Page 194 of Eight of Swords, Part Two

‘It’s too late.’

Lee is here. When did Lee get here?

‘You absolute moron, don’t you realise what your blood will do to—’

Something slams against the bed across the room. Metal rattles. Boots skid. The steady monitor changes into one long frenzy of alarms.

‘He’s seizing,’ Noah says. ‘Turn him. Protect the airway.’

‘Pressure’s falling.’

‘How far?’

‘Sixty systolic. Heart rate two-twenty.’

‘He’s crashing. Suction ready, adrenaline standing by.’

Lee says, ‘Riley, don’t fight it, darling. Don’t fight, remember?’

Another violent crash.

Someone swears.

Then everything on Riley’s side of the room goes horribly quiet.

‘I’ve lost the pressure.’

‘Carotid pulse?’

‘Barely.’

‘He’s peri-arrest.’

‘What have you done?’

‘I was trying to save him!’

‘No, you’re trying to save Julian!’

‘It’s the same fucking thing!’

‘Enough!’ Noah barks. ‘Either shut up or get out, both of you!’

Kade tries to say Riley’s name, has no air, he… wait.

He has air.

He can breathe.

He is breathing.

‘Wait,’ Noah says quietly. ‘Heart rate’s coming down.’

‘Is it working?’ Lachlan asks.

‘Quiet.’

‘You don’t have the first idea what he is,’ Lee tells Lachlan through her teeth. ‘Your stupidity truly knows no bounds, does it?’