Chapter 19 · Collapse Countdown

"Don't you dare die on me!"

I slam both hands onto Kade's shoulder. Blood punches up between my fingers—hot, fast, and too much.

"Maya, get off him!" Iris screams over the roar of falling concrete. "You move him and he bleeds out!"

"He's bleeding out anyway!" I snap back. "You want your protocol? Then help me!"

The tunnel is disintegrating. Dust so thick I can't see three feet in front of me. Rebar screeches like a dying animal. The blast at the exit sealed us in, and now the ceiling is popping, one crack at a time. Ten feet away, Vance is on his knees, coughing blood, clawing for his rifle.

"Leave him!" Nox yells, his voice cracking. "Maya, we gotta run! The whole shaft's gonna pancake!"

"Shut up and hold this!" I shove my jacket at him. "Press here. Hard. Don't be gentle."

Nox drops down, hands shaking so bad he almost misses the wound. "Jesus, there's so much blood—"

"I know!"

I press harder. Kade's jaw locks. His eyes roll back for a heartbeat, then snap to mine.

"Hey," he rasps. "Hey. Look at me. Not that."

"Don't tell me where to look," I hiss. "You're leaking everywhere."