The Clandestine Saga

Fade Away

Jamie was giving it everything he had, but she could see he was starting to lose consciousness. Cadence caught Eliza's eyes. She looked as petrified as Cadence felt, but she kept her grip on Jamie, giving him the strength to carry on.

"What happens if Jamie passes out?" Cadence whispered to Eliza.

"He'll be done," she said solemnly.

That couldn't happen. Not yet anyway.

There was a sound at the door behind her, and using Eliza's vantage point through the IAC, Cadence saw Elliott enter the room. His expression showed he hadn't been watching what was happening because he had a smile on his face for a moment. She vaguely remembered catching a message from him a few moments ago, something about everyone being convinced they had just been shooting a movie about vampires and everything was fine. His expression shifted from confusion to shock when he realized everyone was staring at the situation in the middle of the dance floor. It didn't take him long to realize what had happened.

Christian caught him at the door, holding him back, even though he knew Elliott wanted to go to Aaron's side. He needed some room and there were enough people in the immediate vicinity for now. "Wait," he said, "Just wait."

Elliott understood and took a step back. "What the hell happened?" he asked.

"Sebastian grabbed Sabin's gun and used her hand to fire it. So, no matter who it hit, that bullet was lethal," Christian explained. "Rather ingenious, though he still ended up losing his life."

"And Aaron threw himself in front of her, not realizing it?"

"Actually, I'm pretty sure he would have done it whether he realized it or not, but yes, he dove to protect her," Christian recounted. Elliott scoffed, and Christian continued. "If I'd been in the same position, I would've done the same thing. I think any of us would've. That's our job. Not that I envy Aaron taking the bullet."

Cadence could see Christian's face, and he actually looked a bit jealous. After hearing those remarks, she wondered if Christian was actually somehow envious of Aaron. Before she could contemplate the ridiculousness of the notion, she realized Elliott was speaking again.

"Where is he hit?" Elliott asked, ignoring Christians remark and absently toeing his boot into the dance floor.

"I'm not exactly sure, but I think it's right under his rib cage," Christian replied.

"Lungs?" Elliott asked, a grimace of concern on his face.

"Appears so," Christian replied, his arms folded across his chest.

Cadence returned her full attention to the situation at hand. Aaron continued to stare into her eyes. Suddenly, he took a deep breath, an audible one, the first detectable one he'd drawn since the gun went off. Cadence glanced at Eliza who was smiling. This was a good sign.

Jamie was just barely hanging on, and Eliza helped him lean forward so that Jamie's head was now resting right over Aaron's lungs. His hands were still applying pressure to the wound, but the bullet hole was no longer bleeding. For the first time, Cadence began to realize Aaron was actually going to recover. He opened his mouth again, and this time, he was able to speak. "Cadence?" he said softly.

She gasped at the sound of his voice, daring to hope that he was going to be all right. "Yes?" she asked, softly stroking his face.

"You have really pretty eyes." His voice had almost completely recovered now.

She wanted to laugh and cry at the same time. "Thank you. So do you." She smiled down at him as a solitary tear rolled down her cheek. "How do you feel?"