Ink and Iron

Echoes of Darkness

Panic claws at me, but I force myself to focus. "Tony, with me," I snap, my voice sharp with urgency. "We need to get Marco to the couch—now."

Tony doesn't hesitate, his face pale. Together, we lift Marco, each of us hyper-aware of his limp body, blood seeping through his clothes. We move fast, guiding him toward the couch, trying to be gentle.

"Dylan, call the doctor. Now," I bark, barely keeping the edge out of my voice. "Tell him it's an emergency, get him here immediately."

Dylan's already reaching for his phone, his hands shaking as he dials. "Come on, pick up," he mutters under his breath, pacing.

Turning to Lily, my voice cracks slightly. "Apply pressure to the wound," I instruct, struggling to keep calm. "Keep him stable until the doctor arrives."

Her hands are steady, but I can see the fear in her eyes as she presses down on Marco's chest, the blood still flowing. She doesn't say a word, just nods, focusing on her task.

The rest of the crew stands frozen, wide-eyed. "You," I point to the others, trying to channel Marco's command. "Fan out. Search the perimeter. We need to find whoever did this."

Without a word, they scatter.

The room buzzes with a tension that feels suffocating. Marco's shallow breaths, the blood it all presses down on me.

Finally, Dylan rushes back, the doctor in tow along with his medical team. "I'm Chris," I say, trying to sound more in control than I feel. "Marco's second. Please, help him."

Doctor barely acknowledges me before turning his attention to Marco. I watch every movement, every breath Marco takes—waiting for something, anything, to indicate he's okay.

Suddenly, Jake bursts in with the others. "We checked everywhere. No sign of anyone," he says frustrated.

"We don't stop," I growl, voice low and dangerous. "We hunt them down. We make them pay."

"Chris," the doctor's voice cuts through the tension, pulling me back. "We've stabilized him, but he's lost a lot of blood. We need to move him to bed and monitor him closely."

I nod. "I'll show you the way."

Once Marco is settled, hooked up to machines, the doctor pulls me aside, his face grave. "He's not out of the woods yet, but he's stable. He'll need rest and constant monitoring."

I swallow hard, my chest tight with emotions. "Thank you," I manage to say. "Just... thank you."

Back in the living room, the gang waits, their faces tense, eyes full of worry. I stand taller. Marco's not here to lead, so I have to.

"Listen up," I say. "Until Marco wakes, you're all under my command. Anyone who's got a problem with that can leave."

No one moves. No one speaks.

"First order of business," I continue. "Clean up the blood in the foyer. We don't need any more reminders of what happened tonight."

They go off to do the task and I go to my room. I rip my clothes off, unable to wear them any longer. They are stained with Marco's blood. I toss my clothes to the floor, the iron smell still thick in the air.

Marco

The cold wind cuts through my thin jacket as I stand outside the orphanage. Inside, the halls smell of dust, bleach and whatever awful lunch they making us today. The other kids shuffle around, lost in their own worlds. No one really talks to me.

The caretakers are huddled in the corner, talking quietly, but I catch a few words.

"New boy...fresh arrival...Chris..."