Star-gazing: Eric Coulter

Chapter 5

TW- violence, injury, swearing, talk of childhood trauma (ped0philia),

Song: Scars to your Beautiful
Artist: Alessia Cara

Layla's pov:

Another scream rippled through my eardrum, startling me back into consciousness for the second time. Hassan was in pain, the bullet must have hit an organ or something; but as I looked to one of the men next to him, I noticed that Zigzag was cowering in the corner holding onto his chest.
"Zigzag?" I questioned, subtly moving myself over to him in the back of the van. He groaned when he saw me approaching and took his hand off of his chest. A scarlet-red substance was dripping like a tap off of his fingers. He'd been hit too... shit!
"Man down! Zigzag's been hit! He's shot!" I shouted towards the medic (from Erudite) who was helping Hassan.
The next thing I knew, I was pulling at Zigzag's vest and trying to lie him down. "You're going to be fine, we're nearly back at the compound, ok?" I comforted him, much like Harry had done to me about an hour or so ago. The medic took over from there and I sat back, just staring at him- wondering if he was going to last until we got home. How would his child grow up without a father? Shut up Layla, he is going to make it!

"Hold onto me." Harry firmly told me, as we exited the bullet-proof, dark-gray vehicle and onto the parking lot outside of the main building. I placed one bloodied hand around Harry's shoulder and he put his arm into my back- keeping me from falling over. "We're nearly there now don't give up, boss."
A stretcher flew past us at immense speed, Zigzag was whisked away with the medical Erudite guy whereas the driver and spare guard helped Hassan out. We made our way in through the back entrance.

The hallways were dark as usual; busy nonetheless. People parted to the sides as they saw us approaching, knowing that our mission had been a failure. I felt bad for letting them down. "It's not your fault, boss. The factionless had to have been told, something must have been leaked."
Something must have been leaked.
Something. Must. Have. Been. Leaked.
Something must have been leaked, but by who... Four? He couldn't have, could he? Why would he protect his mother after faking her death and leaving her son with an abusive father? Somehow my mind was set on it being him. It couldn't have been anyone else.
"What is it, boss? He asked, a look of general concern on his face.
"I know who tipped them off." I paused, as we rushed towards the infirmary, "And I'm going to kill him."

Eric Coulter's pov:

Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
"Eric wake up, man!" A voice shouted through my door. My head was a mess, especially from all of the drinking I was adjusting to my bearings. "Eric!"
"Fuck off, Dylan!" I yelled back, I was annoyed my girl was gone still. I really was a wreck without her, even if I didn't want to admit it to anyone but myself.
"I can't do that, man." Dylan said, still banging on the door. I tossed my shirt on and a pair of black cargos along with my shoes and made my way over to the door.
"What do you want, Dylan? I'm in pain and my head feels like it's about to disconnect from my body." I told him, wincing slightly from the bright lighting in the hallway.
He rolled his eyes, "If you think you're in pain, get yourself down to the infirmary." He mumbled, slamming my door shut as he dragged me down the stairs to the main part of Dauntless.
"Dylan, where the fuck are you taking me? It's 2am!" I yawned, following him for a reason I did not understand.
"Estimation of arrival." He paused and looked at his watch, "Three minutes."
I raised my eyebrows, wondering what on earth he was going on about, but then I realised suddenly that he was talking about my wife- and her team.
"Hurry up then." I sternly told Dylan, as we ran down to the infirmary.

I didn't know what to expect or how bad it was going to be. Although, I knew it wasn't good because of Max standing inside when I arrived with Dylan. "How bad is it?" I asked Max, glancing around and seeing another member of leadership, (who I didn't like) Scott. He was older than Max and I, but had a position the same as mine. What a failure.
"It's not good, Eric. They had to call for an emergency evac. Apparently half the team didn't even come out with them, they've been taken by the factionless and are now being held hostage." My eyes widened, Layla's unit was clearly the best in the compound- how could they be taken down by some random factionless? I glanced at Max who looked worried, "Do we know who made it out?"
Max nodded, "Layla is fine-" he interrupted himself, "well she's alive..."
"What the fuck, Ma-" I got interrupted by the doors crashing open and someone being wheeled in on a stretcher.
"A bullet wound to the chest, lost a lot of blood. Probability of survival, unlikely." I shook my head, how could this happen? And by the factionless? Something wasn't right.
"Incoming!" Another nurse said, leaving her station and awaiting for the casualty at the door.
An erupt of weak cries filled my ears, I'd heard that scream before. "She stepped on an IED! Someone help!" Her second in command yelled, rushing her onto a bed- a trail of crimson liquid trailing behind her. I ran up to her, she looked awful. Only one of Layla's legs were all mangled, I didn't understand how the rest of her body wasn't in pieces- but I was glad that wasn't the case. "I'm here, baby." I tried to calm her down, lightly running my fingers up and down her face. The doctor from Erudite lifted her onto the bed. Her cheeks were stained with sweat, blood and tears. Her grip on my hand was tight, as if she was never going to let go and I was perfectly fine with that. "You need to breathe, Layla." I called out to her, pressing a kiss onto her forehead. "Can you do that for me, baby girl?" She nodded, opening her mouth and breathing deeply.