Splintered

Chapter Sixty-Six: Ever Worth Keeping

Everything happened so fast, yet at the same time, it played out in slow motion. One of Percy's eyes slid shut, the other narrowed as he squinted into the lengthy scope atop his rifle.

Making a split-second decision, Hazel clawed Snow's shoulders, wrenching him down with her behind the podium, as rifle fire cleaved the air.

Crack!

Her spine flattened against the rock-solid surface, her teeth chattering as her body jolted hard. Snow let out a bewildered grunt as they landed, shielded by the hefty onyx stand.

A bullet whizzed through the air, where his head had been just moments prior.

The gun discharged several more times, in rapid succession.

Crack! Crack! Crack!

Screams were suddenly everywhere, the clamor of feet and chaos erupting from all directions. Mixed in were the echoes of Peacekeepers scrambling and shouting commands.

She clung to Snow's collar as he stared down at her, wide-eyed, like his brain was lagging, still attempting to comprehend what was happening.

Crack! Crack!

The stage splintered to the side of them as bullets carved through the thick boards like they were butter. Scrapnel shredded the Capitol flags at the rear of the stage, severing the head of one of the embroidered golden eagles.

Snow's breathing was rapid, and it matched her own as it rushed over the side of her face. His body was rigid, yet his heartbeat was anything but still. It drummed so wildly, she could count the beats, through her hold on him. At the same time, her own pulse was drowning her eardrums.

Crack! Crack!

Shrieking citizens dissipated from the town square in sheer panic. Peering to the side, Sable, Merrick, and Leo all had their weapons drawn, scanning the frantic multitude for the attacker.

It was then that raw dismay crossed Leo's features. His skin went ghost white as his gaze locked on a point in the crowd. Yet he didn't fire.

"Got eyes on him, Drayton?" Merrick called.

Leo didn't respond. His stare remained glued ahead, finger poised yet hesitating above the trigger.

Percy spat out an unintelligible curse, which was rapidly followed by the deafening sound of one of her guards firing twice. It was piercing and painful, like a bomb detonating next to her ear.

Once the deafening ring waned, she peered up at Leo. His finger remained locked in place, gun still unmoving. Instead, a line of smoke licked up the long barrel of Sable's rifle. He was taut, weapon straight as an arrow, features more severe than the face of a mountain.

Hazel released Snow and peeked around the riddled podium, just in time to catch Percy stagger backward. His arm was limp and crimson striped his shoulder and flank. His body slumped, knees meeting the stone. His rifle clattered, lost to the ground before he collapsed.

"Shooter down!" Merrick whooped.

Hazel released the breath she didn't realize she had been holding, but relief wasn't anywhere nearby. Not with Snow practically breathing on her. If anything, he'd slid closer, curled so far over her, she was practically caged beneath him.

However, for the first time since she'd known him, he was relatively speechless. Instead of glaring at Percy or barking commands to the guards, he just stared.

Was he going into shock?

His blue irises had once again darkened to the shade of the deepest waters. His pupils were blown out, and one word came from him, "Why?"