Torn: Sequel to Ruthless

Chapter 10

The cannon's echo is a cold, unforgiving sound that reverberates through my bones, a stark reminder of the flame that has just been snuffed out. But all I can see is Seena, who stands, panting, over Rubie's lifeless body, her sword dripping with the blood of revenge.

"Bark!"

Her scream is raw, filled with desperation as she whirls around and races back to him. I'm right behind her, but nothing prepares me for the sight that meets us. Bark lies on the cold, unforgiving ground, his face ashen, lips pale. The deep wound on his arm is grotesque, a cruel gash marring the tight, once-healthy skin. His body is covered in cruel slashes, each one a nod to the brutality he's endured.

"Bark!" Seena falls to her knees beside him, her hands trembling violently as she cradles his head in her lap. "Stay with me. Please, Bark, you have to stay with me," she begs, her voice breaking, the tears welling up in her eyes.

I can barely breathe as I kneel next to them, the gravity of the situation crushing down on me. Bark's breaths are shallow, his chest barely rising and falling with each labored inhale.

"We need to stop the bleeding," I manage to say, though my voice wavers, betraying the terror lodged in my throat.

Seena nods frantically, her eyes locked on Bark's face as if her gaze alone could hold him to life.

"I—I'll try."

She tears a strip from her shirt, hands trembling so violently that it takes her several tries to press the makeshift bandage against the wound. But it's not enough-Bark's blood continues to seep through, soaking the cloth, his life slipping away with every heartbeat.

"Seena, he's losing too much blood," I whisper, the reality of it nearly choking me.

I can see the way his chest shudders with every breath, the way his skin is paling by the second.

"No!" Seena's voice is sharp, almost a snarl, as she presses harder, desperate to stop the flow.

"He can't die. He can't! Not like this."

Her tears spill over, tracing paths down her cheeks, but she doesn't wipe them away, her focus entirely on Bark. Bark's eyelids flutter, and for a moment, I see a flicker of life in his eyes.

"Seena?"

His voice is a ghost of itself, barely a whisper, but the sound of her name on his lips is enough to pull a sob from deep within her.

"I'm here," she chokes out, her fingers tightening around him, as if she can keep him tethered to this world through sheer will alone. "I'm here, Bark. You're going to be okay. Just hold on. Please, hold on."
He squints up at her, and for a fleeting moment, a weak smile tugs at his lips.

"I knew you'd come," he murmurs, his voice so soft it's almost lost to the wind.

"Always," she promises, her voice cracking under the weight of her emotions. "I'll always come for you."

Her words are drenched in desperation, in love, in the unbreakable bond that ties them together. Bark tries to sit up, to respond, but a sharp wave of pain crashes over him, stealing his breath and sending him back to the ground. I can see it in his eyes-the realization that this might be the end. It cuts through me like a blade, and I swallow hard against the rising tide of panic.

"No, don't talk," Seena pleads, her voice rising in pitch as fear tightens its grip on her. "Just rest. I'm going to help you. We'll get out of this, I swear it."

"I don't know if—" Bark starts, his voice faltering.

"Stop it!" Seena's cry is fierce, bordering on hysteria. "You have to believe, Bark. Please. Fight for us. Fight for me!"

Her tears are pouring now, unchecked, falling onto his cheeks, mingling with the sweat and blood. She's breaking, and I can feel her heart splintering, each tear a crack in the facade of strength she's trying so desperately to maintain. I reach out, placing a hand on Bark's shoulder, feeling the tremor in my own fingers.

"You can do this, Bark. Just keep breathing. We're right here. We're not leaving you."

He tries to nod, but his strength is fading. Instead, he closes his eyes and takes a slow, shaky breath. The silence that follows is unbearable, the kind that presses in on all sides, suffocating. All I can hear is the rustle of leaves, the distant hum of the arena, and the frantic pounding of my own heart, echoing in my ears.

"Seena?"

Bark's voice is so faint, it's almost swallowed by the stillness.

"I'm here," she breathes, leaning closer, pressing her forehead against his. "I'm not going anywhere. I won't leave you."

"I'm scared," he admits, his voice trembling, filled with a vulnerability that makes my chest tighten.

"Me too," she whispers, her voice so soft it's almost carried away by the wind. "But I'm not going to leave you. You have to hold on. For me. For all of us."

I watch as the light in Bark's eyes dims, the spark that makes him Bark flickering dangerously low. Dread coils in my stomach, a sickening knot of fear.

"Seena, we need to-"

"I won't let him go!" Seena's voice cuts through my words, fierce and unyielding even as her tears continue to fall. "I won't lose him. I can't."

Bark's eyes open again, and for a brief moment, there's clarity, a flash of something strong beneath the surface.

"Seena, I... I love you," he whispers, the words fragile and fleeting, like a final wish.

"I love you too, Bark," she replies, her voice trembling with emotion, barely more than a breath.

"You have to stay with me. We have so much left to do. You can't leave me yet."

Her words seem to kindle something deep within him, a spark of strength that flickers to life. He grips her hand, holding on as tightly as he can, as if that connection alone can anchor him to the world. But I can see the truth—the time we have is running out, slipping away like sand through our fingers.

"We need to get him somewhere safe," I urge, feeling the urgency thrumming in my veins. "There has to be a medic station nearby. We can't just sit here."

Seena looks up at me, her face streaked with tears, but there's a fierce determination burning in her eyes. 
"Okay. Help me lift him."

Together, we lift Bark, wrapping his arms around our shoulders. Kai and Apollo join us, their expressions grim as they take some of Bark's weight. Each movement is agony, every step a battle as Bark's breaths grow shallower, each one a fragile thread keeping him tethered to life.
"We can do this," Seena whispers, her voice strong despite the tremor in her hands. "Just keep breathing, Bark. We're almost there."

With every step, I feel the weight of Bark's body pressing against me, the reality of our situation bearing down like a heavy shroud. But the glimmer of hope in Seena's eyes pushes me forward, lighting a fire in my chest. We can't lose him—not now, not ever.

"Just a little longer," I say, my voice resolute, forcing strength into each word. "We'll get you the help you need, Bark."

And as we stumble through the darkness of the arena, I make a silent vow—a promise that we'll fight for him, for Seena, for every moment that this brutal game has stolen from us. Because losing Bark isn't an option. Not while there's still breath left in his body.