OLEANDER
I stood outside the door, shivering.
It was cold, and the thin clothes I wore did nothing to keep me warm. My ears twitched as loud bangs echoed from my room. My heart jumped with every crash and screech that followed.
I couldn't tell whose voices they were. Dante? Hex?
I prayed Hex would be okay, that nothing terrible was happening to him. Even as I was still mad at him for snitching on me, he had better not die.
After a few agonizing minutes of standing there, frozen and helpless, I took a step toward the room. Yes, Hex had told me to stay where I was. I couldn't bear the suspense any longer.
I barely made it halfway when the door flew open.
Hex stepped out, looking disheveled and shaken.
His hair stuck out in every direction, as though he'd just fought a monster. Sweat slicked his face, his sleeves were ripped in several places, and my breath caught as my eyes dropped to his wrists.
Blood.
"You're bleeding," I whispered, reaching for his hand.
