radicalducati Chapter 78
Chapter 78
Katrina’s POV
The carriage came to an abrupt halt in front of a small, run-down hut.
Adolphus groaned beside me, his body swaying unsteadily. Before I could react, he lost his balance, toppling backward off the donkey.
“Adolphus!” I cried, jumping down after him.
His body hit the ground with a sickening thud, his face contorted in pain.
His injured arm, wrapped tightly in a blood-soaked cloth, hung limply at his side. I dropped to my knees, shaking him.
“Stay with me,” I whispered desperately, brushing damp strands of hair from his face.
His eyes fluttered, barely open, his breath shallow. He was losing too much blood. I had to get him help, fast.
Bracing myself, I hooked an arm around his torso, using every ounce of my strength to haul him back onto the carriage. My limbs ached, but I ignored the pain, focusing only on getting him to safety.
With renewed determination, I gripped the reins and urged the donkey forward.
The small, trembling beast took off at a steady pace as I steered toward the village in the distance. The journey felt endless, each second stretching into eternity as Adolphus’ breathing grew fainter.
As soon as we reached the village’s outskirts, I leaped down, sprinting toward the nearest building, a worn, wooden structure with a faded sign. It had to be the Pack’s clinic. I pounded against the door, my fists slamming desperately against the old wood.
“Help! Please, I need help!”
The door creaked open, revealing an elderly woman with sharp eyes and a lined face. She studied me, her brow furrowed in suspicion.
I swallowed hard, gesturing frantically toward the carriage. “My friend—he’s badly hurt. He needs medical attention.”
Her eyes flickered to Adolphus, her expression unreadable. For a long, tense moment, she said nothing. Then, abruptly, she stepped back inside.
“Wait here.”
I shifted anxiously, my hands clenched at my sides. Seconds passed, each one an unbearable weight pressing down on my chest. When she returned, her gaze was intense.
“What happened to him?” she asked briskly, already moving toward the carriage.
“We were attacked,” I explained.
She gave me a sharp glance. “Attacked by whom?”
I hesitated. How could I explain everything? The ambush, the truth about Adolphus, my own startling discovery? My lips parted, but no words came out.
She sensed my reluctance and stopped in her tracks. “Who are you?” she demanded.
I stiffened. “I… I don’t know.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Where are you from?”
“The Crimson Pack.”
The air shifted instantly. Her gaze turned steely, her posture rigid. “The Crimson Pack?”
A dangerous silence fell between us. The woman’s expression hardened, and without warning, she spun on her heels and rushed back inside.
“Wait!” I called after her. “Please, he’s dying!”
The door slammed shut.
I stood there, heart pounding. What had I done wrong? Should I have lied about my origins? But before I could contemplate my next move, footsteps pounded against the ground behind me.
Three guards stormed out of the building, their eyes locked on me with unmasked hostility.
“Seize her!”
My pulse spiked as their hands clamped around my arms. I struggled, kicking and twisting, but their grip was ironclad.
“Let me go!” I yelled. “I’m not here to cause trouble!”
The elderly woman stood behind them, arms crossed. “You’re from the Crimson Pack,” she said coldly. “You’re a traitor.”
“No!” I shouted, panic rising in my chest. “I’m not—I swear! I just need help for my friend!”
They didn’t listen. The guards dragged me forward, their hold tightening.
I decided to tell them who Adolphus was. That way, they might be forced to help him, at least to stay alive.
If he regained consciousness, I'd definitely be saved.
“Wait!” I screamed. “Listen to me! Adolphus has the Indigo Light!”
The woman’s eyes widened at my words. Her breath hitched, and for the first time, hesitation flickered across her face.
I gasped for air as they pulled me away, my body struggling against their hold. My mind raced, desperation clawing at me.
Would she help him?
Would Adolphus survive?
I didn’t know. And that uncertainty terrified me more than anything else.