Sentinel

Chapter 15: Red

The first thing I saw when I opened the door was red. Red blood.

"No." I didn't even register the word leaving my mouth.

In the middle of a pool of blood were Hana and Brynn. Brynn lay on her stomach, a gaping wound in her back. Hana was on her back next to her, no visible wounds but covered in blood. Between them lay Brynn's weapon.

"No," I protested again.

Nathan pushed roughly passed me.

"Brynn!" His voice cracked. He fell to his knees beside her, blood soaking his jeans, and felt for a pulse at her neck. But I knew it was no use. Nathan's face went blank when he realized it too.

"Goddamn it," Will whispered behind me. I could hear the tears in his voice.

My own face was wet and I shook as I slowly walked into the apartment. "Hana?" My legs gave out halfway to her, my sword clattering to the floor, and I crawled the rest of the way to her, the blood slimy on my hands. I took Hana's hand in mine and slid two fingers on to her wrist.

A relieved sob escaped me. She had a pulse. "She's alive."

"Is she injured?" Somehow Will was beside me.

I looked up and down her blood-splattered body but couldn't find any sign that it came from her. "I don't know."

Just as I said the words Hana began to stir.

I held tight to her hand. "Hana?"

Hana's eyes fluttered open. "Sky?" She murmured weakly.

"Hana, I'm here. You're going to be okay."

"You're crying." She grimaced, confused.

"It's okay, it's okay," I said, crying harder.

"It's not." Nathan had pushed the words through clenched teeth.

Hana turned her head toward him and her eyes opened in horror when she saw Brynn. "Oh my god."

"It's not okay." His words were stronger this time. He stood and pointed at Will, tears falling from his eyes. "This is your fault. I told you we'd regret taking in those two. I told you we shouldn't keep it a secret from our family! I TOLD YOU!" Nathan took a ragged breath. "Look." He gestured to Brynn's body but Will was already looking, his face contorted in agony. "LOOK! She was the best of us! Now Bry—, " Nathan swallowed, and started again, by this time in a soft voice. "Now, Brynn's gone because you wanted to protect fake Sentinel and an insane Mage."

We were all silent. Nathan let all of the air out of his body and walked out of the apartment.

"I'm sorry," Will said, his voice strangled.

I shook my head.

Will stood. "I need to call my parents." Then he left too.

I looked down at Hana who seemed shell-shocked.

"Are you okay?" I whispered.

She only looked at me in disbelief.

I wanted to get her out of here but I was worried she might have hurt her head or neck, so it was best if she didn't move.

I was thinking about calling an ambulance when I noticed something on the back of my right hand, the one gripping hers. My eyebrows crinkled in confusion. Under the blood on my hand, I could see my Sentinel mark had appeared. It didn't itch or hurt. And I wasn't holding my sword.

Suddenly it dawned on me. "No, Hana, you didn't."

Before I could even accept the thought, Hana was up and holding Brynn's weapon.