Torn: Sequel to Ruthless

Chapter 11

As we hobble back toward Platform 8, the weight of Bark's body pressing heavily against us, a soft whistling sound cuts through the tense air. I glance up, heart skipping a beat, and see a silver parachute descending from the sky, its delicate lines shimmering in dim light. My breath catches in my throat as the parachute lands gracefully a few feet away, the box it carries thudding softly to the ground. The number seven is emblazoned on the top of the box, and my heart lurches with a mix of hope and dread. This gift is for Bark. A sponsor, someone out there, has seen our struggle and decided to offer us a lifeline. But what could it be? Will it be enough?

"Hold on," I murmur to Bark, carefully untangling his arm from around my shoulder.

I can feel Seena's eyes on me, wide with desperation and a flicker of hope she's too afraid to voice. I crouch down and slice through the strings with my sword, the thin metal cutting easily through the silk. The box falls open, its contents spilling out onto the concrete. The first thing I see is a small vial of glowing blue liquid, a delicate stopper sealing it shut. My heart leaps. Medicine! It has to be. My fingers close around the vial, my hands shaking slightly as I lift it. There's a note attached to it, two words written in bold letters: 'Healing Serum'. I swallow hard, my throat suddenly tight with emotion. I glance back at Bark, his breath still coming in shallow, ragged gasps. This could be what saves him.

"There's medicine!" I call out, my voice trembling with relief and urgency. "Some sort of healing potion!"

Seena gasps, her eyes wide and desperate. "Give it to him! Now!"

I nod, not wasting a second. I kneel beside Bark, cradling his head gently as I uncork the vial. The liquid inside is almost too fake, but I know it holds the power to pull him back from the brink. I tilt the vial to his lips, my hands steady despite the storm of emotions raging inside me.

"Bark, you need to drink this," I whisper, guiding the vial to his mouth.

He's barely conscious, his eyelashes fluttering weakly, but he manages to take a small sip. The liquid trickles down his throat, and for a moment, everything else fades away—the arena, the blood, the terror—all that matters is that this works. As Bark works his way through the glowing blue liquid, I feel Seena's hands beside me, trembling as she clings to Bark's hand, whispering words of encouragement, of love, of desperate hope.

"You're going to be okay," she murmurs, her voice breaking with emotion. "You're going to be okay, Bark."

I carefully lower Bark's head back onto Seena's lap, watching him closely for any sign that the antidote is working. The seconds stretch into an eternity, each one filled with the agonizing fear that it might be too late, that this cruel game has already taken too much from us. But then, slowly, I see it—a faint color returning to his cheeks, the pallor of death retreating ever so slightly. His breathing, once shallow and ragged, begins to deepen, his chest rising and falling with more strength. It's subtle, but it's there. He's fighting. He's coming back.

"He's responding," I say, my voice thick with a mixture of disbelief and relief. "It's working."

Seena lets out a sob, her tears falling freely now, a combination of joy and sheer exhaustion. She leans down, pressing her forehead against his, her body trembling with the force of her emotions. Her eyes never leaving Bark's face as she strokes his hair gently, her fingers still trembling.

"Thank you," she whispers, over and over again, as if those words alone could keep him tethered to life.

But the medicine isn't the only thing in the box. I reach back inside and pull out the remaining items-a roll of bandages, a packet of dried food, and a small flask of water. Simple supplies, but they may save Bark's life.

"We have bandages," I tell Seena, holding them up. "We can properly dress his wounds now."

"We can't stay here long," she says softly, the edge of fear creeping back into her voice. "We need to get him to safety. We need to get all of us to safety."

I nod in agreement, quickly beginning the task of bandaging Bark's wounds. Without hesitation, Seena joins me. Apollo and Kai, once again, guard us. The cuts are deep, each one a cruel reminder of how close we came to losing him. But as we wrap the bandages around his body, I feel a renewed sense of determination coursing through me. We're not out of the game yet. We have a chance. After Seena and I finish, Kai and Apollo step closer, their expressions a mixture of relief and concern.

"We'll take turns carrying him if we have to," I say, my voice firm with resolve, "But we need to get back to Platform 8. From there, we can figure out our next move."

"We'll help," Kai says, his voice steady. "We'll get through this together."

Apollo simply nods. Always finding ways to keep up the attraction dynamic, he pulls my slim frame against his hard chest. 

With Bark bandaged and the medicine beginning to work its magic, we carefully lift him once more. His body is still weak, his strength sapped by the poison and the wounds, but there's life in him now-a spark that wasn't there before. As we begin the trek back to Platform 8, I glance down at Bark, who is nestled between Kai and Apollo. Seena walks beside us, murmuring gentle words to him. His eyes are closed, but his breathing is steady, the color slowly returning to his face. And for the first time in what feels like forever, I feel a flicker of hope. Although we're not out of danger, I know we're moving closer to survival. Getting closer to finding a way out of this nightmare. Closer to ensuring that this won't be the end-not for Bark, not for any of us. As the platform comes into view, I tighten my grip on Bark, a silent vow forming in my heart. We've come this far together, and I'll be damned if we don't make it all the way.