Author's POV
"Jay."
Keifer's voice remained steady.
But Jay couldn't answer.
She was staring at him, trying desperately to hold onto his voice while everything around her seemed to blur.
Kyle stood several feet away.
For the first time, he wasn't smiling.
He had finally understood.
Jay didn't remember everything.
Not even close.
The memory he had believed she carried for years was mostly gone.
And somehow—
that realization made him even more dangerous.
He took one step forward.
Keifer immediately moved between them.
"Don't."
Kyle stopped.
Then—
a gunshot echoed through the corridor.
Everyone froze.
Kyle's body jerked backward.
Angelo stood at the other end of the corridor, weapon lowered after firing.
Kyle collapsed to the floor.
"He's down!" Angelo shouted.
The fighting around the compound immediately began slowing.
Kyle was down.
But nobody was looking at him anymore.
Everyone's attention had shifted to Jay.
She was standing in the middle of the corridor with Keifer supporting her.
Her breathing had become increasingly uneven.
"Jay."
Keifer kept his voice calm.
"Look at me."
Her eyes found his.
For a second.
Then drifted again.
"Don't close your eyes."
"I… can't…"
Her voice barely came out.
"I know."
Keifer kept one arm securely around her, making sure she didn't lose her balance.
"Just stay with me."
Jay tried.
She genuinely tried.
But every breath seemed difficult.
Her chest rose quickly, then stopped.
She tried again.
Nothing seemed to settle.
Percy moved closer.
"Jay, listen to my voice."
She looked toward him.
"You're here."
Percy spoke slowly.
"You're not there."
Jay shook her head faintly.
"I know…"
But her body wasn't listening to what her mind knew.
Alex watched carefully.
He didn't move toward the medication yet.
They had promised themselves they would try everything else first.
"Keep talking to her," Alex said quietly.
Aries stepped closer.
"Jay."
Her eyes moved toward him.
"Stay with us."
Angelo was already beside her.
He knew exactly what was happening.
He had seen this side of Jay before.
And that frightened him more than anything else.
Keifer noticed.
"Angelo?"
Angelo didn't answer.
His eyes remained fixed on Jay.
Her breathing became faster again.
Keifer tightened his support slightly.
"Jay, don't fight us."
She shook her head.
"I can't…"
"You can."
"I'm trying."
"I know."
Keifer's voice remained steady.
"You don't have to remember anything."
Jay's eyes filled with tears.
She couldn't seem to pull herself away from the memory.
Her hands began trembling.
Her breathing became even more difficult.
Alex looked at Percy.
Percy nodded.
"One more minute."
They tried.
They talked.
They reminded her where she was.
They told her to focus on their voices.
Keifer kept talking.
Percy kept grounding her.
Aries stayed beside them.
Angelo never let go of her hand.
But Jay's condition continued getting worse.
Her breathing was becoming too difficult.
Her body was exhausted.
Alex finally opened the emergency medical pouch.
Everyone understood what that meant.
"This isn't working," Alex said quietly.
Keifer looked at him.
"Do it."
Alex nodded.
Angelo immediately shifted closer.
"I've got her hand."
He carefully held Jay's trembling hand between both of his.
"Jay."
She barely looked at him.
"It's me."
Her fingers moved weakly against his.
"Stay with me, okay?"
Keifer supported her from the other side.
"You're safe."
Alex prepared the emergency medication.
"Jay, you're going to feel a little sleepy."
She didn't really respond.
Her breathing remained uneven.
Alex administered the sedative carefully while Angelo kept her hand steady and Keifer supported her.
Nobody spoke for several seconds.
They waited.
Slowly, Jay's movements became less restless.
Her breathing was still difficult, but the intensity began to decrease.
Her eyes remained open.
She looked exhausted.
Like she was fighting something nobody else could see.
Angelo leaned closer.
"That's it."
Jay's lips moved.
Barely audible.
"I'm sorry…"
Angelo froze.
Jay's eyes were still unfocused.
Then she whispered—
"I'm sorry, Mom."
Angelo's entire expression changed.
Keifer noticed immediately.
He looked at Angelo.
"What?"
Angelo didn't answer.
He couldn't.
He knew what those words meant.
He knew the memory Jay had been pulled back toward.
He knew because he had been there afterward.
He had been the one who helped her get away from that part of her life.
And now—
Kyle had deliberately dragged those memories back to the surface.
Keifer looked between Jay and Angelo.
His expression hardened.
Kyle hadn't simply tried to scare her.
He had chosen the one thing that could reach the deepest part of her past.
On purpose.
Percy noticed Angelo's reaction too.
"Angelo…"
Angelo finally looked at them.
His voice was quiet.
"She remembered something."
Keifer's jaw tightened.
"What?"
Angelo looked back at Jay.
"Something she wasn't supposed to remember."
Nobody spoke.
Jay's eyes slowly closed for a moment.
Keifer immediately looked at her.
"Jay?"
Angelo shook his head.
"She's not gone. She's just exhausted."
Alex checked her carefully.
"We're going to the hospital."
No one argued.
Outside, the vehicles were already waiting.
Aries was also being prepared for medical attention because of the injury near his shoulder.
He tried to wave it off.
"I'm fine."
Alex gave him a look.
"You can argue with me after a doctor checks you."
Aries sighed.
"Fine."
Keifer carefully supported Jay as they began moving toward the vehicles.
But after only a few steps, her legs weakened beneath her.
"Keifer…"
Her voice was barely audible.
"I've got you."
He tightened his hold around her waist and reached beneath her knees.
With a careful lift, he took nearly all of her weight against him.
Jay's head fell against his shoulder.
Her arms hung weakly around his neck as he practically carried her down the corridor.
"Easy," Keifer murmured. "Don't try to walk."
"I can…"
"No, you can't."
There was no harshness in his voice, only quiet certainty.
"You don't have to."
Angelo stayed close, still holding Jay's hand whenever he could reach it.
Percy followed beside them, watching her face and breathing.
Alex moved ahead to clear the way.
Keifer adjusted Jay carefully against his chest, carrying her the rest of the distance toward the waiting vehicles.
She was finally quieter.
But his mind wouldn't stop.
Kyle had known exactly which words to use.
And now Jay had remembered something.
Something that had frightened Angelo enough to silence him.
Keifer looked toward the dark road ahead.
Whatever Kyle had awakened tonight—
they were going to find out.
But first—
they had to get Jay to the hospital.