Where Petals of Vengeance Bloom

Chapter 372

Claire could feel Sean's heartbeat, steady at first but fading, growing weaker with each passing second.

Tears streamed down her cheeks as guilt twisted inside her. If it hadn't been for her, Sean would never have ended up in this nightmare.

"Sean, you can't die on me! You promised-you said you'd stay with me forever!" Her desperate cry was swallowed by the roar of rain and thunder.

"D-don't... be... afraid..." Sean's reply was barely a whisper-so faint Claire could hardly hear it, could barely even sense it.

All she could feel was his motionless weight across her body. He didn't move, didn't react at all.

Panic crashed over her in waves. She screamed for help, her voice raw with terror and despair.

But no matter how loud she shouted, no one answered.

The mud and debris kept piling up, suffocating the last pockets of air. Claire's head spun, her lungs burning as every breath grew harder. Her mind clouded, everything fading into darkness until she finally lost consciousness.

She had no idea how much time had passed before she finally began to stir. Before she even opened her eyes, the sharp scent of disinfectant hit her nose. Flashes of memory came rushing back: Sean shielding her, protecting her as she blacked out. Claire's eyes snapped open. She was lying in a hospital bed.

ceiling. White walls. The steady beeping of monitors and machines. For a moment, the sterile stillness was surreal-then the realization hit: she was

she didn't care about herself. She needed

the covers and get out of bed, only to find

Am I...

panic rising in her

her face hidden behind a mask, wheeled in

Is he okay?"

to see him, I can take you," the nurse

of familiarity, but Claire couldn't place it -not

him. Now!" Claire pleaded, urgency

into the wheelchair, then wheeled her

basement level, Claire froze. "The

nurse said nothing. The elevator descended, and a heavy silence

turned to look at the nurse—and found herself staring

chest, dread pooling in her