Page 62 of Scars of Fate

“We don’t have much time before those fighters regroup.”

“Then we shouldn’t waste any more of it arguing.”

I picked up a medical bag.

Boone closed his eyes briefly.

“I understand why Lucas looks tired all the time.”

Despite everything, I almost laughed.

Then we ran.

The trail was harder going downhill.

Loose stones shifted beneath our boots while smoke drifted between the ridges.

Boone moved ahead of me, rifle raised, checking every bend before signaling me forward.

“Samir!” I called.

No answer.

We kept moving.

The distant gunfire had stopped.

That frightened me more than the shooting.

Silence meant one side had won.

I had no idea which one.

“Samir!”

A faint sound came from somewhere below us.

Boone stopped.

“There.”

We scrambled down a steep embankment.

Samir lay wedged between two boulders.

His skin was gray.

His eyes barely open.

Blood covered the front of his shirt.

I dropped beside him.

“Samir, can you hear me?”

His eyelids fluttered.

“Wynn?”