Page 77 of The Hunted

31

Knox

Pain blossoms and spreads through my chest and abdomen. I hear talking. It sounds so far away.

Who’s talking?

Ace?

I think I hear Ace.

Where’s Raven?

I’m so tired. I want to stay here. It’s quiet. It’s still. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt so at peace.

“Knox, I’m here, Knox. Can you hear me? Stay with me. We are going to get you fixed up.”

Raven. My Raven. I love her. She sounds sad.

“We’re going to give you something for the pain, Knox. Hang in there.”

Ace. He’ll look after Raven.

Maybe I can just let go now. It’d be so easy. So easy to just slip away.

She’s safe.

“He’s been out for a while. How long until he wakes up? Do we know?”

Raven. Why can’t I open my fucking eyes?

“He lost a lot of blood. Luckily, there was a supply on hand. This place is stocked better than a hospital. I got the bullet out, but he’s pretty out of it right now. Now all we can do is keep him comfortable and wait till he is a bit more stable and get him to the hospital.”

Who is that? A doctor? Hospital?

“Thanks, Snake. We appreciate your help, man. Our doctors are on their way in here to continue his care until we can transport him.”

Ace? Who the fuck is Snake? What the fuck is going on, and why can’t I open my eyes?

A kaleidoscope of color dances and swirls around me. The voices are so far away, like a dream.

Is this a dream?

“Luckily the bullet just missed his heart.”

Bullet? I was shot? Why can’t I remember being shot? Who the fuck shot me?

“Hey, Ace. We’ve got to get Raven to eat and rest.”

Lazz? Why isn’t Raven eating? My sweet Little Bird.

I float along in the swirl of color. Bright reds that fade to shades of pink. Dark blues the color of the night sea. So pretty, so peaceful as it wraps around me. For the first time in as long as I can remember, I feel relaxed, safe but I’m tired. So tired.

The colors close in, cocooning me. They twist and swirl around me as I float along the ether.

Maybe, I’ll just rest here for a while.

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