Like someone flipped a switch.
Dark edges creep into my vision.
I hear someone swear.
“Stay with me, Clay.”
Lucas.
Closer now.
Urgent.
I try.
I really do.
But my body’s done taking orders.
“Kids—” I manage.
Because that’s what matters.
That’s all that matters.
“They’re good,” Miles says quickly. “They’re safe. You got them out.”
Good.
That’s—
Good.
The tension in my chest loosens.
Finally.
And that’s the last thing I feel before everything goes black.
Olivia
Something’s wrong.
I don’t know how I know—
But I do.
The room hasn’t changed.
The machines are still steady.
The pain is still there.
But something—
Shifted.
My fingers tighten around Russ’s.