Page 105 of Seth
“Why?”
“He is hurt, I think…” Gustavo pointed to his shirt.
Diego folded his arms over his chest. “He walked fine, threatened you, and drove away. Look at all these bodies; he bathed in their blood, and he will wash in yours.”
“It was warm; that’s why I didn’t notice it at first. It’s fresh.”
“So are the bodies.”
“It’s not a request.” Gustavo extended his palm.
Diego’s eyes narrowed. “If you think I’m staying in this ghost house while you get to have all the fun, you are delusional.”
“Didn’t you want to go home?”
“I still fucking want to go home, but I have no desire to stay here even a moment longer.” Diego closed the door with his handkerchief and strolled toward the car. “Erm, what about the bodies? I think some are still alive.”
“Ignore them. If he left them, that was his intention.”
The car plungedintothe thick barberry shrub silvered with moonlight. Seth’s head knocked against the steering wheel as his vision failed once more. Most of the way, he’d driven on auto-pilot. A deep-seated tremor settled into his limbs. It took effort to thrust the door open and stumble out of the car and into the bush. Foliage filled his eyes and mouth. The surroundings smudged. He stumbled, his toe caught a stone, and he made the last steps to the rear door in complete darkness. His palm slapped the door; nails screeched down the metal.
A hand to his back pocket, he searched for the phone when the door swished open, stealing the only support Seth had. His body tilted.
Through the darkness, Seth saw a pale flash of a bloodless face. He smiled when familiar arms wrapped around him. Touching Ignaz felt good. So damn right. “Seth?”
The familiar aroma of classic bubblegum filled his lungs. He lifted his hands and locked Ignaz in an embrace. All the anxiety and rage inside him ebbed, and even the night became a few shades brighter. Deep relaxation drained pressure from his muscles. He smiled. “Umm, I missed you.”
“What’s this?” The boy pulled away to lift a palm to his face. His mouth worked as he attempted to say something, failed, tried again. “B-blood?”
His eyes lost all sense as he gaped at his blood-covered fingers. Seth already felt mortal exhaustion shutting off his body. Lead filled his limbs, and he struggled to keep his eyes open for every extra second.
“It’s okay. I need you to do something.” His lethargic fingers abandoned Ignaz’s waist to pull the phone out of his pocket. “Call David Haas.”
“This isn’t happening.” Ignaz shook his head, tears trembling on his lashes. Without thinking, Seth reached up and brushed a thumb over the pale cheek, painting it in rusty red. Ignaz blinked, and a tear diluted the dark smudge.
Many had cried because of Seth, but no one had ever cried over him. Somehow, it felt good. All the weight lifted from his chest. He thought that if he ever knew what warmth was, it would feel like this. Like happiness and lightness. Like home. He wanted to stay like this forever.
Ignaz stared at Seth’s hand, shook his head, and tried to pull away. “No-no-no… Not again.”
“It’s okay,” Seth whispered, sagging on the floor. His knees hit the rough concrete.
The low howl of the desert filled his ears, and the vortexes once again sprung out of the ground. Swirling around him, they leeched at his blood.It’s too late anyway.
“You don’t need to do anything. Just stay with me.” Seth swallowed against his bone-dry throat, then added, “I’m going to rest my eyes for a bit now, okay? It’s gonna be fine. Don’t be scared. No one will ever hurt you again.”
“No-no-no…” Ignaz shook his head, tears glittering in the moonlight.
Seth smiled. In the dead of night, Ignaz glowed so bright—too bright to look at. His lids dropped closed, and everything stopped existing.
* * *
Gustavo pulledovernext to Seth’s car. Ignaz sat on the concrete driveway next to the motionless body, gawking around with empty eyes, a black, slim smartphone clutched in his hand. His chest rose and fell in sharp, short breaths as if he was hyperventilating.
Before he knew it, Gustavo got out of the car and surged to the wounded man. His mind sharpened, casting emotions aside. Gustavo had dealt with wounds too many times not to know that every second of delay could cost a life.
“Move away.” He knelt next to Seth, a palm gently pushing the boy aside. He rolled up the bloody shirt and examined the pale skin covered in dried blood. Above the hip, on the flank, a narrow wound glinted with fresh trickles; black blood coagulated around the rim. On instinct, he bent Seth’s knees and rolled his head to the side, removed the belt, and undid the button of his pants.
“W-who are you?” Ignaz croaked as he smeared his tears with the back of his palm. “Don’t touch him.”
