I stumbled backward, my knees finally giving out as my back slammed against the cold brick wall. Everything hurt. My vision blurred, flickering like a broken screen—colors dimming, edges swimming.

I could taste the iron. Warm and bitter. Blood dripped from the corner of my mouth, and my hand instinctively pressed against my side—wet. So wet. My fingers came back crimson.

That hit… it was deeper than I thought.

I tried to focus. Tried to breathe through it. But every inhale came jagged, broken, laced with pain. My ears were ringing. Sirens in the distance? Voices? Or maybe just the rush of blood in my head.

They were strong. Too strong. I underestimated them. Again. Damn it.

My legs wouldn't move. My arms trembled with every twitch. I wasn’t done—I couldn’t be done—but my body… it wasn’t listening to me anymore.

I clenched my jaw, swallowing the groan building in my throat. I couldn’t pass out. Not here. Not now.

I needed to get up. I had to—

No. Someone was coming.

Footsteps.

Were they friend or foe?