Page 25 of Rage of the Fallen

Zara and Lisa backed up slowly, fear evident in their eyes. The phoenix fluttered its wings as it perched on a rock beside Lisa, but it didn’t fly away. Its presence was both comforting and unnerving, as if it knew something we didn’t.

Justice shook his head and spread his arms, his entire body trembling with effort. “I can’t fight it,” he gritted out through clenched teeth. His chest heaved, and sweat poured down his face as if drawing on every last bit of energy to fight Rage’s control.

He looked at me, his eyes a storm of emotions. Love, fear, determination. “You need to…go…now.”

“No.” I shook my head vehemently, my heart racing. “You can suck my blood. It will cure you.”

“It won’t, Sawyer.” He gave me a fierce look. “I’ll kill you. Go. Now, while you have time.”

Damon’s grip tightened even more. “Listen to your bloodsucker boyfriend, Sawyer. We need to haul ass outta here before things go from bad to apocalyptic.”

I struggled against Damon’s hold, torn between my instinct to save Justice and the rational part of my brain screaming at me to run. “But we can’t leave him!”

“Damn it, Sawyer!” Damon’s voice rose, sounding more like Dean than ever. “Sometimes you gotta make the hard call. We leave now, we live to fight another day. We stay…” He let the implication hang in the air.

Justice’s body jerked forward, his face contorted in pain and determination. “Please,” he rasped. “Run!”

The air crackled with tension as we stood on the precipice of a decision that could change everything. My heart felt like it was being torn in two, caught between my love for Justice and the survival instinct Damon was desperately trying to awaken in me.

Brody stepped forward, his stance wide and authoritative. His gaze swept the chaotic scene.

“We’re not leaving anyone behind,” he declared. He placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder, his touch conveying strength and support. “That’s not how we operate.”

“You can’t help me…” Justice gritted his teeth. His fangs lengthened. “A hunger… I can’t control it.” His head tilted back again, and his eyes turned red. “I want blood.”

Damon shot Brody an exasperated look. “Are you kidding me? This isn’t the time for heroics, Boy Scout!”

Brody stood his ground, unfazed by Damon’s outburst. “There’s always time to do what’s right,” he countered. “Justice is one of us, and we don’t abandon our own.”

He looked at me, a spark of hope in his eyes. “Sawyer, your blood might be the key. We simply need to create an opening.” Then, he turned to Damon, “We need your hunter skills now more than ever. Can you distract Rage?”

Damon grumbled but nodded reluctantly, “Fine, but if we all die, I’m blaming you, Captain Optimism.”

Brody’s lips quirked into a small smile before he addressed Zara and Lisa. “You two, be ready to support us. And that phoenix might be our ace in the hole.”

He turned back to the struggling vampire. Determination and compassion filled his voice as he called, “Justice, I know you’re in there. You’re stronger than this control. Fight it!”

For a split second, something flickered in Justice’s eyes. A glimpse of recognition, perhaps even a silent plea for help. Then, as quickly as it appeared, it vanished, replaced by a predatory gleam that sent chills down my spine.

With inhuman speed, Justice lunged at Brody. Despite his quick reflexes, Brody couldn’t dodge in time. Justice’s powerful arms wrapped around him, pinning Brody’s arms to his sides. I watched in horror as Justice’s fangs elongated, glinting in the dim light.

“No!” I screamed, but it was too late.

Justice’s fangs sank deep into Brody’s neck. Brody released a pained grunt, his face contorting in agony. Blood trickled down his neck, staining his shirt crimson.

But Brody wasn’t going down without a fight. His jaw clenched, muscles straining as he fought Justice’s iron grip. With a surge of strength, he managed to free one arm. In a swift motion, his elbow came up hard, catching Justice under the chin.

The impact loosened Justice’s hold. Brody twisted his body, using the momentum to throw Justice off balance. As theystumbled, Brody’s fist connected with Justice’s jaw in a powerful uppercut. The sound of the impact echoed through the air.

Justice staggered back, momentarily dazed. Brody’s blood stained his lips and chin.

Brody pressed his hand to his bleeding neck, his breath coming in short gasps. “Justice, this isn’t you. You have to snap out of it!”

But Justice’s eyes remained glazed, Rage’s control still firmly in place. He crouched, ready to spring at Brody again.

Damon’s voice cut through the tension. “Brody! We gotta go, now!”

Brody glanced between Justice and the rest of us, torn between saving his friend and protecting the group.

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