay behind with him while the others trudge into the infirmary. Aervin and Lucina were hurt, but they’re not anywhere near death. I’m sure Elias is going to question them after he gets Edgar sorted. My thoughts are scattered and all I keep coming back to is the awful image of Edgar’s disfigured face.
“Terra… I don’t know what to say.” Finn brushes dirt from my cheek. The worry in his eyes matches his voice. “You should get some rest. I can take you back to your room.” He gently guides me down the hall but I stop with both feet firmly planted.
Finn stares at me, looking defeated and tired, but despite that, he pulls me into a tight, gentle embrace. His cloak smells of blood and fire, but his pine scent still lingers somewhere beneath.
My lower lip trembles as I mutter into his chest, “Finn, I can’t lose him too. I’ve already lost everything else.”
He grips me tighter and rests his head on mine. “He’s going to be okay,” he says in a tight, uncertain tone. “It’s going to be okay.”
I pull away from him and look up at his somber face. His eyes are sad and weary, but his amber light hasn’t faded too much into the horrible gray. There’s hurt in his gaze and guilt tugs at my heart.
“I haven’t lost everything… I still have you,” I whisper as tears brim in my eyes.
His breath deepens and a weak smile spreads across his lips. “That’s one thing that will never change. I’ll always be by your side, Terra. I’ll catch you a thousand times if I have to.”
We sit on the floor of the hallway with our backs pressed to the wall. Medical personnel move in and out of the infirmary, sparing us timid looks here and there. It’s hard to say when our friends will be out. Raine and Elias have yet to emerge and the night is already waning into dawn.
My eyes burn with sleep deprivation. I lower my heavy head to Finn’s shoulder and he holds my hand, his Shadow circling mine warmly beneath his palm. I long to stay with him like this for a while.
“Terra.”
“Hm?”
