Page 103 of Where Broken Wings Fly

I need to be alone to figure out what’s happening to me, but I can’t hide until Lola moves out of the way. Hysteria crawls up my throat, forcing me to take drastic action to get out of this situation.

“How long have you known?” I blurt.

Lola stares at me. “Known what?”

“Willow, stop.” Killian steps between us, his hands raised. “Maybe now isn’t the best time to get into this. Let’s get you inside.”

“No!” I shout back, swaying on my feet. “Lola has lied to me since my first day here. I’m done pretending that she’s some kind of saint.”

“What are you talking about?” she demands.

“My mother abandoned me!” I explode, uncaring of our growing audience. “Why did you give her a home? You took her in.”

With all the strength swept out of her in an instant, Lola leans on Albie, looking like one strong breeze would blow her over. Rather than answer, her mouth clicks open and shut. She clearly wasn’t expecting me to know the truth.

Zach attempts to grab me again. “Let’s go inside and get Doc to look you over.”

I inch away from them all, feeling like a cornered animal. “No! Stop… everyone stop. I can’t… I can’t breathe…”

There are too many voices around me, blurring into a confusing storm. It’s too much. Too loud. Too overwhelming. All I want is to find a quiet corner to curl up in. I let out a strangled sound as I’m overcome by a wave of blistering pain.

“Willow?”

“Zach, move!”

“Someone grab her!”

Their panicked voices disappear. Everything grows fuzzy, but the sudden rush of warmth between my legs sparks dread deep in my heart. Knees knocking together, the world moves in slow motion as I look down at my once-white sundress.

That isn’t right. Bright, accusing red is blossoming across the linen fabric. It takes my mind a moment to catch up. I’m bleeding down there, between my thighs. The swirls of colour are spreading by the second.

It’s blood.

And lots of it.

The flow of bright red keeps pouring out of me at an alarming rate and starts dripping on to Lola’s freshly cleaned patio. It takes a moment for everyone to stop shouting over each other in the chaos and realise what I’m staring down at.

All I can feel is the gushing crimson river spilling out of me. My body chooses that exact moment to pull the plug. I almost collapse to my knees, before a strong pair of arms catches me. I’m pulled into an awaiting lap.

“I’ve got you, baby,” Killian comforts. “You’re okay.”

“The blood.”

“Don’t worry about that.” His crooning voice rises, spiked with concern. “Someone get help, right now.”

His blue jeans are quickly soaked through and stained bright red beneath me. He holds me against his chest, stopping me from wriggling to escape. I go limp in his embrace, suddenly exhausted and struggling to keep my eyes open.

“Doc!”

“We need to get her to the hospital!”

“No hospitals,” I whisper.

Killian stares down at me, his face filled with a look of horror. “Eyes on me, Willow. We’re going to get you some help.”

“I’m so t-tired…”

“Don’t shut your eyes. That’s an order.”

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