𝗟𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗱𝗲

44- 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗟𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗚𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀

"Someone help!" Natalia yelled as she barged through the hospital doors, carrying Elias' body weight as his arm was hung loosely over her shoulder.

Everyone in the room froze, nurses looking stunned and the doctors caught off guard. They had good reason to, the sight in front of them horrifying.

Natalia was covered in blood, crimson seeping through her hand as she tried to stop Elias from bleeding out. Her body couldn't handle it anymore, and neither could her heart.

"Please, do something!" Natalia yelled once more and the doctors jumped into action, grabbing a gurney and placing Elias' limp body on top of it.

"Natty-" Elias spoke, his voice barely a whisper but Natalia heard him, cupping his cheeks with her bloody hands.

"You're gonna be okay, Ellie- just stay with me" Natalia spoke, her voice wavering as she smiled, her bottom lip trembling.

Suddenly, Elias' eyes fluttered shut and Natalia was being ripped away from him, the doctors rushing away.

"No, no" Natalia almost yelled, trying to fight the guards who had her body detained.

"Get the fuck off me" Natalia yelled again, tears streaming down her face as she brought her head back, breaking the guard's nose on impact.

His grip faded, giving Natalia the chance to break free and run after where Elias had been taken. She barged past multiple nurses, sending them tumbling to the floor- but that was all a blur.

She was chasing shadows, hoping to be drawn to the person she had bared her soul to. Corner after corner. Corridor after corridor.

Until she suddenly stopped.

Apparently she had ended up running in a circle, ending up back in the lobby she had entered through. Elias' blood still staining the floor as the cleaners attempted to mop it up.

But, once she saw a group of people emerge through the door, she couldn't help but finally let her sobs out.

Azaiah and Amara entered through the door, Ines being pushed in on a gurney as Estela held onto her hand.

Azaiah rushed towards her, holding her shoulders to stop her from falling to the floor.

"Natalia, what happened?" Azaiah asked as he took in her bloody clothes and shaking body.

"He- I'm fine, b-but he-" Natalia started but cut herself off as another sob escaped her lips, crashing her head onto Azaiah's chest.

"He was shot."

Just behind him, Amara felt like the air had been knocked out of her lungs as she sat down on the seat behind her, holding her chest as tears began welling in her eyes.

Azaiah swallowed the lump in his throat, allowing Natalia to sob into his chest. Suddenly, he wrapped his arms around Natalia, pulling her close to him as he closed his eyes.

He hoped she was lying, but Natalia had never shed a tear like this- she was telling the truth.

His worst nightmare had become a reality- he could lose his brother and his best friend in the same day.

Natalia's sobs suddenly calmed down, her grip on Azaiah's blazer fading as she brought her head up, taking a step back.

"I-I need to go" Natalia rushed out, walking away and through the hallway before Azaiah could even stop her.

Azaiah just took a deep breath, looking down at his clothes that were stained with blood. Elias' blood. They may not be related due to the residue staining his suit, but he was still his brother.