Page 17 of Addiction

Needing her comfort, I pull her into my arms.

I’d needed this.

We’d needed this: letting out our truths and fears, hurts and heartaches. Even though this road I’m prepared to walk down is so new and daunting, I know I’ve got my sister by my side no matter what.

“From this point on, we only look forward, okay?”

“Okay.” I will try anything for her no matter how long it takes because I always promised our pop I’d protect her, and if I couldn’t before, I’m damn well sure I will now.

CHAPTER FIVE

Asher

With the radio unresponsive, I don’t stop to check if my section is clear: I just run like hell through the cloudy air, my heart slamming against my ribs as dread covers my body. His cry and moans hurt my ears the closer I get to him. A river of crimson coats the dusty ground; dark red soaks into his clothes.

No. No. No.

“Wyatt!” I yell, diving my body toward him as gunfire blasts around us again. “I got you.”

“Asher. Help me.”

“I got you, buddy.”

Everywhere I look, there’s blood and multiple wounds covering his body, but I focus on the one on his neck. I tear strips off his already battered uniform and press the material down on the open wound, ignoring the cry that comes from him with pain as I pull him closer to me.

“It’s going to be okay.”

“Don’t let me die. Don’t let me die. Asher. Please. Don’t let me die.”

Adrenaline and fear cover me because I know looking down at him there is no hope. But my heart and mind are telling me to fight for him.

I just can’t.

“You’re not going to fucking die. You die, I die, remember? And I’m not in the mood to fucking die today.”

I shield him as more gunfire hits. Where the fuck are the others?

Time is moving too fast yet too slow. Each second that ticks, Wyatt is getting weaker.

And he knows it.

“Asher,” he gasps, finding it hard to breathe. “Look at me.”

I can’t. I can’t because this is all my fault. I’d been distracted.

I’d been distracted because of him.

“Asher. Please.”

His plea has my eyes falling to his, and like the wind has been sucked out of me, his blue eyes capture me all over again. With an unsteady hand, he reaches up and cups my jaw.

“T-this is it…isn’t it?”

“No,” I growl, my body now feeling like it’s on fire. “This isn’t happening, Wyatt. This is not how this ends. It can’t be.”

“I-I’m glad it’s…you,” he whispers. “I’m glad…I have you w-with me when I go.”

“You’re not fucking going anywhere. You’re not going to die.”