“You better stay here too, Della Ribbon. Otherwise, I’ll—” I cut myself off, drowning beneath vicious promises and violent vows.
“What? Otherwise what?” Her eyes opened to a dull blue laced with pain.
I coughed hard, averting my mouth until I stopped. “I’ll murder and cheat and steal and commit any crime imaginable if it means I find a cure for you.”
She smiled, her hand cupping my cheek briefly before it tumbled back into her lap. “I love you, Ren.”
“And I love you, even though I despise you right now.”
Laughing softly, she stayed content in my arms as I lengthened my stride and marched toward the larger of the towns we’d been in recently. I didn’t care sweat rolled down my spine beneath my jacket, or my heart beat in terror at the colourless sheen on her face and the sticky temperature of someone unwell.
I was used to walking. I was fit and normally had good endurance, but each step my chest seemed to switch from its familiar ache to a discomforting twinge.
I coughed and strode faster, ignoring my pains and focusing entirely on Della’s.
It took too long.
It didn’t take long at all.
She was too light and motionless in my embrace.
The town welcomed us up ahead as we passed road signs stating speed and population. “We’re almost there, Little Ribbon. You’ll be fine soon; you’ll see.”
I coughed again, cursing the breathlessness of panic.
Please let her be fine.
I kept my thoughts on pleas rather than the curses I wanted to shout.
As I stalked down the main highway, the tiny buildings slowly became recognisable landmarks of a church and hall and convenience store.
With every step, I bargained with fate not to take her from me.
I wouldn’t hesitate to kill for her if it came down to it.
If a sacrifice was needed, I would deliver with no hesitation.
I would sell my own soul.
Maybe I’d put this curse upon her by loving her too goddamn much. Maybe I should feel regret for stealing her away and keeping her all to myself. Perhaps I should repent in some way.
If I should, then I would go to church and apologise to God while we were in this town. I wasn’t a religious man, but if it meant Della was cured, I would do fucking anything.
Glancing at Della, I hugged her closer.
Doctor.
Fast.
My legs lengthened again, ignoring my fatigue. I would walk until I was dead if it meant I could save her. Keeping my chaotic thoughts to myself, I didn’t speak as bare farmland gave way to congested streets, hazy in the hard-to-see dusk light. Streetlights suddenly turned on, ready to combat the darkness as I climbed the curb and scanned the shop fronts for a doctor.
Nothing.
Only a row of clothing stores, hairdressers, a florist—which reminded me of the one Della used to work at—and a few other stores with knick-knacks and magazines.
I had no intention of wasting time walking up and down, searching.
More sweat ran down the inside of my jacket as I coughed and spotted help.
“Excuse me.” I stepped into the path of a blonde woman pushing a red stroller. “Where is the nearest doctor?”
She peered up, the fading light behind me blinding her a little. Her lips pursed as she looked at Della in my arms. “She okay?”
“I’m fine.” Della clipped weakly. “He’s just—”
“She’s not fine. That’s why I need a doctor.” This woman had precisely two seconds to tell me what I needed. Otherwise, I was asking someone else who wouldn’t waste my time. My heart palpitated strangely, starving for air and salvation. “Where can I find one?”
“Ren. Manners,” Della hissed.
My back stiffened as I glared at her, then spat out. “Where can I find one, please?”
Della snickered, somehow deleting a little of my horror at her being ill and absolutely helpless to help her.
“I’ll deal with you later,” I said under my breath. “Behave.”
Della blew me a kiss, then winced and clutched her side. “Ow.”
Instantly, any patience she’d granted me flew down the goddamn road. My lungs became blades, puncturing my chest. “Do you know, lady, or are you just wasting my time?”
The woman sniffed as the baby inside her stroller grizzled. She rocked it softly. “I’m thinking. Look, you won’t be able to see a general practitioner. It’s past six p.m., and that’s when they all close around here. But there is an urgent doctor’s and afterhours surgery.”
“Where?”
“Two streets over on Jordan Road.”
“Which way?” Moving out of her path, I waited until she pointed to her right down a road where shopkeepers carried in signs and pushed racks of merchandise back into their stores.
“Down there. Take your second right. It will be on the left side of the street halfway down.”
I remembered to be polite before Della told me off again. “Thank you.” I broke into a jog, following the woman’s directions.
My heart skipped a beat.