“No—no, no, no—” I press down hard, hands already soaked.
His body arches with a groan.
“Reinforcements ETA: one minute!” Noah shouts from somewhere.
Tex coughs, blood flecking his lips. “Iz…”
“I’m here,” I choke out. “You’re okay. You’re going to be okay.” Tears roll down my cheeks.
His hand finds mine, gripping tight,too tight.Desperate. “Don’t… cry for me.”
“Shut up,” I hiss. “You’re not going anywhere.”
An explosion rocks the far side of the training ground.
“I need a medical bag!” I scream.
“Coming!” Noah tears toward me, dodging gunfire, diving over a narrow pillar to slide into place beside us. “Iz… It’s not going to help.”
“Hand it over, Noah!”
“There’s too much blood! That bullet hit something major.”
“I don’t care,” I growl at him. “Help me!”
He shoves supplies in my hands. “He doesn’t have long,” he murmurs low.
Noah places a hand on Tex’s shoulder, squeezing it.
Tex’s grip loosens.
“Hey! Hey—stay awake!” I press harder, heart pounding so loud it drowns the battle.
Because in this moment, there’s only the blood.
Only the fear.
OnlyTex.
His grip slips.
“Don’t you dare.” My voice is barely a whisper, trembling as I lean over him, pressing both palms harder into the wound. “You’re fine. You’re going to be fine. We’ve gotten out of worse, remember?”
Tex’s eyes are glassy. He coughs, blood bubbling at the corner of his mouth, and he tries to smile through it. His chest rises in shallow, broken pulls.
“This can’t be happening,” I choke, shaking my head like I can shake the truth away. “Fight, Tex, Fight!”
He reaches into his pocket, pulling something out. His hand finds mine. It’s weak but still warm. He squeezes once. Pressing the rough object into my hands.
I know what it is without even looking at it.
“No, Tex. No.”
“Take it, Iz.” He coughs, the sound wet and wrong. “I’ll be watching over you.”
“You’re not dying, Tex.”
Tex takes my hands from his chest and holds them.
