Page 319 of Mercy Written in Blood

The hostages crouched inside the open cage. Ryota had blood across his face. Two Ishida men restrained a surviving attacker. One was crying. The aerosol canisters had stopped. Ventilation dragged the silver mist upwards.

Haruki lay against the fence. His eyes were closed.

Renji released the blood he held. It fell. Rain inside a building. Red drops struck concrete, clothing, faces. The wounded man on the floor continued screaming.

Renji crawled towards Haruki. His limbs felt distant. Ken reached to help him. Renji struck his hand away. He crossed the final metres on his knees.

"Haruki."

No response. He pressed two fingers to Haruki's throat. Pulse. Weak. Too fast. Present. Renji's body convulsed with a breath he did not remember taking.

Three entry wounds. One high in the right chest. One through the lateral abdomen. One beneath the lower ribs. Blood saturated the front and back of his clothes. The vest had stopped none of them. Armour-piercing ammunition. Designed before they arrived.

Renji tore the coat open. Haruki's breath caught. Wet. Bubbling beneath the right side. Pneumothorax. Possibly haemothorax. The abdominal wound continued bleeding. Renji placed one hand against it.

Haruki's eyes opened. Unfocused.

"Ryota," he whispered.

"Alive."

"The others?"

"Alive."

Haruki tried to look towards the cage. Renji pressed him flat.

"Do not move."

"You're hurt."

"No."

The lie came easily. Silver continued tearing through his lungs. His vision pulsed at the edges. Haruki's fingers moved against the floor. Searching. Renji caught them. Haruki closed his hand around two of Renji's fingers. Weakly. The contact almost destroyed him.

"Ambulance," Renji said.

Ken was already shouting into a phone.

"Four minutes."

"Too long."

Renji examined the upper wound. No exit. The bullet remained inside. The abdominal shot had passed through. The third — he could not determine the path without imaging.

Haruki coughed. Blood appeared at the corner of his mouth. Renji's control fractured again. Not outward. Inside. A sound moved through him. Low. Animal.

Haruki looked at him. His eyes tried to focus.

"Renji."

"I am here."

"You look terrible."

"Be quiet."

A faint movement touched Haruki's mouth. Not a smile. An attempt.