#Chapter 53: Bruises and Boundaries

It was well after midnight when the Pack House corridors lit up with alarm. I had dozed off in Richard’s empty room, wrapped in one of his blankets just to feel safe, when shouting jolted me. I ran into the hall barefoot, my hair a mess, and collided with Nathan who was covered in blood that wasn't his. He had Richard draped over his shoulder, limp, pale, bleeding from his side. I felt everything in me go cold. "Move!" Nathan bellowed, and I scrambled aside as they carried him to the makeshift medical area. Simon was already there barking orders at two junior medics, snapping on gloves, cursing at the amount of blood. I froze in the doorway for a second, feeling my vision narrow. Richard was laid on a table, eyes half-lidded, breath wet and shallow. Nathan was screaming at a guard to get more bandages. Simon yelled my name. "Amelia! Snap out of it! Over here! He needs you talking to him. NOW!" I stumbled forward and grabbed Richard’s limp hand. It was cold, sticky. "Hey. HEY!