Page 107 of Vengeful Melodies

But then—Bradleysteps up beside him.

Disheveled. Sunken eyes. Face pale and tight with obsession. Like he hasn’t slept in weeks. Like he’s spent every hour thinking of me, replaying some sick delusion where I still belong to him. Where Iowehim.

The air goes ice cold.

And then—BANG.

Everything shatters. A single gunshot cracks through the air.

It takes me a second to realize it’s me.

That burning, tearing sensation ripping through my side—hot and liquid and searing. The force of it spins me, a strangled cry ripping out of my throat as I drop to my knees center stage.

Someone screams.

Maybe it’s me. Maybe it’s Bash.

Blood soaks through my clothes like a blooming, red flower.

Hands reach for me. Arms catch me. It’sKai—voice trembling, face contorted in fear.

“Siren, no—NO—stay with me!”

“Get her down—Alix, help me—fuck—” Bash’s voice is cracked and furious, wild like I’ve never heard him before.

Takoa is above me, his hands pressing into the wound, his entire body shaking.

“Stay awake, Muse—don’t you fucking dare close your eyes—don’t you fucking leave me—”

Everything is spinning.

People are screaming, running, security flooding the stage.

I hearWrenyelling my name over and over.

“Jupey! Jupey! Look at me—”

But I’m already fading. My blood is everywhere.

The lights are too bright. Then too dim.

I’m being carried, jostled, my head lolling. I feel the cold slap of air against my face as they push me into the ambulance. I want to speak, but my lips won’t move right. The siren starts up, slicing through the night like a scream.

Wren and Grey try to climb in.

They’redenied.

“We have to go—there’s no time!” the paramedic shouts, slamming the doors.

I see Wren fighting—screaming—as Grey holds him back, both of them red-eyed and frantic.

Alix pounds the side of the vehicle as it pulls away, his voice follows me: “We’ll be right behind you, baby—we promise—”

The last thing I see is them in the rearview mirror—faces pale, soaked in stage sweat and blood—watching me vanish into the night.

The world tilts.

The ambulance turns too fast, tires screeching.