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Sacrifice - Nevertel

Dakota just shot Callum right over Ronan. For a split second, I think he shot Ronan, and my whole world slows as I stare at both men on the ground. For a second, I see Greyson, not Ronan. His face is gray, and his lips are blue.

I blink. There’s no blood. Why is there no blood?

“Dakota! What the fuck! You shot him!?” I think I’m saying something, but I’m not quite sure. It takes an agonizingly long time to make it over to Ronan. Even falling to my knees seems to take ages. But I see that Ronan is breathing.

He’s fucking breathing. Ronan looks at me with wide eyes as Callum slumps sideways over him.

“Dude, you okay?” I can’t keep some of the panic out of my voice.

Ronan’s eyes close at slightly different times. Then, he doesn’t open them again. He might be saying something, but I’m not paying attention.

What the hell? What the hell, what the hell, what the hell? I check Ronan’s pulse, but it’s fine. Then I look over Callum, who’s in a state of shock, his hair looking even darker against his pale skin. I see no weapons, and I see no injuries except for Callum’s side.

And then I see it. Buffalo. He’s ripped and clutched in Ronan’s arms, his stuffing pink and gloopy.

Movement catches my eye, and I look up to see the other man, Vox, come running up to the clearing. Immediately, I point my gun at him.

“V-Vox,” Callum slurs.

Vox stops and raises his hands, looking at me. His entire face is pale, and his body looks poised on the edge. I expect him to yank out a weapon, to take out as many of us as he can before we get him, but he doesn’t. He just gives me a tortured look.

“I’m sorry! I thought he stabbed Ronan or something. Fuck, Ronan, why did you fucking scream like that?” Dakota’s voice is panicked.

I just continue to stare at Vox. What the hell is going on with these two? I saw Callum trip his partner. Why did he save me? If he hadn’t done that, I would have been shot for sure. It’s the only thing that keeps me from killing Callum and then Vox.

Vox keeps watching me. He tilts his head, asking without words if he can check on Callum. He hasn’t rushed me. He hasn’t threatened me. He’s just…asking. And the desperation I see in his eyes mirrors the fear I felt when checking on Ronan. I feel it.

For some unknown reason, Vox isn’t here to hurt us. He’s here for his friend.

I nod back, lowering my gun slightly, and Vox rushes forward. He checks Callum over, huffs, and then pulls Callum to his feet and away from Ronan.

The relief I feel when they separate is massive. I barely notice when Ronan starts screaming again. Dakota is on him, trying to calm him down. But I’m watching the threat. The threat that I’m not sure is a threat.

Am I just going to let them leave?

Ronan starts screaming, and immediately, everything tunnels to focus on him. Is he hurt? Did I miss something? I look back down, running my hands all over Ronan again, checking him for injuries.

“Buffalo!” Ronan screams, and my stomach sinks. I look up to see Buffalo’s head in Callum’s grip as he presses it to his wound. And then, they disappear into the forest.