Chapter 126 The ICU

Chapter 126 The ICU

For a few terrifying seconds, I couldn't feel my own legs.

I was running.

I knew I was running, but at the same time, it felt like I wasn’t.

The stadium had dissolved into screams and frantic movement, but none of it seemed real anymore.

My eyes were only fixated on Dylan, who was lying motionless on the grass.

"Dylan!" My voice broke as I stumbled the last few steps and dropped to my knees beside him so hard that pain shot through them.

The world became painfully small, consisting of just him and me.

My shaking hands reached for him without thinking. "Dylan..." I whispered again.

His eyes were half open.

He looked dazed and confused like he wasn't entirely sure what had just happened to him.

Then my gaze dropped to his side, and my heart nearly stopped at the sight of blood soaking through the side of his jersey, right along his ribs.

The bullet had struck his side.

"No..." The word escaped my lips before I could stop it.

"No... no..."

I slipped one arm carefully behind his shoulders and pulled him gently against me.

He felt so much heavier than I remembered.

His head rested weakly against my chest, but my entire body shook uncontrollably.

"No, Dylan..." My tears fell onto his hair.

"You can't..." I couldn't even finish the sentence.

I couldn't make myself say the words.

I pressed one trembling hand against the side of his jersey, desperately trying to slow the bleeding without really knowing what I was doing.

"Somebody help!" I screamed. "Please!"

"Somebody help him!"

Voices answered from every direction.

"Call an ambulance!"

"Move back!"

“Move!”

"Give him space!"

Teachers began shouting over one another.

Students cried openly.

Some stood frozen in shock, others were already dialing emergency services with trembling hands.

But I barely noticed.

"Dylan..." I cried again. "Look at me."

"Please," I begged.

His eyelids fluttered slowly and soon, his gaze found mine.

There was pain in his eyes.

So much pain.

Yet somehow, he still looked at me like I was the only person he could see.

A tiny cough escaped him, and I smiled through tears.

"That's it."

"Stay with me."

"I'm right here."

"We promised..." My voice cracked. "We promised we'd see each other after the game."

Another weak cough escaped him.

Then, a small amount of blood appeared at the corner of his mouth.

My breath caught.

The sight of the blood sent pure terror crashing through me.

"No..." I whispered. "No..."

I quickly cupped his face. "Dylan..."

My tears blurred everything. "You'll be okay."

"You have to be okay."

"You hear me?"

His lips moved, barely.

I leaned closer immediately. "What?"

"I'm here."

"What did you say?"

His mouth opened again, but his voice was almost nonexistent.

"R..." Another weak breath. "...Reet..."

My heart shattered.

"I'm here."

"I'm here, Dylan."

"I've got you."

"You don't have to talk."

He looked at me one last time, and then his eyes closed slowly.

"No!" I cried. "Dylan!"

I gently shook him. "No!"

"Open your eyes!"

"Please!"

"This isn't funny!"

"Dylan!"

"Look at me!"

Still nothing.

Absolute panic flooded through every part of me.

"No..." I sobbed uncontrollably. "No, no, no..."

My entire body trembled so violently that I could barely breathe.

Suddenly, someone grabbed my shoulder, and I flinched.

But I discovered it was Brian.

His face had completely lost its usual sarcastic expression.

He looked horrified.

"Reet." His voice sounded unusually calm despite the panic around us. "Move."

I shook my head frantically. "No."

"Reet."

"I'm not leaving him!"

"He needs help."

"I know!"

"I know!" My voice came out as another sob. "I know..."

Several teachers rushed over.

The soccer coach dropped beside Dylan immediately.

"Medical team!"

"Now!"

One of Dylan's teammates stood nearby crying openly.

Another had both hands on his head.

Nobody seemed able to process what had happened.

Then, somewhere behind us, we heard the siren.

The school's emergency ambulance had arrived.

Its doors flew open almost before it had completely stopped.

Paramedics rushed toward us carrying equipment.

"Step back!"

"Give us room!"

Brian carefully crouched beside me. "I'm going to carry him."

I looked at him helplessly.

Brian's expression softened. "They need him."

I slowly loosened my grip on Dylan, but it felt like ripping away the only thing keeping me together.

The paramedics quickly examined Dylan before nodding urgently.

Brian didn't waste another second.

Then, with the help of one of the medics, he carefully lifted Dylan onto his back, supporting him securely as they hurried toward the waiting ambulance.

I immediately stumbled after them, but I was barely able to keep my balance.

"Wait!" I cried. "I'm coming!"

One of the nurses opened the ambulance doors. "Get in."

I climbed inside without even realizing how.

Brian followed immediately, and the doors slammed shut.

The siren started again, and everything inside the ambulance became a blur.

The paramedics worked quickly around Dylan.

One of them spoke urgently into a radio, and another checked Dylan’s condition repeatedly.

I sat there frozen.

But when I managed to look down at my hands and discovered they were stained red.

I stared at my hands unable to look away.

"Dylan..." I whispered over and over almost like a prayer.

Brian sat opposite me.

For once, he said absolutely nothing.

His silence scared me more than anything I could explain.

When the ambulance finally stopped, hospital staff were already waiting.

Then the rear doors burst open immediately.

"One, two, three."

They transferred Dylan onto a hospital stretcher with practiced speed, then they ran fast straight through the hospital entrance.

I followed. "Wait!"

I cried. "Please!"

"I'm coming!"

The automatic doors slid open.

Everything became a blur of white walls and hurried footsteps.

"Dylan!" I called after the stretcher.

But they were already disappearing down another corridor.

"ICU." Someone shouted. "Prepare the ICU!"

Those three letters made my stomach twist painfully.

I tried to run after them. "I need to see him!"

A nurse stepped into my path. "I'm sorry, you can't go in there."

"I have to!" I cried. "I'm his—" My voice disappeared.

"I'm..." But the words wouldn't come.

"Please, I just need to—"

"I'm sorry." She repeated gently. "You have to wait here."

"No." I shook my head desperately. "I can't. I have to be with him."

I tried to move past her but Brian's strong arms gently caught me before I could.

"Reet." His voice was quiet. "Stop."

I struggled against him. "No! He needs me!"

"I know."

"No, you don't!"

Tears streamed uncontrollably down my face.

"I have to go!"

"I promised I'd stay!"

"I promised!"

Brian tightened his hold just enough to stop me from running after the medical team.

"They're helping him." He said quietly. "They're doing everything they can."

"I need him..." I whispered.

He nodded slightly. "I know."

My strength finally disappeared.

My knees almost gave out beneath me.

Then Brian immediately pulled me into a firm hug before I could collapse.

I resisted for a second, then everything inside me broke.

I buried my face against his shoulder and cried.

"I can't lose him..." I cried. "I can't..."

Brian didn't interrupt.