Page 90 of Property of Anchor

“Bernice?”I called out.

A soft groan came from the back.

I followed it.Heart pounding.

The bathroom door was ajar.Light flickered above.And then I saw her.

Bernice.

She was on the floor, crumpled in a pool of blood.Her blue muumuu was soaked through, torn at the side.One yellow slipper on her foot.Blood smeared the white tile, and her hands weakly tried to press at the gash in her stomach.

“Oh my God, Bernice!”I dropped to my knees next to her.

“Pearl,” she gasped.

“I’m here,” I choked out.“It’s okay.I’ve got you.”I pressed my hands over hers, trying to add pressure to the bleeding, but it just kept coming.“Help is on the way.You’re gonna be okay.”

She blinked slowly.Her face was pale.“You need to…”

“I need to what?”I sobbed.“Bernice, stay with me.We’re gonna get you help.”

Footsteps thundered into the cabin.

“Pearl!”Cross yelled.He knelt down beside us, his hands immediately going to the wound.“This isn’t good.We need to get her to the hospital now.”

“She’s gonna make it,” I said, more to myself than anyone else.

Bernice’s fingers twitched beneath mine.

“Pearl…” she whispered.

“I’m right here.”

“You need to find…”

“Find what?”I cried.

“Ambulances are eight minutes out!”Vin called as he ran into the cabin.“Bob’s still breathing, but barely.”

“Same here,” Cross gritted.

Bernice’s breathing grew shallow, her chest barely moving.

“Find what?”I begged.“Bernice, what do I need to find?”

Her eyes met mine.“Her.”

And then…

Her eyes didn’t blink again.

She stilled.

Gone.

“No!”I screamed.“No, no, no!”

I threw myself back against the wall, and tears streamed down my face.“Why?Why her?Why did it have to be her?”