Chapter 7: Early Recovery
Blood pumped out of his stomach wound in steady, thick pulses, pooling around him. His shirt clung to his skin, soaked with the sticky warmth. His breath came in ragged gasps as he tried to lift himself off the ground, his hands slipping against the blood-slick surface. His arms trembled, unable to support his weight, and he collapsed back with a grunt of frustration and pain.
"Shoot him and let's go!" the knife-wielder barked, panic thick in his voice. He glanced nervously at the glowing shard in Elias's chest. "We don't have time for this—just finish him before the PCA gets here!"
The gunman, wide-eyed and trembling, raised the weapon. His hands shook as he pointed the barrel directly at Elias's chest. "I've got him. Just... just shut up for a second!" he snapped, trying to steady his aim.
Elias's heart hammered, his chest heaving with desperation. The sight of the gun sent a jolt of terror through him, momentarily sharpening his focus. His fingers found the slick puddle of blood beneath him, his hand curling into a fist. With a surge of adrenaline, he scooped up the blood and hurled it at the man's face just as the trigger pulled.
The blood splattered across the man's eyes, and his aim wavered. The gunshot cracked through the air, the bullet grazing Elias's shoulder. Fresh pain flared as he fell back, his body jolting from the impact, but he didn't cry out. The glow from the shard pulsed again, flickering as if it responded to the chaos around him.
"Ah, what the hell?!" the gunman shouted, stumbling backward and clawing at his face. "He threw blood at me! This guy's insane!"
"Forget him!" the knife-wielder yelled, grabbing his partner's arm. "He's going to bleed to death anyways. We're out of time! The PCA is here—run!"
The two men bolted, their footsteps echoing down the alley as the wail of approaching sirens grew deafening. Moments later, a sleek Planetary Civil Authority cruiser sped into view, its lights cutting through the gloom. Another vehicle followed close behind, its engine roaring as it pursued the fleeing attackers.