Running

Chapter Two

* Madelyn's POV *

No. This can't be happening.

My mind reeled, and the only thing that I could do was scream as she fell.

Ryleah.

Blood covered the back of her shoulders, trailing down her back, and staining her light blue shirt. So much blood. My mind drew a blank, and I had no idea what I needed to do.

Tears blurred my vision as I grabbed the handkerchief out of our bag, and tightly wrapped it over the wound. The cloth was soaked within seconds, and I felt completely and utterly useless.

Her face was paling, and my mind reeled for other things that I could do, that I needed to do. Blood covered my hands as I pressed them to her shoulder, my thoughts jumbled with the panic present in my heart. Everything was numb, and I couldn't do anything but hold my hand over her shoulder, and pray that it would stop bleeding.

"Stitches." I mumbled under my breath. "She needs stitches."

I fumble inside the bag for the first aid kit, my fingers trembling as I release the hatch that holds it shut. I have never done this before. I grab the needle and thread, quite unsure of what I am to do. So, I treat it like a rip that I need to sew shut.

I go through the first part of her skin, before swearing under my breath. The bullet is still in there. I grab my knife out of my pocket, then spotting something more along the lines of a spoon, I opt for that and tuck my knife back into the waistband of my pants.

I unravel the handkerchief that was wrapped around her shoulder, and reach the spoon into the fleshy wound, gagging as I fish for the bullet.

"This is disgusting." I mutter, and finally the bullet falls onto the ground, landing with a hollow thud.

I then resume my work stitching, and something inside my stomach clenches each time I go through her skin. In, out. In, out.

I tie off the thread, turn around, and promptly throw up all over the wall, and the floor. That was awful.

I turn back around, and watch as Ryleah's eyes flutter back open. She woke up just on time.

"Hey." I say, unsure of what else would be appropriate at a time like this. "How do you feel?"

She grins lightly. "Like I have a bullet in my shoulder."

Classic Ry. "Actually, there is no bullet in your shoulder. It's on the floor." I point to the bloody ball of metal, and shiver as my mind starts to replay the unpleasant images and sensations of stitching her closed.

"Woah, are you okay? You look a little green." Her voice is prompting, like she wants me to honestly answer.

"Well who do you think got the bullet out? And stitched up that Satanic wound in your shoulder?" I snap, my voice coming out harsher than I had intended.

Her face now looks like she's been slapped, and I flinch slightly. "Sorry I got shot. It was my intention." She replies hotly.

Internally, I groan and try to fix the mess I just started. "Well I'm sorry, I just saved your life. I could have let you bleed out."

Crap. That came out wrong. Her face hardens. "Well if your this regretful about it, then why did you? Why didn't you let me die Mads?"

Suddenly my resolve breaks. "Because I love you, you jerk! I saved you because you're my best friend, can't you see that?" My face turns red with anger, and tears fall down my cheeks as I continue. "That was absolutely the most disgusting and terrifying thing of my life. But I did it anyways, I saved you because your my best friend. The only thing I have in this life that I can count on." My voice softens as the anger leaves just as quickly as it came.

"Mads, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have snapped but-" I cut her off.

"But you're under a lot of stress, and pain. I know. But just remember, I am too. Okay?"

She nods lightly. "Okay." Pulling herself up, she wipes her cheeks, as do I, and stares down the stairs warily.

"We should leave soon. Tomorrow?" She asks.

I nod, my voice still too unstable to actually use. I cast my gaze to the bloodstained floor, my pulse quickening at the sight of blood. I felt bile rise in my throat again, but this time I contained myself.

"We should go to sleep." I said softly, my eyes finally meeting hers.

She nodded, and set her gaze on the first aid box, away from my own. I felt, that now, we had a silent rift between us. And I wonder if it will ever go away.

"Do you want me to wrap your stitches?" Is asked, trying to find something to make her look at me. She just kept her gaze firmly planted where it was, and nodded.

I grabbed the gauze and slowly began to wrap it, finishing it quickly. I put the rest of the unused gauze back, repositioned and closed the clasps, offering Ryleah a small smile.

"Goodnight." I whispered, crawling into the bed, dotted with blood.

It was then that I decided, I really hated blood.

A / N

Hey guys! I only have a chapters and and authors note, and I'm already getting pretty okay views! Thank you so much! This book is already an adventure!

What do you all think of Madelyn's POV? I had to do it, because in the last chapter Ryleah went unconscious, so I had to do her POV, but I had a lot of fun with it!

So I'm really sorry for waiting to update, I've been really busy! So I'll try to get better at that, as I said before.

Anyways, I love you all for reading my book! It really means a ton to me, and I truly do appreciate it!

~ Lacey ❤️