"Zane, it's bad"

The dread sets in and everything in front of me goes blurry.

"How bad?"

Felix runs a hand down his face and looks back towards the hospital door.

"Bad"

I swallow with difficulty and nod my head. When she gets better, I'm throwing her in a box as previously intended whether she likes it or not.

"Are you okay?" Bianca puts a hand on my shoulder. I brush it off.
"I'm fine"

No. I'm not.

If anything happens to her, I swear to fucking hades I'll set fire to the entire city.

"She's suffered a few injuries, but for the most part, she'll be just fine" I hear the doctor's voice from behind me. Rina steals the words right out of my mouth when she says
"Can we see her?"

The doctor nods, motioning us towards the room. I don't dare to step in. Not until everyone's done meeting her and finished with their 'I don't know what I'd do without you' speeches.

Maybe I should prepare one just in case.

"Zane? She wants you" Felix pokes his head out from the door. I swallow and nod my head, walking into the room.

She lays on the bed, smiling at Rina who seems to be ranting to her about something. She looks so weak, so fragile that I want to stay here with her forever.

Finally, her eyes drift towards me, and I stop breathing.

"Hi"
"Hi"

"I missed you" she says, that beautiful smile gracing her face.

Don't.
Don't you dare.
Don't you fucking dare.

"I fucking hate you"

She laughs, the sound echoing in the marble room. I notice Felix tugging on Bianca's sleeve. They leave the room, followed by Rina.

She gives Astraea a little smile before closing the door after her. We stay in complete silence for a few seconds.

"I know you're mad at me for not telling you where I was going but I had a very valid reason, okay?" Her thin hands motion me to sit down on the stool next to the bed. I do so without question.

"I hate you so much" I say and lean over, brushing the hair out of her face. She slightly tense under my fingertips, but then leans into my hand.

"I thought I lost you" My voice comes out soft. She shakes her head, the corners of her mouth lifting up into a smile.
"I'm okay, Zee. I'll be okay"

I clutch her hand tightly, as if scared to let go, and put it over my own heart.

She pauses, staring at me with those big brown eyes.

"Fuck, this-" I take a deep breath.
"This is so corny, but when saw the state you were in, I- I almost dropped to my fucking knees. I thought I lost you. I thought I lost my only fucking will to live"

Her eyes glitter a little more brightly, and she nods.

"My only will to live, baby"

In that moment, I forgot about anything else. I forgot that we were in a hospital room. I forgot that I was Zane fucking Aleksander. All I knew was that she was safe. She was right here.

"So, you were with Fredrick?" I shake my head, clearing the thought. She looks at me, almost surprisingly, and slowly nods.

"How did you know?"
"It's quite obvious, actually"
"So, you didn't go on a killing spree after finding out that I went to see Fredrick and almost ended up dying?"

"No, why would I?"

That's a lie.

The hate I felt for him earlier is absolutely nothing compared to what I feel now. He hurt her. He fucking hurt her. And I'm going to make him pay for that. I'm going to find him, and I'm going to make him wish that he was dead.

He's her fucking father. How could you do something like that to your own heir?

Then, I realise that my father is no different.

"Tell me everything that happened"

She filled us in on everything. Every once in a while, Felix would punch the wall, or the stool, or anything he could find. I listen without a reaction.

"He told you that he'd kill you? Then why'd he leave you here knowing that you'd tell us everything once you woke up"

"He didn't"

His strong voice speaks from behind me. I sigh.
"Royce, what did you do?"

He steps into the room and folds his arms, leaning against the closed door.
"Well, I didn't do anything. Except maybe firing at his left foot so now he might be an amputee. Also, he's in THL right now"

The entire room turns to him in disbelief. He just shrugs.

I always knew of his tactics and skill. I knew how great he was at his job, I just never knew that he could actually win against Fredrick and then throw him in a hospital.

"Your eyes are so pretty" I suddenly hear from beside me. My hand fists at my side. Fucks sake. Is there anything she doesn't find pretty?

Royce stares at her for a good ten seconds before coming back to his senses.

"Oh, um, thanks. You're pretty too...I guess" They hold a staring competition for longer than I'd like. Felix clears his throat, and for the first time, I'm grateful for his habit of interrupting things.

"Well, if this is done, I suppose we should just let her rest?" He suggests. One by one, everyone quietly leaves the room to either rest or go on a mission. I don't care at the moment.

"So" Astraea coughs to get my attention once we're alone. I raise my eyebrows.
"So?"

Her eyes glitter as she looks at me and the blood rushes to my neck under her watchful eyes. I have to take a moment to take a breath and remember who I am before I talk to her again.

"So, were you worried?"

I bite the inside of my lip and shrug.
"Maybe"

Yes, I was. I was dying with each passing moment. All I wanted to do was take it all back and never get her involved in any of this mess. She doesn't deserve to live like this.

"Maybe?" She eyes me and the corner of her mouth starts lifting. I realise then that I was waiting to see that smile for so long. That's the smile that makes me sure that she's fine. The smile that reminds me that she's happy.

My hand subconsciously brushes over her cheek and my thumb draws patterns under her eye. I move it higher and higher until I'm brushing her eyelashes.

"Are you trying to poke my eye out?"

I laugh a little and gently stroke the place just above her eyebrow.

"When I saw the condition you were in," I pause, taking a breath. "I almost fucking passed out"

"Because you were sad or because you were celebrating?"

I narrow my eyes at her.
"Both"

"I thought I lost you" When I say that, her eyes gaze at me as if there's nothing else in the room.
"I thought I lost my redemption. My impulse control, my fucking pinky promise"

"Pinky promise?"
"Pinky promise"

A/N

Heya. I haven't been writing much lately. In my defence, I've been studying my butt off and tryna complete my monthly reading goal.

I just finished the Percy Jackson series and when I tell you it feels like I just lost a piece of my soul🙂💔

Anyway, be sure to come, comment and tell me what you think!

-Author.