JUNIPER
“Almost got it,” Ethan said, as if to reassure Axel, but I was sure Axel couldn’t hear him over his own screams.
Ethan dug the tweezers deeper into Axel’s chest. Axel’s body tried to lurch forward, and I had to use my entire body weight to keep him down. My muscles ached, and I felt light-headed at the sight of him in so much pain. I just wanted it to stop. I wanted him to be okay.
Ethan pulled the tweezers free, and clipped between the ends of them was a shining bullet. Even through the blood coating its surface, the silver coat glimmered.
“There,” Ethan said triumphantly. “Press this gauze against his wound.” He walked into the kitchen and dropped the bullet into a cup, and the clink resonated in my ears. It was incredible how something so small could cause so much damage.
I
