The minibus sped through the winding country roads, its shattered windows allowing the cold wind to whip through the cabin.
No one complained.
No one spoke.
The only sounds were the engine straining beneath them…and Jace’s increasingly laboured breathing.
Lilah knelt on the seat beside him, both hands pressed firmly against the wound in his shoulder.
Blood continued to seep between her fingers.
“No…
no…
come on,” she whispered.
“Stay with me.” Jace tried to smile.
“I am…”His voice was barely audible.
“I’m just…”He winced sharply.”…a little tired.” “Don’t you dare go to sleep.” “I’m not planning on it.” “You’d better not.” A faint chuckle escaped him before he clenched his jaw in pain.
The laugh quickly turned into a groan.
Lilah’s heart sank.
Nelly sat opposite them, her own hands trembling.
She’d never seen Jace look like this.
Not once.
He’d always been the strongest person she knew.
The one who laughed during training after being knocked flat.
The one who always volunteered to protect everyone else.
The one who somehow made difficult things seem possible.
Seeing him lying there helplessly…Terrified her.
she reached forwards and gently brushed the damp curls away from his forehead.
“We’re nearly home,” she said softly.
“You hear me?” “We’re nearly home.” Jace opened his eyes for a second.
His vision struggled to focus.
“Nelly…”She managed a small smile.
“I’m here.” “Good.” Tony glanced into the rear-view mirror.
“How’s he doing?” No one answered immediately.
Lilah looked down at the blood staining her hands.
“He’s getting worse.” Tony’s stomach tightened.
He pressed harder on the accelerator.
The speedometer climbed.
“We’ll make it.” He wasn’t sure if he was reassuring them…Or himself.
Peter sat quietly inside of the minibus.
Tony’s jumper was still tied securely around his waist while Jasper perched silently on the brim of the oversized baseball cap.
For once…Neither of them had anything to joke about.
Peter looked down at the bullet holes in his own shoulder.
Blood still stained the fabric around them, they were almost fully healed.
His eyes remained fixed on Jace.
“I should’ve stopped them sooner.” Jace slowly turned his head.
“You did…” Peter shook his head.
“No.” “If I’d transformed quicker…” “This wouldn’t have happened.” “It wasn’t…”Jace took another shaky breath.”…your fault….you saved us.
“Peter looked away.
Lilah suddenly noticed Jace beginning to shiver.
“Tony!” Tony looked back immediately.
“What?” “He’s freezing.” Tony’s heart skipped.
“No…”Jace’s skin had become almost grey.
His breathing was shallower now.
His entire body trembled despite the warm afternoon.
“Wolfsbane,” Tony muttered.
“It’s spreading.” Nelly reached over and pulled off her own hoodie.
Without hesitation she laid it over Jace.
Lilah immediately followed, removing hers as well and carefully placing it beneath his head like a pillow.
Peter looked down at the jumper and let out a sigh.
“I’ll survive.” He gently laid it over Jace’s legs.
Tony glanced back.
“What about you?” Peter looked down briefly.
“I’ve got the hat.” “Erm…you can keep it”, said Tony A tiny smile appeared on Jace’s face.
“You look ridiculous.” Peter laughed softly.
“I know.” “Save your energy.” “You can laugh properly later.” “You promise?” “I promise.” The smile disappeared almost immediately.
Jace squeezed his eyes shut.
His breathing caught.
His hand instinctively grabbed Lilah’s wrist.
“Lilah…” “I’m here.” “It…”He gritted his teeth.”…burns.” Fresh tears filled her eyes.
“I know.” “I’m so sorry.” “You’ve got nothing to be sorry for.” “This is all happening because of me.” “no.” Jace whimpered “I should’ve protected you.” Jace managed to open one eye.
“You always try…that’s enough.” Nelly looked away.
She couldn’t bear seeing him like this.
Not Jace.
Not the boy who always smiled first.
The boy who teased everyone.
The boy who never let anyone feel alone.
She quietly wiped another tear from her cheek before anyone noticed.
Peter did notice.
He gently rested a hand on her shoulder.
She looked at him.
He didn’t say anything.
He didn’t need to.
Outside, Jasper suddenly launched himself through the broken rear window.
He circled the minibus once before flying ahead.
Another robin appeared.
Then two more.
Soon a small flock flew in front of the vehicle.
Tony frowned.
“Peter?” Peter watched them carefully.
“They’re showing us the quickest way.” Tony didn’t question it.
He simply followed the robins.
At every junction Jasper chose the direction.
Every time…It shaved precious seconds off their journey.
“Good boy,” Peter whispered.
Jasper chirped once before racing ahead again.
The familiar gates of the Compound finally came into view.
Relief washed over everyone.
“We’re here!” Nelly breathed.
Tony leaned heavily on the horn.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
The guards looked up instantly.
One glance at the shattered windows…And they knew.
The gates swung open before the minibus had even reached them.
People stopped what they were doing.
Children froze mid-game.
Conversations fell silent.
As the blood-covered vehicle screeched into the Compound square, wolves rushed from every direction.
Tony brought the minibus to a stop outside the infirmary.
Before the engine had even died…The doors burst open.
A young doctor sprinted down the steps.
Her long dark hair bounced behind her as she ran, a medical bag already in one hand.
“What happened?” she shouted.
Tony jumped from the driver’s seat.
“Wolfsbane.” The doctor’s expression changed instantly.
“Get him inside!” Lilah and Nelly looked at one another.
Neither of them wanted to let go of Jace.
Neither of them could imagine losing him.
Together…They climbed out of the minibus and stayed beside him as Tony and Peter carefully lifted him onto a stretcher.
Jace reached out weakly.
Without thinking…Both girls took one of his hands.
He gave the faintest squeeze.
“I’m…”He swallowed painfully.”…not dying…” “You’d better not,” Lilah whispered, tears streaming down her face.
Nelly nodded, her own voice breaking.
“Because if you do…”She managed a watery smile.”…I’ll kill you.” For the first time since the shooting…Jace gave the tiniest real smile.
Then his eyes closed.
“Lilah!” Nelly cried.
The doctor immediately dropped to her knees beside the stretcher.
“Move!” Everyone stumbled backwards.
The smile disappeared from Tony’s face.
Something was terribly wrong.