?Chapter 2855:


    She didn’t answer. Her voice came out muffled as she said, “Just… get up.”


    “Uh… right.” Eric tried to move, but he stiffened instantly, his face twisting in pain.


    Hadley turned back at once, rm shing in her eyes.


    “What’s wrong?”


    “Hadley…” he gritted out, shaking his head.


    “It’s not that I don’t want to. I just can’t.”


    What?


    Her heart lurched. Had he hurt his legs—or worse, his spine?


    “Here, let me help.” She reached for his arm.


    “Lean on me. We’ll get you up.”


    “Wait—wait!” Eric groaned, clutching her wrist to stop her. Pain carved deep lines into his face as he gasped, “Hadley… don’t. Don’t move me.”


    “What?” Her eyes widened as realization crept in—his pallor, his strained breathing.


    She had seen that look before… back when the pressure from the blood clot in his brain had red up.


    But why now?


    “I won’t move you,” she said softly, forcing her voice to steady.


    “Eric, where does it hurt? Your arm? Your leg?”


    “No…” Eric shook his head weakly. His limbs were fine.


    “It’s…” He grimaced, breath catching.


    “My back. Something’s there.”


    During the fall, something must have lodged into his back. The pain was so sharp he couldn’t even shift.


    “What is it?”


    “I don’t know…” His voice turned into a thin rasp.


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    “It feels like… metal. Or something.”


    “Eric!” Hadley’s hands flew to his shoulders, panic surging.


    “You’re bleeding!”


    Only then did she notice it—his jacket was soaked through, darkened by rain and something else, and the faint metallic tang of blood hung in the air.


    “This won’t do!” She shook her head, resolve hardening in her eyes.


    “You can’t stay like this!”


    Lying there would only weaken him faster.


    “Come on.” She crouched in front of him, sliding her arms around his waist.


    “Wrap your arms around my shoulders. We’re getting you up.”


    Her hands locked behind him, bracing his weight.


    “Don’t just stare at me. Move,” she urged, ncing up at him.


    “Oh… okay.” His Adam’s apple bobbed as he nodded, his voice dry as dust.


    “Closer,” she ordered.


    “You won’t have any leverage otherwise.”


    “Got it,” he whispered hoarsely.


    “Alright… on three.”


    “One, two, three!”


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