DARK PARADISE. Miguel O'Hara

05. Wounds and Stains

WOUNDS AND STAINS - Chapter Five
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⇢ ˗ˏˋ A Few Hours Later ࿐ྂ

BLOOD. — It was everywhere. It stained Miguel's suit and sept from his wound, dripping down his arm and escaping from the gash that cut both his skin and suit.

He clutched to his arm, hand digging into the wound. His nose was scrunched, eyes squeezed shut. Blood sept from his left peck and leg as well, dripping on to the floor below them.

Jade had him draped over her shoulder, both of them struggling to go further. They stood on the top of the building closest to the sky as the girl used her free hand to try and reach her watch.

"Jesus, Miguel." She said, directing him to the portal as it flickered to life before them. Light flooded the roof of the building, lighting up Miguel's bruised face. "What the hell were you thinking?"

In the distance, other spiders were taking care of the reported anomaly, climbing buildings and shielding pedestrians as needed. They handled the situation as Jade dealt with Miguel, the two slowly making their way through the portal.

The colors consumed them, spitting them out in the familiar space of Jade's bedroom. Miguel groaned as Jade gently placed him on her bed.

She cringed as the crimson liquid began to stain her sheets, but tried her best not to show it. Miguel groaned as he leaned back, tilting his head behind him to the wall.

Jade stood back and let out a shaky breath, not quite sure what to do. Everyone else had been occupied when Miguel was injured, so while she'd only just met the man, she took it upon herself to help him.

Peter and Jess, who she had yet to be introduced to, handled the anomaly, assuring her it'd be fine if she tended to his wounds.

So here she was, staring at the gash that started at his shoulder and made its way to the front his thigh. It wasn't too deep, yet the blood came out at a steady pace, not hesitant to create stains and puddles below the man.

The man gripped the sheets below him, clenching his teeth. He squeezed his eyes shut, but otherwise made no complaints about the pain he was in.

"I'm fine." He choked. "Just take me back to HQ."

Jade ran a hand down her face. "I'm going to get a towel." She said softly, ignoring his request. She took her mask off, quickly sliding clothes over her suit in case her brother was home, then slid out of her room.

She shut the door behind her, letting out a sigh as she crossed the hall to the bathroom. In a way, she felt guilty.

Back in the other universe, things unfolded rather quickly. Jade would admit, she was in over her head. It was yet another Vulture out of place. Jade had already dealt with one anomaly, and figured this one would be no different, so she didn't hesitate to venture forward with the other spiders.

However, the vulture didn't hesitate either. Making eye contact with Jade, he dove down toward her, claws first- His talons spread wide. Jade could've handled it, but for some reason, unknown to Jade, Miguel dove in front of her.

The villains claws dug into his skin, making its way down from his shoulder to his thigh.

And now they were in Jade's universe. It probably would've been more logical to take him back to his organization, yet the girl panicked, doing the first thing she thought of.

So now she dug through her towels for one she wouldn't care about throwing away, her heart pounding at the thought Miguel laid on her bed, slowly but surely bleeding out.