Page 37 of The Devil's Wrath

Before I could protest, he strode off into the crowd, his broad shoulders taut. I hugged my arms around myself, suddenly feeling very alone and exposed without his presence. The euphoria of our kiss had vanished, replaced by a growing sense of unease.

Minutes ticked by, and there was no sign of Theo. A palpable energy hung in the air, a mix of adrenaline and something darker, more menacing. Hushed whispers and furtive glances passed among the remaining partygoers, an undercurrent of fear and anticipation rippling through the crowd. Loud claps echoed through the quarry, and screams filled the air. I froze. My body was numb with terror as the realization sank in.Gunshots.The piercing sounds reverberated through the night, mingling with the screams of panicked people. They jostled me from all sides, their faces etched with fear as theyscrambled to escape the danger. I stumbled into the clearing where the fight had broken out, my breath catching in my throat at the scene before me. Bodies lay strewn across the ground, some motionless, others groaning in pain. Blood pooled on the dirt, glistening darkly in the firelight. And in the center of it all stood Theo, his fists clenched and his chest heaving.

“Theo!” I cried out, my voice barely audible above the chaos.

His head snapped in my direction, his eyes wild and fierce. “Wrenly, get out of here!” he roared. “It’s not safe!”

Another shot rang out, closer this time. I ducked instinctively, my heart pounding against my ribs. I had to move, but my legs felt like lead, rooted to the spot as terror paralyzed me.

“Wren!” Vera’s voice reached me through the din, high-pitched and laced with terror. “Wren, where are you?”

I spun toward the sound, relief flooding through me as I saw my best friend pushing her way toward me, her red hair wild and her eyes wide with fear.

“Vera! Thank god!” I grabbed her hand, pulling her close. “We need to get out of here.”

Vera nodded frantically, her grip tight on my hand as we tried to push through the crowd. People shoved past us, screams and sobs filling the air. My heart raced as I searched desperately for an escape route, the acrid smell of gunpowder stinging my nostrils.

Another shot cracked through the night, followed by a pained cry. I whipped my head around just in time to see one of the partygoers clutching his neck, crimson blooming beneath his fingers. Bile rose in my throat. This couldn’t be happening. It had to be a nightmare.

I let go of Vera’s hand and ran toward the injured male, his eyes wide with fear as he fell to his knees, clutching his neck and mouthing, “Help.”

“It’s okay. I’m a nurse.” I dropped down beside him, my hands shaking as I tried to apply pressure to the wound. Hot, sticky blood seeped through my fingers. “Stay with me,” I pleaded, my voice trembling as I yanked my cardigan off and pressed it against his neck, trying to stem the flow of blood. “Help is on the way. We need to keep pressure on the wound. You’re going to be okay.”

But even as the words left my lips, I knew they were a lie. Even in the darkness, I could see the blood spurting out of his neck. The bullet had hit an artery. There was no way he would make it to the hospital before he bled to death. The man’s eyes were glassy, his breaths coming in short, ragged gasps.

“Just hold on.”

Vera appeared at my side, her face pale and streaked with tears. “Oh my god, oh my god,” she chanted over and over, her lower lip trembling.

His eyes locked onto mine, and he silently pleaded for a salvation I couldn’t give him.

“I’m sorry,” I choked out as tears blurred my vision. “I’m so sorry.”

Each breath now wet, and more labored than the last. I could feel his life slipping away beneath my hands while his skin grew colder with each passing second. And then, with a final, shuddering exhale, he stilled, his eyes staring blankly at the starless sky above.

I sat back on my heels, numb with shock. My hands were sticky with his blood, the metallic scent filling my nostrils and making my stomach churn. Around me, the chaos continued to unfold, screams echoing through the night. But it all seemed distant, muffled as if I were underwater.

Vera’s sobs broke through the haze of my shock. I turned to her, wrapping my arms around her shaking form as she clung to me.

“We need to go,” I whispered urgently.

She nodded against my shoulder, her tears soaking into my dress until I helped her to her feet. The man’s lifeless eyes seemed to follow me as we stumbled away, a silent accusation that I hadn’t done enough, that I had failed him.

The gunshots had ceased, but the air still crackled with tension and fear. People fled in all directions, their panicked cries echoing throughout the quarry. I desperately scanned the crowd for any sign of Theo, but he had vanished into the fray.

“Wren, come on!” Vera tugged at my hand, her voice high and tight with terror.

I let her pull me along, my mind reeling as we pushed through the crowd of bodies. The edges of my vision blurred, and I felt like I mightbe sick. The coppery scent of blood clung to my skin, a morbid reminder of the life I hadn’t been able to save.

We reached the edge of the forest entrance, the cool night air hitting my face like a slap. I turned to look once more before leaving the quarry, and I saw him. Theo stood at the edge of the clearing, his dark hair disheveled and his leather jacket splattered with blood. He spoke urgently with a group of men, their faces grim and their postures tense.

“Vera, you go ahead. I’ll catch up with you.”

“Wren, you can’t stay here.”

“I’m going to make sure he’s okay.” I nodded toward Theo. “I’ll call you when I get home.”

“Make sure who is okay?” she asked, hesitating

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