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The surrounding woodland grew quieter the deeper we went, zigzagging to throw anyone off who may have been behind us.
Getting away was our main goal, figuring out what to do after was supposed to come next, meaning we had no idea where we were going.
Both of our chests heaving and covered in sweat, it wasn’t until Marcy’s movements grew sluggish that I realized something was wrong. I slowed, coming to a complete stop.
With a pained, breathy groan, she placed her back against a tree and sank down, nearly taking me with her. The red stain on the far side of her gown drew my immediate attention.
“Marcy!” Kneeling in front of her, I examined the stain, touching the thin material with as much caution as I could manage.
The gunshot…her scream…
I watched helplessly as the white satin was further saturated before my eyes. “Why didn’t you say anything?”
“You had to get away,” she rasped, giving me a small smile.
“We had to get away.” I searched our surroundings for anything that could help her. There was nothing around but trees, dirt, and greenery. “I don’t know what to do.”
Nimble fingers reached out and took hold of my hand. “Sit with me, Star. That’s all you can do.”
“I can’t just sit here and do nothing!”
“You can, and you will. You’re going to stay with me until I fall asleep, and then you’re going to keep going until you get as far away from here as possible.”
“Fall asleep? That’s—”
“Star?”
“I’m not leaving you,” I ground out. We both knew what she meant.
“Listen to me!” she snapped, coughing immediately after. “You have to go before they find us.”
I heard all she was saying, but I physically couldn’t leave her behind. Not only did I refuse to, but we were shackled together.
“Star,” she repeated.
I looked at her, my denial fleeing as rapidly as the hole growing within my heart. I knew there was no possible way to mend the injury. I was almost positive the bullet hadn’t gone all the way through. I could dig inside her to get it out, but then what?
We had no one to go to for help. Her breathing was getting shallower with each passing minute. I was losing her right before my eyes, just like I lost everyone else.
I shoved my pain to the side and fully focused on the amazing girl in front of me.
I pulled her into my arms as best I could, trading her spots so that I was the one leaning against the tree trunk. Roughened ridges of bark pressed into the flesh on my back that was still sensitive and healing, but I didn’t care right then.
“I’m sorry,” I said, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.
She squeezed my hand and swallowed. “Not your fault. Don’t ever blame yourself for this. You’ve always… kept me safe.” An abnormal sound came from within her throat, and her entire body seemed to twitch.
Clamping my lips together to ward off a sob, I silently apologized again and again.
I pulled her closer despite the cuff around my wrist trying to prevent any further movement. It was the least I could do, the only thing I could do for her as she faded away.
Guilt began to lash at my chest. We all knew this was risky, but I wasn’t prepared to face those risks down. I wasn’t ready to lose another friend.
Just when I thought to speak again so she could hear something more than silence as she went, I looked down and saw she was already gone. Her usual rosy complexion was now drastically pale, brown eyes vacant and staring at a clouding skyline.
With her chest no longer rising and falling, all the warmth began to seep from her body with a callous speed, leaving dead weight in my arms. I covered her face with my hand and gently closed her lids.
Expelling a shaky breath, I looked to the sky and simply stared for a few minutes. It would begin to rain soon. That would grant me a brief recess from the heat, but afterward the mugginess would make travel much worse.
