LEGENDS - Steve Harrington

From the shadows, she heard it-the crunch of footsteps.

"Lucy?" a voice called out, frantic. It was Steve, his face pale with panic as he sprinted toward her, his eyes wide with disbelief. "Lucy, no-"

Her lips quivered into a weak smile, even as her breath caught in her chest. "You... you really need to stop showing up at the worst times, Harrington."

Steve's face twisted in horror as he dropped to his knees beside her, his hand hovering over her as if afraid to touch her. Blood stained her lips, her skin so pale that she looked like she wasn't even alive anymore. The sound of something large shifting behind him sent a shiver of fear through him. The shadow monster was close.

"Don't say that," Steve choked out, his voice breaking. "You're not gonna die here. Not like this. I-" He reached for her, but there was nothing he could do. Nothing but helplessly stare at the blood and the monster lurking in the dark.

Lucy's eyes flickered up to his, dim with exhaustion but still carrying that spark of mischief she was known for. "You're always such a hero, Steve... but I guess... I'm just not the damsel in distress, huh?"

She coughed violently, a spurt of blood splattering across the floor, and her hand fell limp to the side.

Steve's heart clenched. "Lucy... no, come on, stay with me," he pleaded, grabbing her wrist and squeezing it desperately. But his voice trembled as he realized the truth-there was no time.