Page 121 of Gunnar

Torin presses in over it, hard enough that Orson jerks, a rough sound catching in his throat.

“Hold that.”

“I am.”

“Don’t you pass out,” Gunnar snaps, voice sharp with something close to anger. “Stay with me.”

“Let’s get him in the truck,” Torin says.

I’m already moving, running ahead to yank the rear doors open.

Gunnar hauls Orson up under the arms while Torin takes his legs, and together they carry him toward me, blood slicking over my fingers as I reach in to help, pressing my hand down where Gunnar was holding.

It’s hot. Too soft under the blood.

They lift him into the truck, Gunnar half forcing him across the seat as his body starts to slide.

Torin climbs in after him, bracing him with one hand already back on the wound, and I scramble in beside them, catching Orson before he folds completely.

“Hey—stay with me,” I say, gripping his jaw and turning his face toward me.

His eyes flicker, struggling to focus.

The truck fishtails as Gunnar guns it down the track.

Orson jerks against me with a broken sound, his body fighting for something it can’t quite hold onto.

“Stay with me,” I say again, tightening my grip as his head lolls, then lifts a fraction, his eyes glassy and unfocused.

“Shift,” Gunnar says from the front, sharp. “Do it now.”

Orson’s body tenses like he’s trying, every muscle pulling tight—then it gives.

“I can’t,” he rasps.

Torin squeezes his shoulder. “Try again.”

Orson’s mouth opens, but no sound comes out this time, his eyes rolling back before dragging forward again with visible effort.

“Stay awake,” Gunnar snaps.

The truck hits a rut and bucks hard, throwing us all sideways.

I brace him, dragging his weight back against me as he starts to slump again, his body going loose in a way that makes something in my chest tighten.

Torin adjusts his hand, leaning in closer, checking.

“It’s slowing,” he says.

The blood isn’t surging anymore.

Gunnar glances back. “Talk to me.”

“It’s clotting.”

Orson drags in a shallow breath, uneven.

His eyes open again, unfocused, but there.