Strings of Fate

Before they can wheel Cassidy off, Adrian catches a glimpse of her face - pale, and deathly so, her wild red hair framing it like a funeral wreath.

Everything in him seems to get crushed into smithereens in that moment. In his worst nightmares, he may have run - may have sought to take her into his arms and breath life into her. To bring her back, his heart would have begged and begged that they take his life instead.

Soon, Cassidy disappears into an ambulance, leaving him numb and frozen. Asher sends him a solemn gaze as the doors slam shut behind them.

Something in Adrian feels inadequate, then - more so than he had ever felt, when there was anger flaring in Asher's eyes. The defeat in his face is more devastating somehow, and there is no blame in it anymore. 

It's all his fault, surely.