Theo's heart seized. For one suspended instant, everything went still—then the world broke open.
"Yu!!"
His voice cracked as he sprinted forward, nearly slipping on his last few steps. He dropped to his knees beside them, his hands shaking so badly he could barely reach.
Adrian was half-upright, pale, dazed, trying to lift himself off Yu.
"I—I didn't mean to—he slipped—I tried to stop—"
Theo shoved him back without thinking, his panic overriding everything.
"Don't touch him!!"
Yu lay unmoving, his skin far too pale. Theo's chest constricted.
"Yu, can you hear me? Stay with me, please."
His fingers brushed Yu's cheek, searching for warmth, for breath, for anything that meant this wasn't happening.
Taymor's small voice rose from the entryway, trembling and frightened.
"Daddy? What happened to Mama?"
Theo looked over his shoulder, breath shuddering.
"Tay, go call for help. Now!!"
