Page 58 of A Whisper of Cinders

Two.

Three.

There, a faint trembling beat against my fingertips and adrenaline rushes through me. “Hang on.”

I think he is a little older than me, but it’s hard to tell when his skin is drained of any colour. His dark curls are dusted with frost, eyes remain closed and his clothes are in complete shreds.

I analyse the raw open skin above his hip. It looks like an animal dragged its claws along his abdomen. It’s a miracle I don’t see intestines poking out.

I take off my coat, form a ball and push it onto the wound. He lets out a weak grunt. “I know, I’m sorry.”

I’m actually relieved he makes a sound, it means he’s still alive. I let my eyes roam over the rest of his body, searching for other wounds, because by the looks of the one on his abdomen, this animal was feral and relentless. The rest of his upper body seems fine, but when I observe his legs… Damn it.

More blood oozes out of a deep wound on his upper right thigh, as if the animal dug in its teeth and took a chunk out of him.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

I’ve seen a lot at the infirmary in Anima, but this…this is way above my head. I take deep breaths, but that only gets the coppery scent in my nose, making me nauseous.

Think Maily, think.

A tourniquet. Yes, that might lessen the bleeding. I search for something to bind his leg with. I could use my shoelaces, but they will dig into the skin and cause even more damage. My socks could work, but will they be long enough to go around his muscled thigh?

Without many other options, I take off my shoes and socks. My toes land in the cold white snow, but I don’t really feel the bite of it. I let go of my coat and tie both of my socks together.

I hastily bind the socks above his wound, miraculously making it work and pull some more to make it even tighter. He cries out, and his dark eyes flutter open, the pain making his gaze unclear.

“Breathe with me,” I instruct. “In. Hold. Out.”

I’m not even sure he hears me, but I repeat my words and eventually, a rhythm appears in the movement of his chest. While he keeps breathing, I tear off one of my long sleeves and cover the gaping wound of his leg, which causes him to release a painful moan. The material soaks instantly, but at least it’s covered now.

I have to keep him conscious, at least until help arrives. “Can you tell me your name?”

At first, I think he won’t answer, his mind too far gone due to blood loss. But after a couple of seconds, his lips move and I bow down, bringing my ear closer to him.

“Arlo,” he responds, voice raw and laced with pain.

I didn’t know I was holding my breath until I push the air out. “Nice to meet you, Arlo. My name is Maily.”

“You should…run…”

“I don’t think so. I’m not going anywhere.”

I move a little closer, my knees touching his ribcage. His lips curve in the ghost of a smile. “You feel…so warm…”

I frown. He must be delirious, with my skin exposed to the harsh temperatures, my body heat is rather low. But sure, sharing body heat isn’t a bad idea.

I apply more pressure to the wound at his abdomen, his body shuddering under my hands. I count his breathings, it gives me something to focus on, but it also shows how few they become the more time passes. A crushing reality settles in my chest. He is slipping away and there is nothing I can do about it.

“Help! Someone, please help!”

Maybe I should’ve called out sooner, even though I know it’s useless. I was all by myself with not a single soul to be seen. A rattling sound comes from Arlo’s chest with every breath he takes.

I close my eyes and let my head hang for a moment.

No.

No.