Page 2 of Sweet Anarchy

It's coming from him. And he's not moving.

It's Chuck's blood.

I can't breathe, my lungs feeling like they are being crushed by steel. Or that I'm drowning in a pit of ice cold water.

"Chuck?" I cry out, shaking his lifeless body. "Chuck?!"

There's a mixture of groans of agony and yells from around the room as injured people writhe in pain and call out to each other. The dark, peeling walls and furniture are splattered in blood, the metallic smell burning my senses.

I'm covered in blood too, drops dripping down my pale skin. Shakily, I press my fingers to Chuck's neck, searching for a pulse. I have no idea how to feel for one, so when I can't find it, a sob bubbles out of my mouth.

"Lee!"

I glance up as Vito stumbles past some overturned tables, his eyes wide as he looks around the room. He rushes over to me, grabbing my arm.

"Are you hurt?" he asks, voice hoarse.

I shake my head. "Chuck... he's hurt. We need to help him."

Vito leans down, pressing two fingers to Chuck's neck. "Help is coming. It's going to be okay." He rips his hand away and pulls me up. "Come on, I need to get you to the back room."

"Is Chuck alive?" I ask, on the verge of hysterics.

"Just come with me, Lee," he says sternly, pulling me over fallen bodies.

Tears pour down my face and from my standing position, I look around as I'm pulled towards the back room. There's so much wet leather, blood and debris that I'm unable to distinguish patrons. My eyes search urgently for familiar people.

"Where's Butch? And Volts?" I yell out.

I hear a groan from behind the bar and I rip my arm out of Vito's grip, slamming into the bar as I lean over to look. Volts is curled up in the corner, holding his ribs.

"Ry," he croaks out. "Thank God, you're okay."

I jump over the bar, my knees getting cut up by broken glass. I ignore the pain, rushing over to Volts.

"Are you hit?" I ask, grabbing his hands and pulling them away from his torso. Blood runs down his shirt and skin and I quickly cover the wound with my hand, pressing firmly. Blood spills in between my fingers and I choke on a sob.

"It's fine," Volts says weakly. "I think the bleeding is slowing down."

His voice is so feeble, almost a whisper that it sends panic down my spine. "You're going to be okay," I tell him, looking around for something to press against the wound. "Just don't move."

I grab a bar rag and roll it up, shoving it awkwardly into him. He groans in pain, his hand wrapping over mine as he holds it.

"Get out of here in case they come back," he says in a low voice.

"I'm not going anywhere," I mutter, my voice cracking. "I'm going to get help. Don't move!"

I fling open the bar flap, moving away from the bar when I spot Vito hunched in the corner. Behind him, I spot a familiar bald head.

"Butch!" I yell, slipping over blood and spilled alcohol as I drop to my knees next to Vito.

He's leaning against the wall, breathing raggedly. The left side of his face is coated in blood - in fact, his entire body seems to be covered in so much blood, I can't even pinpoint where he's injured.

"Lee," he murmurs, giving me a smile. "You're okay."

"Where are you hurt?" I ask, looking over him as I go to reach for him. "Let me help."

Butch reaches out, grabbing my arm to stop me. "I'm fine, kiddo."

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