The street was finally quiet.
Bodies of the serpent soldiers lay scattered across the snow, their numbers burned into their uniforms. Smoke drifted upward, mixing with the cold night air.
Lisa stood in the middle of it all — still, silent, unshaken.
But her shoulder was bleeding heavily now.
Too heavily.
James noticed first.
"Lisa… you're losing too much blood."
She didn't answer.
She took one step forward.
Then another.
Then—
Her vision blurred.
The world tilted.
The cold snow rushed up to meet her.
Lisa Collapses
James lunged forward.
"Lisa!"
Adam caught her other side, his voice breaking for the first time.
"No, no, no—Lisa, stay with us."
Alan reached her last, but he grabbed her the hardest, pulling her into his arms before she hit the ground.
Her eyes fluttered.
Her breathing slowed.
Blood soaked through his shirt.
Alan's voice was low, furious, terrified.
"Lisa. Open your eyes."
She didn't.
Panic — The Kind They Never Show
James pressed his fingers to her neck.
"Her pulse is dropping."
Adam tore off his jacket and pressed it against her wound.
"She's losing too much blood. We need to treat her now."
Alan lifted her easily, holding her against his chest.
"We're leaving."
James shook his head.
"We can't take her to a hospital. They'll attack again."
Adam added,
"And the police will show up. Too many bodies."
Alan's jaw tightened.
"Then we take her to the safe house."
The Safe House
They moved fast — faster than they ever had.
Alan carried her.
James cleared the path.
Adam kept pressure on her wound.
They reached a hidden underground safe house — one only the four of them knew about.
Alan laid her gently on a leather couch.
James grabbed the medical kit.
Adam ripped open her coat.
Alan knelt beside her, his hands shaking.
"Lisa… don't you dare die."
Treating the Wound
James cleaned the wound quickly.
"The bullet went deep. She lost too much blood."
Adam held her steady.
"Just get it out."
Alan didn't move from her side.
James dug the bullet out with steady hands.
Lisa didn't wake up.
Adam's voice cracked.
"She never collapses. Never."
Alan whispered,
"She pushed herself too far."
James stitched the wound, his jaw tight.
"She did it because she knew we'd protect her."
Alan looked at her pale face.
"She shouldn't have to."
He looked at her — unconscious, pale, still bleeding.
"They're wrong."
Lisa Wakes Up
Hours passed.
The room was silent.
Then—
Lisa's fingers twitched.
Her eyes opened slowly.
Alan leaned forward instantly.
"Lisa."
She blinked, confused.
"…Why am I here?"
James exhaled in relief.
"You collapsed."
Adam added softly,
"You scared us."
Lisa tried to sit up.
Alan pushed her back down.
"Don't move."
She glared at him.
"I'm fine."
All three of them spoke at the same time:
"No, you're not."
Lisa froze.
For the first time…
she didn't argue.
The Promise
Alan leaned closer.
"They want you dead."
Lisa looked at the three of them — really looked.
Her voice was quiet.
"…Then we kill them first."
Alan smirked.
James nodded.
Adam smiled slightly.
The war wasn't over.
It had just become personal.