Blood was already seeping through his jacket, staining his clothes as he swayed on his feet.
"No..." Zinnia whispered in shock. "You... you saved me."
The man's face contorted in pain, his breath ragged as he tried to steady himself. His hand gripped his side, but he looked at her with an almost apologetic expression. "I... I'm sorry," he gasped. "I... just couldn't let you—"
Before he could finish, his knees buckled, and he collapsed to the ground. Zinnia screamed, rushing to his side, but there was nothing she could do. The blood kept flowing from the wound, and the world around her felt like it was spinning.
"Someone help! Please!" Zinnia cried out, frantic now.
Her mind couldn't process what had just happened. This man—who had looked like James—was now on the ground, bleeding. Her thoughts were a jumbled mess of confusion and panic. Why was this happening? Who was this man? Was he really James? Or was this something even more twisted?
