Page 132 of Monstrous Serpent

Head up. Find the puck. Get back in the play.

So I try.

My glove scrapes against the ice. My shoulder moves. My ribs complain. My lower back sends a sharp, ugly warning through me.

But my legs stay quiet.

“Cody!”

Atlas.

“Don’t move him!”

Who’s that? I don’t recognize the voice.

Atlas’s face is in front of mine, his head resting on the ice. “Little J, are you okay? I caught an edge. Didn’t mean to hit you like that.”

I smile at him, not liking how pale he looks, or how wet his eyes are. “Hey, you’re finally talking to me.”

“Yeah.” He blinks and a tear escapes, rolling over the bridge of his nose. “Cody, are you okay?”

“I . . . I can’t feel my legs.”

“Fuck!” His voice cracks and more tears flow, his lips trembling. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay.”

The whistle is blaring, strings of curses and creative threats filling the air. Wouldn’t be a hockey game without a fight. But for the first time, I don’t want to join. Because the guy I love is breaking right in front of me, and I can’t even move to grab him.

“Atlas, it’s okay.”

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m—” He disappears from my view.

“Atlas?”

“Cody, don’t move, just stay still.” Mara, one of our trainers, kneels beside me, calm like this is normal, like I didn’t just tell Atlas I can’t feel my legs. Her hands close around my helmet, holding my head still. “Can you look at me? Don’t try to move. Just eyes on me.”

“Where’s Atlas?” My voice wobbles. “He said he caught an edge. It was an accident.”

“Cody.” Her voice stays even. “Look at me.”

My breaths saw in and out. “He didn’t mean to do it.”

“I need you to focus. Look at me.”

So I do.

“Do you have any pain in your neck?”

“No.”

“Head?”

“No.”

“Back?”

“Yeah. Low.”