Chapter 3: Bleeding in the Rain

Zhang Wei pressed his hand against the deep wound on his side, blood pouring through his fingers. The demon's claws had ripped through his uniform, leaving a gash that burned with every movement. He winced but didn't show it on his face. His team was looking at him, waiting for orders."Lieutenant! You're hurt!" Private Liu shouted, rushing over to him.Zhang gritted his teeth, leaning against the wall for support. "It's nothing," he lied, trying to stand straighter. But the truth was, he was in bad shape. Blood soaked his uniform, dripping onto the cracked pavement beneath him.Sergeant Chen approached, concern etched across his face. "Sir, we need to get you to a medic."Zhang shook his head. "No. They'll smell the blood. If I stay with you, the demons will follow. You have to get the civilians to safety. That's an order."Chen hesitated. "We can't just leave you!""Yes, you can," Zhang said firmly. He glanced at the civilians—terrified, huddled together. The baby in Mei's arms whimpered softly, its cries almost drowned out by the falling rain. "They need you. Get them to the tunnels. I'll find my own way."Private Liu looked like he wanted to argue, but Zhang's expression left no room for debate. He was their leader, and they trusted him. "Go!" Zhang barked. "Now!"With one last look, Sergeant Chen nodded. "We'll come back for you, sir.""Just keep them safe," Zhang muttered, watching as the group disappeared into the darkness, the rain soaking through their clothes. The sound of their footsteps faded, leaving him alone.As soon as they were out of sight, Zhang collapsed to one knee, breathing heavily. The world around him seemed to blur, the pain from his wound clouding his mind. He looked down at his side, the blood still flowing steadily."Damn it," he cursed under his breath, forcing himself to move. He couldn't stay out here. If the demons found him, he wouldn't stand a chance in his condition.The rain poured harder, masking the sounds of the city—thunder rolling in the distance, mixed with the occasional scream. But Zhang knew that the rain was his ally now. The downpour would wash away the scent of his blood and cover the sound of his movements.Gritting his teeth, Zhang started crawling through the debris, dragging himself over the wet ground. Every inch felt like agony, but he forced himself forward, inch by inch. His hand slipped on the slick surface of a broken wall, but he caught himself, breathing hard.Ahead, through the fog of rain, Zhang spotted the sign of an old pharmacy, its windows shattered, but the building mostly intact. It was his only hope.He crawled toward it, his vision growing darker with every movement. The rain helped mask his trail, but he couldn't hold on much longer. Finally, he reached the entrance, pulling himself inside with what little strength he had left.The pharmacy was a mess—shelves overturned, medicine scattered across the floor. Zhang crawled behind the counter, using the cover to shield himself from the outside. He knew he didn't have much time before he passed out, so he acted quickly.His hands shook as he rummaged through the scattered supplies, finally finding a bottle of alcohol and some makeshift bandages. He ripped open his uniform, exposing the deep wound. Blood dripped down his side, pooling on the floor beneath him."Here goes," he muttered, pouring the alcohol directly onto the wound. The pain was immediate, like fire spreading through his body. Zhang clenched his jaw, refusing to scream. His vision blurred as the searing pain hit him, but he stayed conscious, barely.With trembling fingers, he found a needle and thread in one of the nearby kits. His hands were slick with blood, but he knew he had no choice. He began stitching the wound, each movement slow and deliberate, his breath ragged.The rain continued to pour outside, the only sound breaking the silence. Zhang's mind was fading fast, but he kept pushing, stitching as much as he could before his vision finally gave out.As he finished the last stitch, his body gave in. He slumped against the wall, his breathing shallow, eyes closing despite his efforts to stay awake. The world around him seemed to fade as the rain fell harder, drowning out the sounds of the city.Zhang's last thought before he lost consciousness was of his team, hoping they had made it to safety.When Zhang awoke, it was still raining. His body ached all over, and the wound throbbed, but he was alive. He lay under a pile of rubble, barely covered, but enough to shield him from any passing patrols. The night had grown colder, the rain relentless, but it had saved him—masked his blood, washed away his trail.He groaned softly, pushing himself up with what little strength he had left. His body felt weak, but the wound had held. He was still bleeding, but the worst of it had passed. Now, it was about survival.Zhang leaned against the wall, breathing deeply, listening to the distant sounds of the city. The demons were still out there, hunting, but for now, he was safe.