The Night of the Hollow Hunt

Chapter Twenty-Two: Into the Light

The blaring sirens pierced the stillness of the night, their wailing cries growing louder with every passing second. Antonio's heart raced as the flashing red and blue lights appeared in the distance, cutting through the darkness like beacons of salvation. His breath came in ragged gasps, his body trembling with exhaustion as he and the others stumbled out of the house, out of the hell that had nearly taken their lives.

They had made it. They were free.

But there was no time for relief. No time to bask in the sudden rush of cold air that swept over their broken bodies. Jaxon hung limply between Antonio and Fawkes, his head lolling to the side as they carried him across the overgrown yard. His breaths were shallow, his skin pale, and Antonio could feel the life slipping from him with every second that passed.

"Jaxon, stay with me," Antonio rasped, his voice trembling with fear. "We're almost there."

Wren stumbled beside them, her face streaked with dirt and blood, her body swaying as she fought to stay on her feet. Her hand clutched at Antonio's arm for support, her eyes filled with a mixture of exhaustion and relief. They had escaped the nightmare, but the terror wasn't over yet. Not until they were safe.

The first police car screeched to a halt just ahead of them, the flashing lights reflecting off the trees that surrounded the house. Antonio's heart pounded in his chest, his breath coming in short, ragged bursts as the doors of the car swung open and two officers rushed toward them, their faces tense with urgency.

"Over here!" one of the officers shouted, his voice carrying over the blare of the sirens.

Antonio could barely register what was happening. His mind was clouded with exhaustion, his vision blurred as he and Fawkes struggled to hold Jaxon up. But the police were here. They had found them. They were going to be saved.

"Get them medical help!" the other officer barked, rushing to Antonio's side. "We need an ambulance now!"

Antonio's knees buckled under the weight of Jaxon's limp body, and he collapsed onto the ground, gasping for breath. The officer caught him, pulling Jaxon from his arms as more police cars and ambulances arrived, the flashing lights illuminating the night in a dizzying array of color.

"Hold on," the officer said, his voice low but urgent as he pressed his hand to Jaxon's neck, checking for a pulse. "We've got you."

Antonio's heart clenched with fear as he watched the paramedics rush toward them, their faces grim as they pulled Jaxon onto a stretcher. His friend's body was so still, so lifeless. Antonio's hands shook as he reached for Jaxon, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Please..." Antonio choked out, his throat tight with emotion. "Please save him."

The paramedics worked quickly, their hands moving with practiced efficiency as they hooked Jaxon up to oxygen, bandaging his wounds as best they could. Antonio's vision blurred with tears, his body trembling as he watched them work, his heart aching with the fear that it was too late—that they had come this far only to lose Jaxon now.

Wren collapsed beside Antonio, her body shaking as she curled in on herself, tears streaming down her dirt-streaked face. "We... we made it," she whispered, her voice trembling. "We're out... but Jaxon..."

Antonio's chest tightened with grief as he looked at Wren, his heart breaking for her, for all of them. They had been through hell together, fought through the unimaginable, and now, with freedom just within their grasp, it felt as though they were still hanging on the edge of a precipice. Jaxon was slipping away.

More officers rushed toward them, paramedics arriving in waves as they tended to Wren, Fawkes, and Antonio. His mind was spinning, the adrenaline finally starting to wane as exhaustion took over. The paramedics asked him questions, but the words barely registered. All Antonio could do was stare at Jaxon, watching the paramedics work to save his friend's life.