I bend down, catching this man’s gaze for the last time. My gut twists with something deeper than fear, something that feels perilously close to loss.
Those ethereal eyes, lined with heartbreaking exhaustion, burn into a space in my memory that I already know will never fade.
“Just fight a bit longer,” I whisper.
My hands work quickly to staunch the bullet wound once more. The squelch of blood dribbling down my arms as I press down sears into my senses. This is going to haunt me forever. The sound, the smell, the way his eyes gaze back at mine.
Every piece of him seems to lock into the deep recesses of my head, steeped in his musky scent, swirling with the sharp tang of fresh copper.
A siren’s groan shrieks through the night, snapping me out of the moment.
They’re here. Thank God they’re here.
But I know what that sound means.
It’s time to go.
Cassandra
3 Months Later
Adamp combination of mud and slush soaks through the fabric of my leggings as I rush down the stone trail towards my lecture hall.
Though I look forward to the beautiful spectacle of a winter blizzard all year long, the consequence of hundreds of students stomping over layers of mud and ice in order to make it to their next class creates quite a humbling obstacle. A wave of shivers vibrates down my shoulders as I finally reach the cool handle of the door and happily slide into the stuffy warmth of the auditorium.
“Cass, over here!”
A smile spreads over my lips at the sound of Sophia’s voice. I search the room, finally spotting my best friend nestled in the corner, her purse resting on the seat beside her to save me a place. The sight of her familiar blonde head bent over her notebook sends a warm flutter through mychest—one of the few things that can cut through my perpetual college-induced anxiety.
Soph and I met in Junior year History Seminar, and despite belonging to completely different departments in the school, we’ve been inseparable ever since. She found me drowning in assignments and desperate for human connection, and proceeded to practically sew her ass to mine for the foreseeable future. We’ve had each other’s backs ever since.
“You? Early? I guess there’s a first time for everything,” I quip, stripping off my heavy coat and settling in beside her.
“Don’t count on a repeat anytime soon. It’ll hurt my reputation.” She shoots me a grin, but I catch the exhaustion lurking beneath it.
Slipping my computer from my bag, I flip out my desk and settle my sore back into the stiff, wooden seat. I study her profile as she pretends to organize her notes—the slight tremor in her hands, the way she keeps stifling yawns.
“Don’t worry, slacker. Your secret’s safe with me.” I lean closer, catching the familiar scent of lab chemicals clinging to her dark sweatshirt. “God, I can practically smell the formaldehyde off of you. Were you even supposed to go in today, or were you taking extra shifts again?”
She rolls her eyes at my antics, but doesn’t deny it. “First of all, I don’t use formaldehyde because I work with bacteria, not corpses, you little shit. And, fine, I just wanted to check on my cultures. Little guys are growing up so fast, Cass. I don’t want to miss a thing!”
“You know, sometimes I wonder who you’d choose if I found myself tied to the train tracks alongside your demented little lab projects?—”
“The ultimate Sophie’s Choice,” Soph says, shaking her head with a coy smile. A low laugh breaks loose from my throat, and I feel some tension ease from my shoulders. This is what I missed most during those lonely underclass years.
“Did you at least eat lunch yet?” I ask, shooting her a knowing look. Sophia is brilliant, but she works herself to the bone in her research lab, taking on way more responsibility than anyone else while balancing herdifficult classes. If two days went by without her sneaking off to the lab to check on her ongoing projects, I’d call in Homeland Security.
“Yeah, I got a bar from the vending machine before I came in. Don’t worry about me, Cass, I’ll eat afterwards. I’m done for the day.”
Uh-huh.I give her my bestbullshitlook. “You always say that. And you always find something to check on or a study group to run. When’s the last time you had an actual meal that didn’t come wrapped in plastic?”
“Well, this time I’m serious. Wanna know why?” She probes with a mischievous grin that immediately puts me on high alert.
I sigh. “Alright, I’ll bite. Why is tonight different?”
“I’m so glad you asked!” She exclaims. I snort. “Tonight I have passes for Empire.” She holds two thin, chain bracelets in front of my face, the small links swinging in the air.
I tilt my head in confusion. “Empire? Is that like a film premiere or something?”
