Love and Evil (Gear Hearts Book 8/Spinoff) [COMPLETED]

Chapter 13: Not Even Magic

Ice POV 

Ice dropped to his knees beside Zero. His breath was ragged. Tears streamed down his face. "Ice, I'm so scared. I'm so scared."

"Hang on, Zero. You're not going to die!"

He heard running footsteps. Ice turned around and saw Third Gunslinger running towards him.

"Hurry!" Ice begged. "Help him!"

"I'm on it!" Third fished out his phone and dialed a call.

"I failed, Ice." Zero was panting, as if he was grasping his last breath. "I failed."

"We're going to make it through."

"I don't think I can." 

"Don't you die on me!" Desperation latched in his voice. His heart was pounding wildly. "You're gonna be okay!"

"Ice, I'm c-cold."

"No, no, just hang on, Zero." Ice demanded. "Just hang on."

"I love you, Ice." Zero whispered. He gradually closed his eyes. 

The next thing that happened was a blur.
Third's father opened a portal. The way it opened was like a slow motion glow to Ice's perspective.
Everything seemed to move slow.

Caleb was hauling Ice up to his feet as he tried to break free. Arthit and Kong put Zero on a gurney bed, helping the healers. 
They rushed Zero into the Scarlet Blades's headquarters. He was on a gurney bed. Ice's face was already filled with hot tears. Zero was applying pressure on his severe wound. 

Someone pulled him away as Zero was dragged into the infirmary. "Ice." A voice came.

"P'" He sniffed.

Caleb sat down beside him. He put a hand on Ice's shoulder. "Everything's gonna be alright. The healers are giving their best to revive him."

"What if they can't?"

Caleb didn't utter a word. He was silent for a second.  "I'm sorry, Ice." he replied in a small voice.

"Listen, can I tell you something? Being a wizard, I can protect the ones I loved. I can protect myself. But there is no magic to take away all these feelings." Ice's voice quivered. His heart became heavier. 

"I can't leave him." He wanted to try to contain these emotions but he couldn't. It kept pouring out. He hated to feel melancholy. Because that means, he was weak. That means, he was powerless. "I can't just leave him." 

Caleb put his arms around Ice, hugging him. Ice didn't know what he needed. He didn't know if crying would help things out. He didn't know if Zero was going to live.

It made him realize that in life, he didn't know what he had until he loses it.

Now he was losing the only person he actually cared about. He was surprised himself to realize that as well.

Big, agonizing sobs snatched his body.

"I know the feeling, Ice." Caleb said softly. "I understand."