Let the world burn

6

Even though I was holding my angel in my arms, I couldn't stop thinking about Little Flower. What would she think if she saw this? Would she be upset, or would she understand?

The thought tugged at me as I carried my angel up the stairs, her frail body nestled against mine. She felt so small, so weightless, like a ghost clinging to life.

Lisa had stayed behind to handle the cleanup, which was just as well. My head wasn't clear enough to think about anything except the person in my arms.

Rosé appeared at the top of the stairs, her face a mix of worry and relief. "You've got her?" she asked softly.

"Yeah," I muttered. "I've got her." "Lisa's sending the worst of them back to our place. She's got this," Rosé said, her tone steady. "You don't have to worry about anything but her right now."

I nodded and pushed open the door to one of the guest rooms. The bed looked soft enough, but it still didn't feel good enough for her. Nothing did. I laid her down as carefully as I could, adjusting the blanket to cover her bruised and battered body. Her face twisted in pain, even in unconsciousness.

"You're safe now," I whispered, brushing a strand of hair away from her face. "No one's going to hurt you again." ---In the kitchen, Rosé was unpacking a first aid kit when I found her.

"You're fast," I said, leaning against the counter.

"Figured you'd need it," she said, setting it down. "How bad is it?" I shook my head. "Worse than I thought."

Rosé glanced at me, her brows furrowed. "You need anything else?" "Clothes," I said. "Something clean and comfortable for her. She can't stay in... that." My voice faltered for a second as I thought about the state she'd been in.

Rosé nodded. "I'll grab something. Just get back to her."

---Back in the room, I opened the first aid kit and started working on my angel's wounds. There were bruises all along her arms and legs, and the cuts on her wrists looked deep.

I dabbed at the cuts with antiseptic, wincing every time her face twitched in pain. "Shh," I murmured, brushing her hair back. "It's okay. I've got you."

She settled again, her breathing evening out. Rosé knocked lightly on the door before stepping in, a small pile of clothes in her arms.

"I grabbed a hoodie and some sweatpants," she said, setting them on the dresser. "Nothing fancy, but it should work."

"Thanks," I said without looking up. She hesitated, her eyes flicking to my angel. "You're sure she's going to be okay?" "She'll be fine," I said, my voice firm but quieter than I intended.

Rosé nodded, her lips pressing into a thin line before she stepped out.

---I sighed, sitting down beside the bed. My angel looked so peaceful in her sleep, but the bruises on her face told a different story.