The alleyway where she left him seemed deserted except for fresh bloodstains on the ground against the cobblestone street. If her eyes followed the trail, she would see that it lead to a terribly familiar heap lying against the wall, their back to her.
It was him and his eyes were open, but he seemed to be fading rapidly. His skin was terribly pale and his sharp blue eyes, normally so clear and alert, were cloudy and unfocused. His face was covered in bruises and wounds and he was holding himself as if he had broken several limbs, curled against any more pain. He flinched when she was nearby, trying to recoil from anything trying to inflict more harm.
She whimpered, unsure what to do as she kissed his temple nervously. "Oh, baby.. We need to get you out of here.. Can you stand any?"
He opened his mouth to speak and couldn't seem to get words out, breathing harshly. "Avice," he whispered after a moment of struggle. "Run... get out of here... he's... watching..."
He groaned, trying to move but falling back on the stone, his skin cold to touch. "Avice... I can't... move. You need to go... He's on his way... You can't... get... me out of here..."
She wrapped an arm around him, trying to help him up with a grunt. "I'm getting you out of here," she said sternly. "You have to help me."
He cried out in pain as she moved him, shutting his eyes as he pressed his hand to the wall. "What... what can I do?" he asked, panting slightly.
"My... he broke my legs, Avice..." he said heavily, shaking his head to try to focus. "I can't get up there."
"You have to," he said, shaking his head. "He... he doesn't intend to let me leave. Think of Aubrey. Please."
"Jack, you need to come with me. I.. I can't let you die here so you need to fight with me and get to Mack. Please."
"Avice," he murmured, taking her hand and squeezing it, his gaze moving slowly to meet hers. "I can't move. He made... sure that I wouldn't be able to leave here alive. He's watching you right now. You need to go. Hide or something."
A sob escaped her, and she held tightly to his hand. "I'm not going to leave you. I can't leave you."
"You have to," he said, his voice sounding as stern as he could make it, although it cracked a little at the end. "It's alright, Av. It'll be alright. It'll be okay. You'll be okay. Take care of Aubrey."
His voice adopting an urgent tone and he took his face in his hand. "Avice," he said, his voice harsh. "If you and I both die here, Aubrey will grow up without parents. Think about that."
