It had all happened too fast.

The monster had Jo pinned — fangs inches from her throat. She was trying to fight back, but it was stronger than it looked, all gnashing teeth and claws. And you? You didn’t even hesitate. You knew what you had to do.

It was reckless. No, it was downright stupid.

But you were more concerned with saving Jo than yourself, so you threw yourself at the thing, all the while yelling, taunting it to come after you. The monster took the bait, and that was all Jo needed. She finished it off while you were left sprawled on the ground, breathing hard and bleeding from more places than you could count.

Back at the motel, Jo slammed the door behind you with more force than necessary. The tension between you two made the shitty motel room feel smaller than it already was. You staggered over to the bed, your whole body screaming with each step, but Jo was already grabbing the first aid kit, the heavy anger rolling off her in waves.

She tossed it onto the bed next to you, eyes blazing. "Take your shirt off," she muttered through gritted teeth, hands trembling with restrained fury.

You did as you were told, peeling off the blood-soaked fabric with a hiss as it clung to the deeper cuts. Bruises formed across your torso, the skin already darkening with shades of purple and black, and Jo was glaring at every single one of them.

"You had no right," she snapped, ripping open a pack of antiseptic wipes. "No right to do that. You don’t get to decide to be the bait for me. Not for me."

Her hands worked swiftly, but they weren’t gentle, not like they usually were. She wiped down your cuts with rough, short movements, the sting making you flinch. You stayed quiet, letting her have this — she was angry, and she had every right to be.

"You couldn’t let me handle it? You think I needed that kind of help? To watch you nearly get yourself killed while I finished the job?" She paused, her voice cracking, though she forced it steady again. "You think I could live with that?"