Enders(37)

The Enders raced toward us. They were almost to the garage door just as our SUV left.

Hyden pressed the button again, and the panel roared down at five times the normal speed. The Ender with the long hair was caught by the door, which dropped on him like a guillotine. I averted my eyes, focusing on his gun as it flew out of his hand and spun on the ground.

My stomach lurched.

“Don’t look,” Michael said.

Hyden sped away.

I glanced at Michael in the rearview mirror. His face was pale.

“Redmond …” My voice cracked. I put my hand over my mouth as tears rushed hard to my eyes.

“I know,” Hyden said.

Everyone was quiet for a moment as I sobbed through my palm.

“He was gone fast,” he continued softly.

I nodded. Ernie groaned from the backseat.

“Callie, I need you two to check on Ernie,” Hyden said.

Michael was sitting right beside Ernie. I knew Hyden just wanted to take my mind off Redmond. I pulled myself together and turned around to see our bodyguard slumped in the backseat, his hand covering his heart. Blood stained his jacket.

I felt sick. But I leaned over the seat to get a better look.

“Can you see where the wound is?” I asked Michael.

Michael carefully opened Ernie’s suit jacket to look. The hole was high on his chest, well above his heart.

“It’s in his shoulder,” I told Hyden, relieved. “Shouldn’t we be putting pressure on it?”

Michael put his hands over the wound and pressed.

“He needs a doctor,” Hyden said, keeping his eyes on the road.

Ernie shook his head, trying to be brave. But he couldn’t hide a grimace from the pain.

“He doesn’t want one,” Michael said to Hyden.

“He’s overruled. One of the perks of being boss,” Hyden said.

Hyden drove fast. The navigation system directed us to the Sisters of Mercy Hospital in minutes. We pulled onto the property, passing plastic flowers in planters—another hospital barely holding it together, a victim of our times. We drove toward the emergency entrance. Ernie was perspiring, and his eyes appeared glassy. Michael was comforting him, his hand on the top of his shoulder.

“You’re going to be okay,” I said. “We’re here.”

Ernie pulled out his gun and pointed it at Hyden.

“Stop the car,” Ernie said.

Hyden stopped it a little short of the patient unloading zone.

“I’m taking you in,” Hyden said. “You’re wounded.”

“Bleeding is in my job description.” Ernie waved his gun to punctuate his words.

“Cut the drama, Ernie,” Hyden said. “We both know you’re not going to shoot me.”

“You Metals can’t be sitting in a hospital. They could be after you.” Ernie struggled to get the words out. “My way … or no way.”

Hyden looked resigned. Michael and I exited, opened Ernie’s door, and helped him out. He leaned against the wall near the emergency entrance and put his gun away.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t save Redmond,” Ernie said.

“Hey, man, you tried.” Michael patted Ernie’s forearm.

“You saved us, Ernie. Thank you.” I hoped he was going to be all right. I squeezed his hand. “Get well.”

“Get outta here,” he said with a small smile.

He waved us off and we got back in the SUV. I watched as an orderly came out of the hospital with a wheelchair for Ernie.

“He’s tough,” Hyden said, pulling onto the freeway and heading east. “He’ll contact me when he can.”

I perceived a note of doubt in his voice. Hyden gripped the wheel as if it were grounding him. Maybe not being able to touch people also meant it was harder to let them touch your heart. I knew he cared about Ernie—and Redmond—but he sure wasn’t letting himself show it.

I looked at back at Michael. He looked about as shell-shocked as I felt. My face felt itchy. I scratched my cheek.

“Don’t,” Hyden said. “Don’t touch your face.”

He opened a panel near the ceiling and pulled down a slim medical kit. He took out two white packets, each about the size of my palm. He tossed them to me. “Open them.”

I handed one to Michael. The only thing printed on the packet was a long chemical name I didn’t recognize. I tore mine open and pulled out a wet cloth.

“Wipe your face first. Be sure to get your nose. Then do your hands, legs, any exposed skin.”

I pressed the cool cloth to my cheek. “Feels good.”

“It neutralizes the residue from most gases.”

Michael wiped himself with his cloth. “What would it do to us?”

Hyden shook his head. “You don’t want to know, trust me.”