"Avice!" Jack's terrified face swam in front of her eyes as he knelt by her, supporting her. "Avice. Avice, baby, talk to me."
She kept her eyes down, her mouth open to speak but only a soft whimper came out as her eyes fluttered.
His hands pressed against the wound. "Baby, talk to me. Please talk to me," he muttered. "Tell me about... the blue house. Tell me about the ship. Talk to me."
She looked up, her teary eyes wide with fear. "Ah.. It hurts.. Oh god, it hurts. It- It.." She trailed off, losing consciousness.
He panicked, supporting her as she collapsed. Tears filled his eyes and his voice was strangled. "Avice?! Avice! Avice, wake up!"
Eventually her breathing became more ragged, and her pulse light, before everything stopped altogther.
Jack whimpered, holding Avice in his arms. "No, no, no. Avice, don't do it. Stay with me. Stay with me." The fighting around him gradually stopped as the last of the guards fell and he checked her pulse, his heart skipping a beat when his fingers touched nothing. "Avice, come on. Don't you leave me. Avice, wake up. Avice? Avice?"
Tears slid down his face as he cradled her in his arms, his hand brushing her face. “Wake up. Wake up,” he kept saying. A hand touched his shoulder and he shied away. “Jack,” Natalia said, her voice regaining some of the sharpness. “Jack, we have to go.” “No,” he snapped, holding Avice to his chest. “I’m not leaving.”
His hands felt at her pulse uselessly as Natalia knelt down next to him. “Jack...” “I’m not leaving. I’m not leaving her.” “We have to go.” “I’m not leaving.” She was quiet for a moment, watching her brother with a strange expression on her face. Finally, she tilted her head and reached over, placing a hand over the wound. Her hand began to glow.
Skin mended with skin, the sword falling out from her body. A warmth spread out from the spot where Natalia touched, eventually reaching her heart.
She looked to him, her expression concerned as her hands reached up to wipe the tears. "Jack? What happened?"
He said nothing, his eyes studying her as if to make sure she was alright. Finally, he turned to Natalia, never letting go of Avice. “How did you do that?” She paused and only shook her head, looking worn. He turned back to Avice. “You’re sure you’re alright?”
