River felt his blood run cold as he watched Riley crumple to the ground, a scream of agony tearing from her lips. In that moment, time seemed to stand still, the world around him fading into a blur of muted colors and distant sounds.
His mind flashed back to that fateful day when Ellie had been ripped from his life, her lifeless body cradled in his arms as he howled with grief and rage. The memory hit him like a physical blow, stealing the breath from his lungs and sending a wave of nauseating terror through his veins.
No, not again. He couldn’t lose Riley too. Not like this. Not when he had just found a glimmer of hope and love again in her fierce, unwavering presence.
No, no, no.
Someone suddenly shoved him to the side.
“Get it together, River! You almost got shot!” It was Antonio.
