Well, shit.

This wasn’t exactly how he’d planned to go out, a bite from a damn snake? If he could speak, he’d spit venom right back at the thing. But no words came. Only the ragged sound of his own labored breathing.

He swayed on unsteady feet, vision swimming. From the corner of his fading gaze, he caught sight of Wisp retrieving the rune. At least he’d done something before kicking the bucket. The thought soured quickly.

What about Wisp? She couldn’t see and was trapped in the mist. He’d failed to stay by her side. The realization made his chest tighten and his heart ache. Damn it all.

Sarge crumpled to the ground, heart hammering wildly against his ribs. The pain was unbearable, but he gritted his teeth. He would not show weakness, not even in death.

As his body began to shut down, he cast one last golden glance toward his companion. He prayed she’d make it out safely. His vision blurred, the world spinning and dimming. One final, shuddering breath escaped him before everything went still.

Fuck it all.

Then, darkness. Silence.