The street was quiet.
Too quiet.
Like the world didn't know what was happening in that moment.
Or maybe it just didn't care.
Jayden's weight leaned heavily on Amara now.
Each step slower than the last.
Uneven.
Dragging.
His breathing wasn't steady anymore.
It was rough.
Shallow.
Dangerous.
"I need you to stay with me," she said quickly.
Her voice wasn't shaking this time.
But her heart was.
"Jayden… don't do that thing where you go quiet."
For a second—
Nothing.
Then—
"I'm here," he muttered.
But even that sounded far away.
Amara looked around.
Dark street.
Closed shops.
No movement.
No help.
She was on her own.
No hospital.
No police.
No one to call.
"We need somewhere safe," she said.
Jayden didn't respond.
That scared her more.
Up ahead—
A small building.
Old.
Lights off.
But the side door-
Slightly open.
Could be nothing.
Could be danger.
But staying outside?
Not an option.
"Come on," she whispered.
Pulling him gently.
Guiding him toward the door.
She pushed it open slowly.
It creaked.
Loud.
Too loud.
She froze.
Waited.
Nothing.
They stepped in.
Dark.
Dusty.
Empty.
Looked like an abandoned shop.
Jayden couldn't go further.
He dropped to one knee—
Then down.
"No, no, no—"
Amara knelt beside him immediately.
Hands shaking again.
"Stay with me!"
She took a breath.
Forced herself to think.
Not panic.
Think.
She looked at his side.
The bleeding hadn't stopped.
If anything—
It was worse.
"Okay… okay…"
She pulled off part of her top.
Tore it.
Hands moving fast now.
She pressed the cloth against the wound.
Hard.
Jayden's body tensed.
A low groan escaped him.
"I'm sorry…"
"Don't… stop…" he said weakly.
"Talk to me," she said quickly.
"Stay awake."
His vision blurred.
The room didn't look steady anymore.
Her voice sounded distant.
Like it was underwater.
"Not… here…" he whispered.
"You don't get to give up," she said.
Stronger now.
More force in her voice.
"You came back for me, remember?"
Jayden's eyes focused slightly.
Just a little.
"Yeah…" he muttered.
"I did…"
Cars pulled up.
Doors slammed.
Men moving fast.
"Find them."
The leader's voice was calm.
But final.
"No mistakes this time."
"They're not far," one of the men said.
"Good," the leader replied.
"Then bring them back."
A pause.
Then—
"Or don't bring them back at all."
Dre stood to the side.
Silent.
Watching everything.
They escaped.
Jayden made it out.
That wasn't supposed to happen.
The leader glanced at him.
"You're going with them."
Dre's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Find him," the leader said.
"And this time…"
A pause.
"…finish it."
.....
Amara kept pressure on the wound.
Her arms were starting to ache.
But she didn't stop.
Couldn't stop.
"What if this isn't enough…"
The thought crept in.
Unwanted.
Loud.
Footsteps.
Distant.
But real.
Amara's head snapped toward the door.
Listening.
Carefully.
"They found us…" she whispered.
Even weak—
He heard it.
His eyes opened slightly.
"Help me up…" he said.
"No—you can't even stand."
"Doesn't matter," he replied.
"If they come in here…"
He didn't finish.
Didn't need to.
Amara looked around quickly.
Back door?
Window?
Anything?
Nothing clear.
Nothing safe.
She looked back at him.
Weak.
Bleeding.
Still trying to stand.
And in that moment—
Amara realized something terrifying:
If they were going to make it out of this…
She was going to have to do more than just save him.