“If Hale is hurt, I swear I’ll fucking lose it and kill them all,” I murmur while injecting myself with the medicine.
“I’m sure he’s fine. Hale knows how to take care of himself. It wouldn’t be the first time he’s been in a scrape.”
I leap out of the car before we’re even completely there, and I begin firing wildly into the mass while holding my invincibility up. Screams erupt as their attention diverts to me, and I drop my empty clips to the ground before slamming fresh ones in.
The bullets rattle off of my unfazed body, and they begin panicking when they see how ineffective their weapons are. I rip two grenades off my sides, and I toss them into the packs of rabid full bloods thirsty for bloodshed.
Let’s see how you fucking like it.
The explosions thunder across the ground, and more screams deafen the crying air. I walk through while shooting rapidly, refilling, and firing more. More and more fall to their death, their blood spraying the ground before they hit it, as the others finally decide it’s time to retreat. My invincibility is holding up so much stronger and longer. It’s not wavering at all.
I don’t have to worry anymore as the ticking sound warns the full bloods of the sun’s arrival, and they all leap into the tinted vehicles I haven’t destroyed on my rampage to escape its wrath. I fire into the windows, and they shatter just as the sun peers out its full glow wonder.
I smile as they scream, burn, and beg for mercy. The skin falls, scraping free from their bodies, and the remaining ones slam on the gas to get the hell out of dodge before I can force them to endure the same excruciating death.
The remaining bodies on the ground all ash in unison, and I walk through the fog of ashes swirling around the dusty air as I make my way to the compound. The doors open without even a request, and Clay walks up beside me with wide eyes.
“Not saying you’re not usually badass, but that was beyond anything I’ve ever seen you do. The only thing is, you didn’t hold back. That worries me, Araya.”
“Hale’s not out here, Clay. That’s why I didn’t hold back. He would have been out here the moment he saw me if he wasn’t hurt. I told you I’d kill them all.”
He realizes I’m right, and panic spreads as we both rush in to find the chief.
“Araya Crush. You don’t disappoint,” a man with hair dusted gray says as we rush in.
An ager. An ungifted ager.
“Please tell me where Hale Banner is,” I prompt.
“He’s in the infirmary. He refused blood from anyone but you. His assistant assures me he’s fine.”
I sigh in relief, and a small glowing smile comes to my face.
“I’ve been wanting to speak with you, but I hadn’t planned on that arrival. Those aren’t our usual foes. We bicker with the surrounding full bloods, but nothing ever escalates to that level. I had several men to almost die.”
“I’m sorry, but I really need to go check on Hale,” I say softly while walking away.
“He’s in the first building, far left at the end of the hall,” he calls to my back.
I wave as I rush into the building, and I see Wendy lowering her phone with wide eyes when she sees me.
“Wendy, how is he?” I ask while running toward the room.
“He’s… I didn’t think you were going to be here for a while,” she says in bemusement.
I don’t have time for idle chat right now though. I rush by her, and I throw the door open expecting to see a far less gruesome scene than my eyes fall on.
“Hale!” I scream to the still body on the infirmary bed.
His blood is everywhere. His face, arms, chest… everything is gashed all to hell. He’s a pile of blood, and his chest has no rise or fall.
No. No. No.
I dive on top of the small bed which holds him, and the clinical room around us is stained red from the loss he has suffered. I can’t hear any breaths, and his heart is as still as his body.
“No. No, damn it. Wake up,” I cry as I use my blood bringer to rip the flesh on my wrist.
I take in a mouthful of my own blood to pour into his mouth, and I use my gift to massage his heart as I force the blood down his throat. Tears pour from my eyes as the red stains me, and I cry harder when he still shows no response.
