Invisible Strings

Chapter 34: No Time Left

The Hyde's eyes snapped to her, the growl deepening.

"Stop!" Hannah's cry tore out before she could think. The sound of it, too loud, too desperate, made the creature's head whip toward her instead.

"No!" Isadora reached out, but the movement was already in motion.

Hannah's hand fumbled for the door handle... The Hyde lunged. Its claw slammed into the hood with a metallic shriek, flipping the car onto its side in one effortless motion. Glass shattered. Tires screamed.

"HANNAH!"

The word ripped through Isadora's throat as the crash echoed across the lot.

Then- A whistle.

Sharp, clear, human. From somewhere in the woods.

The Hyde froze mid-snarl, its head twitching toward the sound. A long breath, then another whistle, and it ran. It vanished into the treeline, shadows swallowing it whole.

Isadora didn't wait. She sprinted toward the car, boots slipping on broken glass.

"Hannah!" she screamed, voice raw. She reached the wreck, hands gripping the crushed frame. "Hannah! Talk to me!"

The car groaned, steam rising from the shattered hood.

Inside, there was only silence.

The smell of smoke and metal filled the air.

Isadora's heart slammed against her ribs as she dropped to her knees beside the wreck. "Hannah!" she yelled again, her claws slipping free, slicing through twisted metal like paper. Sparks spat from the crushed door as she tore it open.

She crawled inside, glass cutting into her palms and knees, ignoring every sting. Hannah was slumped against the steering wheel, hair tangled, blood streaked down the side of her face. Her chest still moved, but shallow. Too shallow.

"No, no, no..." Isadora whispered, her hands trembling as she unbuckled the seatbelt and lifted Hannah carefully, arms wrapping around her. "Come on, love. You're okay. You're okay."

She pulled her out, cradling her against her chest as she sat down hard on the pavement. The heat from the engine washed over them, and somewhere in the distance, sirens began to wail. Maybe not for Hannah, but they would be soon when they got to campus.

Hannah's breath rattled, a faint cough escaping her lips. Blood stained them red. She blinked slowly, trying to find Isadora's face. "...Isa..."

Isadora's eyes blurred. "Yeah, yeah, I'm here," she said quickly, brushing hair from Hannah's forehead with shaking fingers. "You're here too, sweetheart. So stay with me, okay? Keep your eyes on me."

Hannah tried to smile, but it barely happened. Just a small, broken pull at her lips. "I..." Her breath shook, and blood slipped into her throat as she coughed. "I don't want to die yet, Isa..."

Her voice was so soft. So scared. Innocent. Like she was trying to be brave, even though she wasn't ready to go.

Her fingers twitched uselessly, wanting to reach for Isadora, to hold on to something, anything, but they wouldn't move. They felt too heavy, too far away from her own body.

Her lashes fluttered, her eyes glassy with pain and fear. Everything felt cold. Not just her skin, but deep inside her, like the warmth was slowly leaving, and she couldn't stop it.

"No." Isadora's voice cracked. "No, don't do that. Don't you- Hannah, stay with me!"

Her hands pressed against Hannah's wound, uselessly trying to stop the bleeding. Her throat burned, her vision tunneled. "Please," she whispered, then louder, her voice breaking into a scream. "Please, don't die on me!"

The world tilted. Everything in her screamed to fix it, to do something.

And then... she remembered.

The vial.

Her hand flew to her pocket, fumbling, still holding Hannah close with the other. She pulled it out. The tiny glass bottle glinting with that deep blue liquid.

Her tears fell onto it as she stared, breath shaking.

Professor Orloff's words echoed in her head. "If he hurts you, this will pull you back. It won't heal everything, but it'll keep you alive. But know what is yours now... will be forgotten."

Isadora swallowed hard. Her heart twisted. She looked down at Hannah... Blood, glass, trembling breath, and she knew what she had to do.

She whispered, voice trembling, "You'll be okay, my love," and uncorked the vial.

Hannah's eyes fluttered once more, then stilled.

"Hannah?" Isadora's voice broke. "Hannah... no, no, stay with me."

But her head fell limp against Isadora's shoulder.

Panic ripped through her chest. With shaking hands, Isadora tilted it against Hannah's parted lips, letting the blue liquid slide past them. It ran down her chin, mixing with the red already there.

For a moment, nothing.

The world held its breath.

"Come on," Isadora whispered, voice trembling. She brushed her thumb along Hannah's cheek, smearing blood and tears together. "Come on, wake up. Please, Hannah, please..."

Still nothing.

Her breath came ragged, and her hand tightened around the empty vial. The pain in her chest twisted into fury, into grief so sharp it hurt to breathe. "You fucking worthless shit!" she shouted, throwing the glass into the lot where it shattered into glittering blue shards.

She cradled Hannah tighter, rocking slightly, her tears falling onto Hannah's skin. "Please don't leave me," she whispered against her hair. "Please. You can't. You're okay... You have to be okay. I... I can't lose you."

Then... something.

The faintest tremor under her palm. A single, shallow breath. The blood at Hannah's side began to slow, the wound knitting, barely, but enough.

Isadora froze, staring down in disbelief as Hannah's chest rose again.

"Oh my god," she breathed, voice shaking. "Okay. Okay, that's it, just- just breathe, love."

She pressed a kiss to Hannah's temple, tears streaming freely now.

Sirens wailed closer, then the red and blue lights reflected off the trees. Paramedics ran toward them, shouting. Isadora couldn't move, couldn't let go until gentle but firm hands pried Hannah from her arms.

"She's still breathing," one of them said.

Isadora stumbled to her feet, following as they lifted Hannah onto the stretcher, her fingers brushing Hannah's arm before they wheeled her away.

"I'm coming with her," Isadora said hoarsely.

They didn't argue.

She climbed into the back of the ambulance, taking Hannah's hand as the doors shut behind them. The sirens blared again, the world outside a blur of color and noise.

Inside, it was just the two of them. Or that's what it felt like at least.

Isadora's thumb traced Hannah's knuckles, voice quiet but certain, breaking around the words.

"You're safe now," she whispered. "I've got you."

-

Author's Note: Another chapter posted after this one!! Last chapter will be posted on the 31st! <3