Can’t stand being away from her for another second.
Thunder rumbles in the distance, and I get another faceful of snow. Dammit. I’m losing control.
Even with the damn zombies wreaking havoc, I kept my cool. Mostly. But the thought of Silver being vulnerable has me dangerously close to losing my shit.
Gotta get to her.
First, though, I need to find the others. It’s been a while since I last saw Roscoe, and a weird feeling starts up in my chest. I couldn’t say for definite what it is, but it’s making me feel vaguely panicked and like I might throw up.
I charge up the street in the direction I last saw him. Ro must be around here somewhere. He’ll be charming the shit out of people, making them all feel better. He’ll be using his illusions and—
—I spot Rook’s massive form first, kneeling beside something.
A body.
Lying collapsed on the ground beside a bench.
I’d recognize that impractical outfit anywhere. Who the fuck wears a fancy tuxedo when it’s snowing like mad and you’re spending the night traipsing around the city?
But hey, maybe he slipped, and that’s why he’s on the ground. Fell on his ass clowning around.
The closer I get, the better I can see.
Like how he’s clutching his gut. And Rook’s hovering like a giant gargoyle guardian. I’m jogging before my mind cottons on to what my body’s doing. Slipping a little on some ice, I charge forward. There’s red staining the white, white snow.
Blood.
No.
It can’t be.
Then I’m running. The snow is right in my eyes, blinding me, but I don’t give a shit. I skid to a halt just in time, barely avoiding plowing right into Hanna, whose slight form was hidden behind Rook. Her hands are over her mouth, her eyes shining.
Rook’s hands, though... they’re covering Roscoe’s guts. Spanning across most of his torso. His hands are dyed bright red.
“I called you a bunch. You weren’t answering your cell,” Hanna says.
I pat my pocket dumbly, staring down at the guy on the ground. Like he’s not my best friend, lying in the snow, bleeding out.
“Wh-what the fuck happened?” I rasp. My throat doesn’t want to work right and my eyes are stinging.
“We don’t know,” Hanna says. “It looks like he tried to get to the bench but didn’t quite make it.”
“Found him a few minutes ago,” Rook rumbles.
“Have you called Fabian? He should be here. He can stop the bleeding.”
“No answer.”
Fuck.
I’m still semi-numb, not processing like I should. It’s probably shock or the cold fucking my brain or something.
I need to pull it together, though.
Then I’m on my knees, replacing Rook’s hands with mine, trying to staunch the bleeding.
“Where the fuck are our blood mage and Silver? We need them here, right now,” I growl, suddenly furious at this whole fucking situation.
