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But she’d gladly die trying.
She picked up the hoodie and slowly wrapped it around her torso. Then she paused, sucking in a breath before pulling it as tight as she could, the thick fabric squeezing in against the gushing wound.
And this time, there was no point in trying to hide the guttural cry that ripped from her throat.
Maddie shot forward, hands quickly grabbing and moving up Saff’s arms.
“Are you hurt?” she asked frantically, the words tumbling out altogether.
Saff closed her eyes, trying to calm her breathing as nausea crept into her throat.
But she wasn’t done yet. Maddie needed to hear everything. She needed toremembereverything.
Saff released a shallow breath, forcing her eyes open. “Do you remember how to reload your shotgun?”
Maddie shook her head. “Stop. Tell me what’s happening,” she said, as one hand ran up onto Saff’s neck.
“Please,” Saff whispered. “I need you to listen first.”
Maddie shook her head again, mouth opening in protest.
“Please,” Saff repeated, her voice breaking around the word.
Maddie stopped, and for a moment it looked like she might argue, but then she slowly closed her mouth again.
Saff sighed, letting her eyes shut. “Reload your gun.”
It took a second before she felt Maddie’s hands leave her. Then she heard the shuffling and clicking of metal in front of her.
“There’s a road at the end of the city,” she said, her voice light and strained. “It’s a highway. It’ll lead down to the harbor. No turns. Just a straight shot.” She paused, drawing in shallow breaths, wincing against the fabric pressed into her stomach. “The flare needs to be shot off at the end. Not any sooner.”
The clicking of metal continued in front of her.
“That’s where your family should be,” she finished, right as she felt Maddie’s hands on her again. One moved down her chest, and she reached up, wincing in pain as she grabbed it, stopping it before it reached her stomach.
“Tell me what’s going on,” Maddie breathed in front of her.
Saff groaned, shifting back against the wall as she finally tugged her eyes back open.
“Repeat it back to me,” she said, her voice lightly floating out on shallow breaths.
“What?” Maddie asked, concern morphing into frustration.
“Say it back,” Saff gritted. “Everything I just told you.”
Maddie shook her head slightly. “I—“ she paused, and Saff could see her thinking. “A road,” she muttered. “There’s a road that goes to the harbor.” She blinked, her hand clutching on Saff’s arm. “At the end, you’re going to shoot off the flare.”
Saff’s chest tightened at the choice of words.
“What about the grenade?” she breathed.
Maddie shook her head slightly. “I don’t understand—“
“Maddie,” Saff cut her off with a warning tone.
Maddie’s lips pressed into a hard line. “Pull the ring. Then throw. Far.”
Saff exhaled, leaning her head back against the cold wall.