The world narrowed to a single ringing sound as Jinx stared at her friend. 'Dead?!' The word looped in her head, refusing to settle down.
Lena's smiling face lanced through Jinx's head.
"No," she shook her head, her chest heaving like the sea before a tsunami.
More tears trailed down Cassy's face as she wrapped her arms around Jinx's shoulders. "Jinx…"
"NO!" A scream tore out of Jinx, so loud that Captain Jin and Officer Jinwoo's jaws tightened as they covered their ears.
Jinx's arms raised high, then slammed onto the mattress of the bed. "How?" Her voice lanced through the room like shards of glass.
Cassy pulled herself back, then covered her own mouth with her left palm. "She's a victim of the attacks."
"I was gone for so long!" A sob rose through Jinx's throat. "I'm the cause of that."
"No, you aren't." Cassy moved forward and once again wrapped her arms around the lady.
