third time's a charm

37

"Win!"

As Bright sprinted after Win, a whirlwind of emotions swirled inside him, his voice echoing with a mixture of fear and desperation. But despite his efforts, Win had gained an insurmountable lead and disappeared onto a passing bus.

Undeterred, Bright raced towards the row of cars, pushing himself to the limit with every stride. He lunged into a nearby Cherokee, the gears grinding as he fired up the engine and sped off in pursuit.

Even as his lungs burned and his chest tightened, Bright refused to relent. Gasping for air, he clutched his chest but kept his foot on the pedal, his eyes locked on the bus ahead.

There was still a chance, and he wasn't about to let it slip away.

As Bright continued his frantic pursuit, the aching burn in his chest intensified, each labored breath a struggle against the tightening grip of the curse. Suddenly, his heart seemed to stop, a jolt of agony coursing through him as the curse fulfilled its destiny.

With a gasp, Bright lost control of the vehicle, his hands trembling on the wheel as the Cherokee careened off course and collided with a nearby pole. Metal screeched against metal, the impact sending shockwaves of pain through Bright's body.

Lilian, who had been following behind in her own car, screamed in horror as she witnessed the devastating crash. Win's eyes widened, watching the scene from the bus, and felt his heart seize in his chest as he realized the full extent of what had just occurred.

In that moment of chaos and tragedy, the weight of the curse's consequences came crashing down on them all, leaving them stunned and reeling in their wake.

As the bus rattled on, Win's heart pounded in his chest, the urgency of the situation propelling him into action. With tears streaming down his face, he leaped from his seat and rushed to the front, his voice breaking as he pleaded for the bus to stop.

Pushing past the startled strangers and onlookers, Win reached Bright's mangled car, his hands shaking as he knelt beside his beloved. Lilian stood nearby, her cries blending with the chaos around them.

"Call for an ambulance!" Win shouted, his voice raw with desperation. "We need help, now!"

With trembling hands, Win began to administer CPR, his movements frantic and desperate. Each breath he forced into Bright's lungs felt like a prayer, a plea for life to return.

But as the moments stretched on, it became painfully clear that Bright's heart remained silent, his body limp and unresponsive beneath Win's touch.

"No... no, Bright, please," Win choked out, his voice breaking with grief. Tears streamed down his cheeks as he continued his futile efforts, unwilling to accept the devastating truth.

In that moment of heartbreaking realization, the world seemed to stand still, the echoes of their shattered hopes reverberating in the air around them. Bright's fate had been sealed, and Win was left to grapple with the crushing weight of his loss...

"Excuse me! Coming through---"

As the ambulance screeched to a halt, a team of paramedics rushed to Bright's side, their trained hands taking over the frantic efforts of Win. With practiced precision, they quickly assessed his condition and sprang into action, setting up the defibrillator and preparing to administer a life-saving shock.

Win's heart raced as he watched, his breath catching in his throat as he prayed for a miracle. With a jolt of electricity, the defibrillator delivered its charge, sending a surge of energy coursing through Bright's body.

For a heart-stopping moment, there was silence, the tension thick in the air as everyone held their breath. Then, suddenly, miraculously, Bright's chest heaved as his heart began to beat once more.