Beneath His Shadow

t alone?" I murmured under my breath

y hands slightly outstretched, se

I heard his

it.

d to run, but my foot faltered without t

hurried footsteps approached, strong ar

s voice calm and laced with worry

one was too much. Shame burned in my chest. I

, without thinking a

es, my heart pounding. Then, amidst the m

called h

ome looking for you. Where did yo

stuck in my throa

ck to Mrs. David. "Thank you for having us,

d replied. "And how is Sof

ate from the doctor soo

it goes, okay?"

hat, w

my mother shifted quietly beside me, and th

se faded in t

son filled m

i

***

dent despite her shaky steps. I considered following her but

ca

handle. She must have dropped it when those girls pushed her. The thought

thought aside. Tucking the cane under my arm, I vowed to return

he house. The door to Mr David's office was slig

hank you, David, for

genuine smile. "Zain, it's always

ok his hand firm

ar, my thoughts

er face burning with shame. It didn't s

led, acting on instinct. The c

d you to scan through the guest list fr

ended the call , tightened my grip on the wheel,

oot in my house when

e dead of night usually meant t

thing was wrong. Dante never called unless it

was laboured. "Ambush... we've bee

le

ushing the phone in my hand. No

up my key and made my

s covered it, thick s

ood streaking his cheek. "Capo," he gasped, cough

d hard. "C

ned. "We barel

harply, then pinched the hood of my car,

ust D

y second-i

bro

sing him. N

e, my mind a blur. As I pushed through the l

demanded as I

s expression grim. "He's in surgery

g buried resurfaced, taking me back to the first day I met Dante. A scrawny kid messy-haired teenager caught steali

in. Paid f

hed onto me, like a lost pu

my father's passing. I didn't need a friend. But something about Dante,

ami

ing for news that cou

wung open, and a tired-l

to Dante

from my se

nced at me, wa

answered, m

nte is still critical, but you can see him no

o heal. Give it a day." He patted my shoulder and, leaving me stand

da

to hold o

anging, each step weighed down

tergent filled my nose, blending like

t before me sent a deep, unbe

left linger

and, lay unmoving on the hospita

nd him, a cruel reminder that he

t, and his face, usually so full of lif

eak or give up. He never

e. He always had my back. But now?

nd grief weighing heavily on my

it turned into something else. So

u

like a wildfire, pushing aw

lms as I stared at Dant

ritory, made the biggest mistake of their miserable

l fin

hunt th

b, bones by bones till they beg f

lean smell, the weight of helpl

ded s

, my hands still tremblin

hair, trying to force my m

r in my head, each image f

would

I turned a cor

fingers lightly grazing over the sur

e walls of the hospital, unto

e of rage flared withi

y hands. The fire burning in

uld see

fi

lm steps, not want

ser, her fingers on its surfa

could see the slight crease between her b

d her fo

ached out and

n that brief contact, I noticed how cold her finger

ense my presence if she h

p l, I turned back to her

e said, barely

welcome,

om my lips, and she

voice a sharp mix of shock and p