Night did not arrive gently.
It crashed all at once.
There was blackness first, then sound before meaning. Monitors beeped too fast to count. Shoes slapped against tile. Voices overlapped, urgent and sharp, none of them slowing down for comprehension.
“We’re losing pressure. Keep pressure!”
The words blurred together as double doors flew open.
A gurney barreled through the hallway carrying Scarlet Mangione. She was barely conscious, blood streaked into her hairline, eyes glassy and unfocused. Her body jerked with the motion, pain written into every shallow breath.
A nurse gripped her shoulder, firm and grounding.
“Scarlet. Stay with me. Don’t close your eyes.”
Scarlet groaned and turned her head.
Another gurney rushed past in the opposite direction.
Henry.
His arm was wrapped in
