Page 133 of Monstrous Serpent

The yelling and cursing intensify, the whistles screaming again. I take a shuddering breath. It was an accident. They need to stop fighting. He didn’t mean it.

Another trainer kneels beside her, black-and-green jacket, radio already in hand. “EMS is coming down. Spine board is on its way.”

Spine board.

That sounds dramatic.

Mara doesn’t look away from me. “Good. Cody, stay with me.” She touches my glove. “Can you squeeze my hand?”

I do.

“Good. Again.”

I squeeze.

She pulls her hand away. “Can you wiggle your toes?”

I try.

Nothing.

I try again. Still nothing.

“Okay. Don’t force it.” Her expression doesn’t change.

“That seems bad.”

Mara’s mouth tightens for half a second. “We’re going to take care of you, Cody. Stay with me.”

Before she can say more, the rink erupts again.

“Kincaid, stop! Stop!” someone yells. “You’re fucking killing him, man.”

“What’s happening?” I try to lift my head.

Mara’s hands are on my helmet, pinning it gently to the ice. “Cody, don’t move your head. Eyes on me.”

“No, what’s happening?”

The glass rattles somewhere behind me, followed by more shouting.

“Kincaid!” Reed’s voice is practically a growl. “Let him go. Let Trembley go.”

My stomach drops.

No. No. No.

I try to get up, but only my shoulder moves, my glove scraping uselessly against the ice.

“Cody, you need to stay still. Stay still,” Mara says, as someone braces my shoulder with their hands.

My breath starts coming too fast. In. Out. In again before the last one finishes.

“Cody.” Mara's voice is sharper now. “Look at me.”

I can’t.

The glass rattles again. Someone yells Hunter’s name. Reed curses.