"Where the hell did they go?"

"Fan out and keep looking! They couldn't have gotten far."

Emily couldn't hold herself up, lowering her body closer to Andrew's back. Up close, she could feel the harsh, ragged drag of his lungs.

She couldn't help but frown. "They lost us for now. Put me down."

The brief rest had worked wonders on her stomach. The crippling spasms had faded into a dull ache.

Andrew locked his jaw, hoisting her securely back up. "No need."

Emily bit her lip, tightening her hold on him and keeping her mouth shut.

Suddenly, his boot clipped a hidden rock. He stumbled violently but miraculously slammed his hand against a tree trunk just in time to stop them both from crashing into the dirt.

The violent jolt knocked Emily off balance. Her grip slipped from his shoulders, and in a pure reflex of panic, her fingers dug fiercely into his arm to secure her hold.

A sharp hiss of agony tore from Andrew's throat.

"What's wrong?"

Only then did Emily register the slick, hot sensation coating her palm.

She slowly pulled her hand back, the faint, filtered moonlight revealing the dark, smeared liquid staining her skin.

Her hand trembled. She brought her fingers closer, inhaling the unmistakable, coppery scent of fresh blood.

The memory slammed into her with brutal force-Andrew was still harboring a raw, unbandaged gash on his arm.

A deep, savage wound that was currently bleeding profusely.

A sickening jolt hit Emily's chest.

He had been moving with such dominant, unbroken control that she had genuinely forgotten he was injured.

Every grueling step of this escape, he had been using both arms to bear her entire body weight. The sheer level of pain tolerance was almost inhuman.

Emily practically slapped his shoulder. "Drop me right now! I'm walking on my own. You are not carrying me anymore."

Andrew just locked his grip around her legs again, his voice dark and rough. "Forget it. Stay put."

Emily scowled. "You are bleeding out! Let me down!"

He kept walking, letting out a faint chuckle. "It's a scratch. Don't worry about it, I've got plenty left in the tank."

།

Emily refused to play along. She kicked and writhed against his hold, fighting him so aggressively that he finally had no choice but to let her slide off as back

Her face was stony. "We find cover right here. I'm wrapping that arm before we take another step."

Andrew stared down at her fingers clamped tightly around his wrist, a shadow of a smirk touching his lips. "Alright."

They navigated a jagged path until they found a cramped, shielded depression at the base of a slope, hunkering down into the shadows.

Emily ordered Andrew to sit, then immediately brought the hem of her shirt to her mouth, trying to tear the fabric with her teeth.

But the designer material was far too durable to be ripped that easily.

She suddenly remembered the weapon she had passed him earlier. She tapped his arm. "Where's the broken glass? Give it here."

Andrew paused, offering a sheepish response. "I tossed it after I cut the ropes."

Emily was rendered entirely speechless. Without another word, she blindly felt around the dirt until she found a jagged rock, violently sawing at her shirt until a long strip finally tore free.

"Arm. Now," she demanded, holding up the ragged cloth.

Andrew held her gaze, extending his arm toward her.

In the absolute darkness, Emily was forced to operate purely by touch She dragged her fingers lightly over the torn sleeve to locate the open flesh beneath.

Once she found it, she meticulously wrapped the fabric over the wound, securing it

with a brutal, tight knot to staunch the flow.