Chapter 53
Clay
Noise.
Too loud.
Too close.
Gunfire—
No.
Not gunfire.
Something else.
Voices.
Shouting.
Movement all around me.
I try to move—
Can’t.
Body won’t respond.
That’s… new.
That’s wrong.
I force a breath in—
Pain explodes through my chest.
Sharp.
Crushing.
Yeah.
That tracks.
Vest hit.
More than once.
I remember that part.
Kids—
Where are the kids?
My eyes try to open.
Too heavy.
Everything’s dark.
But not quiet.
Never quiet.
“Stay with me.”
The voice cuts through everything.
Sharp.
Clear.
Familiar.
Not part of the fight.
Not part of the chaos.
Something else.
Something… steady.
I latch onto it without thinking.
Because that’s what you do.
You find the steady thing—
And you hold on.
“Clay.”
There it is again.
Closer now.
Not shouting.
Not panicked.
Commanding.
I try to answer.
My mouth doesn’t cooperate.
Figures.
“…kids…”
It comes out rough.
Barely there.
But it’s the only thing that matters.
If they didn’t make it—
None of this was worth it.
“They’re safe.”
Her.
Again.
Closer.
Stronger.
Certain.
“You got them out.”
The words hit something deep.
Cut through the noise.
Through the pain.
Safe.
Good.
That’s—
Good.
My chest loosens.
Just a little.
Enough.
Something shifts against my hand.
Warm.
Solid.
Real.
Not the fight.
Not the memory.
This is now.
I try to focus on it.
Can’t see it.
But I feel it.
Fingers.
Holding mine.
Firm.
Like they’re not letting go.
“Stay with me.”
Her voice drops lower.
Closer.
Right there.
Not a request.
Not a plea.
An order.
That almost makes me laugh.
Almost.
Even like this—
Someone’s giving me orders.
But I follow it anyway.
Because something about her voice—
Cuts through everything else.
Pain spikes again.
Dragging me under.
Pulling me back.
Back to the compound—
Back to the gunfire—
Back to the moment it went bad—
No.
Not going back there.
Not again.
“Hey.”
Closer now.
Right at my ear.
“You don’t get to check out.”
Her.
Again.
Stronger.
Fiercer.
“You hear me?”
Yeah.
I hear you.
Barely.
But enough.
I push against the weight pressing me down.
Against the darkness trying to pull me under.
Doesn’t work.
Not really.
But I try.
Because she said to.
Because—
Why?
Why does that matter?
I don’t even—
Another flash—
Her face.
Bruised.
Blood on her lip.
Still standing.
Still fighting.
Still looking at me like—
Like I wasn’t allowed to fall.
Like I didn’t get that choice.
My fingers twitch.
Just barely.
But it takes everything I’ve got.
There’s a pause.
Then—
“There you are.”
Soft.
Relieved.
Too close.
Too real.
My chest tightens.
Not from the pain.
Something else.
Something I don’t have a name for.
Not now.
Not here.
I try to open my eyes again.
Nothing.
Still dark.
Still heavy.
Still stuck.
But her voice—
That’s still there.
Holding me in place.
Keeping me from slipping.
“You’re not done yet.”
Quiet now.
But steady.
Certain.
And for some reason—
I believe her.
Which is stupid.
Because I’ve been here before.
Right on the edge.
Right where it goes either way.
No guarantees.
No promises.
But—
Her hand tightens around mine.
Just enough.
And something in me—
Locks onto that.
Like it’s the only real thing left.
“Stay with me.”
Yeah.
Yeah, alright.
I can do that.
For a little longer.
For—
Her voice fades slightly.
Not gone.
Just farther away.
Like I’m drifting.
Like I’m losing ground again.
No.
Not yet.
I push again.
Harder this time.
Against the weight.
Against the pull.
Against everything trying to drag me under.
And this time—
My chest lifts.
A real breath.
Rough.
Painful.
But mine.
“There—”
Her voice again.
Sharp now.
Focused.
“He’s fighting it.”
Damn right.
I don’t go down easy.
Never have.
Never will.
Another breath.
Still hurts.
Still heavy.
But I’m here.
Still here.
And as long as I can hear her—
I’m not going anywhere.