Page 80 of Restored

“Let me see.” I touch Ledger’s hands, and he pulls away the cloth.

There are open wounds in Holt’s chest, and abdomen, and I can make out fresh bite marks on his neck. His breathing is coming out in gasps. His skin is clammy, a sheen of sweat on his forehead as I place the back of my hand on it.

He’s cold. The sensation sends a shock of alarm up my arm. My power flickers in my palms as I hold them up. A steady stream of blood is flowing out of the open wounds, and I know they need to be closed, but I can detect Kerolu poison working its way into his veins.

“Am I going to die?” he rasps. His blue eyes find mine, and I can see the fear behind them.

“No. Holt, no, you aren’t going to die.” My voice quivers as I speak. “You must be brave, okay? I’m going to remove the poison, make it hurt less.” He nods before I start the slow, arduous process. My dwindling power accumulatesin my palms, and I grunt at the impact of the poison leaving his body.

His body convulses as the poison continues its assault on my system. I tense, and my hands aggressively tremble. My power and energy wanes dangerously low, but I refuse to stop.

“Stay with me, buddy.” A whimper leaves my mouth as my power flickers. A warm stream of blood trickles out of my nose and over my lips.

A hand comes down on my shoulder, warm and familiar. The buzzing in my veins makes my skin vibrate, a scalding warmth blanketing me. A brief feeling close to ecstasy makes me sway as I look at Ledger.

My mouth drops open as I realize he is giving me his power. It works both ways, he can take and give. Something I wasn’t even aware was possible.

“It hurts,” Holt chokes as a tear falls down his freckled cheek. I focus back on him accepting the gift Ledger is giving. The second the first wound is free of toxin; I begin to heal it. His chest knits together in a jagged, sloppy scar.

“I know, I know. I’ll take the pain away.” My voice cracks.

Ledger lets out a relieved breath as the last of the chest wounds closes. I start closing the wounds on his abdomen.

I let out a shuddering breath, pushing my magic harder. I hear Holt’s sluggish heartbeat, and panic creeps up my throat.

I beg my power to work faster, to close the wounds, to heal what had been so brutally broken.

“It doesn’t hurt anymore,” he gasps, and my heart drops.

“Holt, you’ve got to hang on. Please hang on.” I beg him as his shallow breaths turn to gasps.

No, no, no, no,my brain chants as the glowing in my hands grow brighter.

A spark of hope fills my veins as his stomach wound mends. But then his gasps grow quiet. His chest stills.

I grapple for his heartbeat but can’t seem to find one.

My brain goes blank as I look at his pale, freckled face. His eyes are open, his chest deathly still. My heart drops as I blink.

The trembling in my hands moves up my arms as I continue to pour my powers into him.

“He’s fine, he’s going to be fine.” My vision blurs with unshed tears, the silence around me deafening.

Mia’s face is grim as she falls back onto her heels.

“I’m going to fix it.” My voice wavers as a tear skates down my cheek. My power falters again as I burn through the energy Ledger provided.

“Layla.” His voice is a soft, gentle rasp in my ear. An unfiltered sob breaks from my throat.

“I can fix it.” Tears flow freely down my cheeks.

My head swims as I sway to one side. I know if I don’t cut my power off soon, I will burn out, but I can’t bringmyself to do it. I can’t accept the reality this young boy died, and I couldn’t save him.

“You have to stop.” Ledger’s hands come to mine doing what I can’t. My power abruptly stops, and I sag back into him, another loud sob leaving my lips.

Blood, my blood.The thought flashes in my mind and, I reach for my dagger, ready to slice into my palm. Ledger stops me as if reading my mind. “He’s gone, that won’t help.”

His strong arms envelop me as I stare at Holt’s face, void of life. His fiery red hair flutters in the wind. Ledger pulls me away, lifting me up, and turns my face into his chest, where I soak his shirt with my tears.

---