"LIA!"
Ryan's voice echoed through the warehouse.
---
No response.
---
The color drained from Ryan's face.
---
"Lia..."
---
Her head rested against his shoulder.
Motionless.
---
Too motionless.
---
Ryan's hands started shaking.
---
For the first time that night—
He was truly terrified.
---
Ethan immediately knelt beside them.
---
His eyes moved to the blood near her hairline.
---
Then to her pale face.
---
Then back to Ryan.
---
"She's breathing."
---
Ryan let out a shaky breath.
---
But it wasn't enough.
---
Because breathing wasn't the same as being okay.
---
Not even close.
---
"We need to go."
Ethan said firmly.
---
Ryan nodded immediately.
---
Without another word—
He carefully slid one arm beneath Lia's knees.
The other behind her back.
---
Then lifted her.
---
Lia felt impossibly light.
---
And somehow—
That scared him even more.
---
Her head fell against his chest.
---
"Lia."
Ryan whispered.
---
No answer.
---
His heart sank.
---
The walk toward the exit felt endless.
---
Each step felt heavier than the last.
---
Outside—
Cold night air hit them immediately.
---
Police sirens could be heard somewhere in the distance.
---
Someone must have called them.
---
Ryan barely noticed.
---
His entire world was focused on the girl in his arms.
---
"Ryan."
---
Ethan opened the passenger door.
---
"Put her here."
---
Ryan carefully lowered Lia into the seat.
---
Her head leaned against the window.
---
She looked so fragile.
---
Too fragile.
---
Ryan climbed in beside her.
---
Ethan got behind the wheel.
---
The engine roared to life.
---
Then they were moving.
---
Fast.
---
Very fast.
---
The city lights blurred past the windows.
---
Nobody cared.
---
Every second mattered.
---
Ryan kept staring at Lia.
---
Watching her chest rise.
Watching it fall.
---
Rise.
---
Fall.
---
Rise.
---
Fall.
---
As if he was afraid it might suddenly stop.
---
Then suddenly—
Lia stirred.
---
A small sound escaped her lips.
---
Ryan immediately leaned closer.
---
"Lia?"
---
Her eyes fluttered weakly.
---
For a second—
She seemed confused.
---
Disoriented.
---
Then she saw him.
---
"...Ryan?"
---
His chest tightened instantly.
---
"I'm here."
---
Lia blinked slowly.
---
Everything looked blurry.
---
The lights outside.
The road.
Even Ryan.
---
"You came."
---
The words were barely audible.
---
Ryan's eyes burned.
---
"Of course I came."
---
Lia looked at him for several seconds.
---
Then her eyes drifted toward Ethan.
---
Ethan glanced at her through the rearview mirror.
---
A small look of relief crossing his face.
---
"Hey."
---
Lia managed a weak smile.
---
Then winced.
---
The movement hurt.
---
Ryan immediately reached for her hand.
---
"Don't move."
---
Lia's fingers weakly wrapped around his.
---
And suddenly—
The fear she'd been holding back all night returned.
---
A tear slipped down her cheek.
---
"I'm scared."
---
The confession shattered Ryan.
---
Because Lia never admitted when she was scared.
---
Never.
---
Yet now—
She sounded like a frightened little girl.
---
Ryan squeezed her hand.
---
"You don't have to be scared anymore."
---
Another tear fell.
---
Ryan brushed it away carefully.
---
"We found you."
---
Lia stared at him.
---
Trying to stay awake.
---
Trying so hard.
---
But she was exhausted.
---
The pain.
The fear.
The shock.
---
It was all too much.
---
Her eyes slowly began to close again.
---
"Lia."
---
Ryan's voice immediately became urgent.
---
"Stay with me."
---
She tried.
---
She really tried.
---
But her eyelids felt heavy.
---
So heavy.
---
The last thing she heard before drifting away was Ryan's voice.
---
Soft.
Shaky.
Terrified.
---
"Please hold on."
---
And for the first time that night—
Ryan Blake prayed.
---
Not for himself.
---
Not for his family.
---
Not for his future.
---
Only for Lia Thompson.
---
Please.
---
Please be okay.