Page 187 of Fatality

The warmth of the blood, holding in my palm the skin that is cut, feeling the bone nearly makes me throw up.

I don't look at Evren.

I can't.

Because if I do after what he just said I might let Liam die and let that motherfucker devour me entirely instead.

I'll never admit it out loud, I'll never admit it to myself again but his words, they did something to my heart, to my stomach.

I don’t want it, I can’t.

I hear footsteps, then my front door slides open and a second later, it slams shut with enough force to rattle the framed paintings hanging beside it.

I let out a shaky breath I didn't even realize I'd been holding.

“Comm!” I shout into my loft, coughing “Call the medics to my loft. Emergency—partial hand amputation.”

Somewhere in my loft, my comm beeps.

Calling emergency medical services to your registered home location. Estimated arrival: five minutes.

“Hold on, Liam.”

I keep pressure on what's left of his wrist with both of my hands, I can't put a tourniquet on his upper arm without letting go.

I'm terrified that if I do, his hand will fall off.

There is so much blood, I rather not look at it.

If I do, I will remember eleven years ago when Kyle died in my arms bleeding out.

Liam whines, his eyes rolling back.

“Hey! Hey!” I shake him slightly. “Stay with me you bastard!”

His grey-blue eyes focus on mine again, whimpering in pain.

“Riven…” He whispers.

“Don’t.” I clench my jaw. “Don’t bother, we are done. I’m just saving your life.”

He nods weakly, I keep my eyes fixed on his forehead, a focus point to not break myself.

I hear the sirens of the medics and drones.

CHAPTER 39

Riven

I'm Tired - Labrinth ft. Zendaya

Ipush Charlie's loft door open, covered in Liam's blood, my throat aches beneath the bruises he left behind.

I don't know when I started walking, I don't know how the hell I ended up here.

Maybe after the medics arrived, after the emergency drones unfolded into humanoid robots, after they loaded Liam onto a stretcher and told me to step back.

I answered their questions in an almost empty voice.