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“Stay with me, Lily,” I whisper, trying to keep my voice steady. “Just hold on.”
She manages a weak nod, her grip on my shoulder tightening ever so slightly. My heart swells with love and admiration for her strength—even now, when she’s hurting and scared, she refuses to give up.
Our escape is slowed by the debris littering the floor, testament to the violence that unfolded within these walls. The air feels heavy, suffocating, as if the very building itself is conspiring against us.
“Almost there,” I tell her, forcing a smile I don’t feel, but she barely registers my words—her gaze is distant, unfocused. “You’re doing great, Annalise.”
“Thank…you…” she murmurs, her voice barely audible. Her eyes close again, and I feel a surge of panic at the thought of losing her.
“Keep talking to me,” I urge her, desperate to hear her voice. “Tell me…anything. Just keep talking.”
“Remember…the night we met?” she asks, her voice trembling with effort. “At the masquerade ball?”
My chest tightens at the memory; it was the night I fell in love with her. “Of course. How could I forget?”
“Never…felt so alive,” she confesses, her eyes fluttering open once more. “With you.”
“Me too,” I admit, my voice thick with emotion. “And I promise, once we’re out of here, we’ll have many more nights like that. Just stay with me.”
Her lips curve into a ghost of a smile, and I cling to the hope that it brings. We reach the door, and I kick it open with all my remaining strength, stepping out into the dimly lit hallway.
“Almost there,” I repeat, more to reassure myself than her. But as I take another step, a gunshot rings out, echoing through the corridor like a thunderclap.
Pain sears through my chest, and I collapse to my knees, clutching at the wound as blood seeps through my fingers. My vision blurs, but I refuse to let go of Annalise—she’s been through too much already.
“Ca-Cassius…” she stammers, terror in her eyes. “You…you’re hurt.”
“Doesn’t matter,” I manage to grit out, fighting the blackness encroaching on the edges of my vision. “We need to keep moving.”
“Ca-can’t,” she whispers, tears streaming down her cheeks. “Can’t leave you.”
“Annalise, listen to me,” I gasp, my breath coming in shallow, ragged gasps. “I need you to be strong for both of us now. You hear me?”
“Ca-Cassius…”
“Promise me,” I choke out, feeling the darkness closing in. “Promise me you’ll survive this, no matter what.”
“Promise,” she sobs, her grip on me tightening. And even though I can barely see her face through the haze of pain, I know that she means it—my fierce, beautiful Lily will fight until her dying breath.
“Good,” I manage to whisper, before the darkness finally claims me.
The weight of my body presses against the cold, unforgiving floor as I force myself to breathe through the pain. Annalise’s wide emerald eyes stare at me, filled with fear and determination. I refuse to let her down.
“Stay…behind me,” I grunt, my voice strained and raw. With a Herculean effort, I drag myself toward her, each inch feeling like a mile. My love for her fuels my desperation, pushing me forward despite the agony threatening to consume me.
“Ca-Cassius, don’t,” Annalise pleads, her voice trembling. “You’re hurt…you need help.”
“Help won’t matter if we’re both dead,” I reply, forcing a bitter smile onto my bloodstained lips. “I’ve got you, Lily. Trust me.”
Her eyes glisten with unshed tears, but she nods, her petite frame trembling with the effort to stay strong. I reach her side, and our fingers intertwine, our connection solidifying my resolve.
Another gunshot shatters the tense silence, and I instinctively shield Annalise with my body. The bullet misses me by a hair’s breadth, and I hear the thud of Arlo’s body hitting the ground. Relief washes over me—Damian has arrived.
“Damian…thank God,” I gasp between ragged breaths, my vision swimming. The darkness threatens to claim me again, but I dig my nails into my palms, using the sharp pain to anchor myself to reality.
“Your brother…” Annalise murmurs, her eyes flicking to where Damian stands, his muscular frame tense, jet-black hair matted with sweat. His piercing blue eyes scan the room, alight with a mixture of concern and rage.
“Trust him,” I whisper, squeezing her hand. “He’ll protect us.”
