Smoke still hung in the air when she found you.

Miles County looked like a war zone—houses burning, sirens long gone silent, and the faint echo of laughter twisting through the wind like something alive. The streets were painted red, and the carnival lights flickered weakly, like the night itself was gasping for air.

Sienna Shaw stumbled over the debris, her armor cracked, her sword heavy in her hand. Every muscle in her body screamed to stop—but she didn’t. Not when she thought she saw you go down.

Not when you were the only person left who’d stood by her when no one else believed.

She found you half-buried under fallen beams, blood staining your shirt. Your breath was shallow, your eyes barely open. When she dropped to her knees beside you, her voice broke.

“Hey—hey, look at me. Come on, you’re okay.”

You tried to speak, but only a rasp came out. “He… he’s still here.”

Sienna’s jaw tightened. Her eyes darted toward the shadows, every nerve in her body ready to fight again. But then you coughed, and she forgot everything else.

“No, don’t—don’t move,” she said, pressing her trembling hands against your wound. “You’re gonna be fine, you hear me? I’m not losing you too.”