Roland’s hands shook lightly on the linen wrapped and pressed on the woman’s injury. He looked at her face, at her eyes already turning. She didn’t have much time left.
The stench of blood clogged his throat, and almost instantly from behind, the sound of footsteps cut through the silence. Jimmy emerged from another stairs towards the right of the hall, carrying a first aid kit.
His trembling frame dropped to the floor beside her as he handed Roland the kit.
“Here, hold on to this tightly,” Roland told the boy.
Jimmy quickly put his trembling hands on his mother’s body, eyes edged with panic.
Roland let go and opened the box, taking out all that he would need. He moved quickly and began tending to the injury.
“That’s okay, you can let go now,” Roland told the boy who moved aside, wat
