𝗠𝘆 𝗘𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗲 ⇉ 𝗝𝗝 𝗠𝗮𝘆𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗸

𝘱 𝘢 𝘳 𝘢 𝘥 𝘪 𝘴 𝘦

THE POGUES FOUND themselves ensnared in the heart of the Marsh, a desolate expanse that seemed to stretch endlessly in all directions. The air was thick with tension, and the echo of gunfire still rang in their ears.

A bullet had grazed Ari's arm, its cruel trajectory tearing through the pontoon they had relied on for escape. Now, they were stranded, the weight of uncertainty pressing down on them like the heavy fog that clung to the marshy ground.

Blood began to seep through the makeshift bandage—a torn piece of JJ's shirt—wrapped tightly around Ari's upper arm.

Although the wound wasn't deep, the jagged tear had taken a chunk of skin with it, and the pain radiated like fire through her veins. The urgency of the situation heightened as she felt the warmth of her own blood pooling beneath the fabric.

Cleo and Kiara knelt beside her, their hands trembling slightly as they worked to secure the bandage. Cleo, her brow furrowed in concentration, pulled the fabric tighter around Ari's arm, her fingers deftly tying a knot with a determination that belied her own fear.

"We need to stop the bleeding, girlie." She murmurs, her voice steady despite the chaos surrounding them.

"Shit." Ariella curses  under her breath, the pain making her grip on Kiara's hand tighten to the point of discomfort. "Cleo—."

"I know. I know. I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault." Ariella gasps, forcing herself to take a deep breath, each inhale laced with agony. "You're only helping."

As silence enveloped them once more, the world around them faded into a blur. Once Cleo finished securing the bandage, Ariella leaned her head against Kiara's shoulder, seeking solace in her friend's presence.

Her eyes flutter shut, trying to escape the throbbing pain that radiated from her arm. Tears streamed down her cheeks, a mix of fear and frustration, as she fought to push away the overwhelming thoughts of her injury and the precarious situation they were in.

As Ariella sat there, her eyes closed and breaths coming in heavy gasps, a storm of thoughts raged in her mind.

What if JJ hadn't moved her?

The chilling image of the bullet's path haunted her—how it could've impaled her, snuffing out her life in an instant.

She could've died, and in that tragic twist of fate, her unborn child would've perished too.

She wouldn't have seen Cora Lynn one last time.

The weight of that realization crushed her heart; JJ would've lost everything—the love of his life, his children and the life they had both dreamt of.

Across the marsh, JJ halted his restless pacing, his gaze drawn to Ariella, who sat on the damp ground, nestled between Cleo and Kiara. He could see the strain etched on her face, the way she fought against the pain that threatened to overwhelm her.

With a sense of urgency, he moved closer, kneeling in front of her. Gently, he brushes a stray strand of hair away from her face, his warm touch a beacon of comfort amidst the chaos. She felt his presence, and it anchored her in that moment.

Kiara presses a soft kiss to Ariella's cheek before rising to join Sarah, while Cleo shifted to stand by Pope's side. They all understood the gravity of their situation—they needed to escape before danger found them again.

But the marsh offered no safe haven, no clear path to freedom.

"How you feeling, baby?" JJ's voice was a gentle whisper, his thumb gliding across her cheekbone, tenderly wiping away the tears that had escaped her eyes.