Chapter <b>52 </b>
The second the door flung open, we both leapt out–no hesitation, no looking back. My feet mmed onto the pavement, knees nearly buckling from the impact, hit (kept mesing
“Come on!” Niki shouted beside me, his voice sharp over the relentless beeping that pulsed from behind us like a countdown.
He grabbed my hand. The wind whipped past us as we sprinted down the road. His hand was clenched around mine so tight it hurt, but I didn’t say a word. A could think was we’re not going to make it.
And then we didn’t..
The explosion fare through the air with <b>a </b>sound so load, I didn’t hear it at first. It <b>was </b>just light, Orange, white, blistering light that turned the world inside out. The impact mmed into my back like a sledgehammer, and I flew forward, my fingers slipping from Niki’s as we tumbled hard onto the asphalt, Iolled, scraping my elbows and knees, a sharp pain radiating in my hands, head hitting something, and then–darkness.
No thoughts. No pain. Just ck,
I came back slowly Like swimming up through msses.
The first thing heard was beeping A soft, rhythmic monitor. The second thing I noticed <b>was </b>the pain–or theck of it, really. I felt like I should hurt- especially aber that st–but everything was numb
And then i saw him
He was sitting next to me, hunched forward, his elbows on his knees, staring at the floor like it was whispering secrets. His jacket was gone. The white button–down was stained and wrinkled. Bandages wrapped around his head, one eye shadowed by light bruising
He looked up. Saw me. And everything in him changed.
“Oh thank God,” he breathed, lurching to his feet. His voice was raw, <b>shaky </b>in a way I’d never heard before. He leaned in and kissed my forehead. “Thank God. You’re awake”
blinked slowly, trying to sit up, but the second moved, I felt it–a pull in my arms, a tightness,
I looked down.
Both my hands werepletely swaddled in bandages.
Twinced. “What the hell
“Don’t,” Niki sed, gently guiding me back down against the pillows. “You were burned. Second degree. They said it would’ve been worse if you weren’t wearing that jacket.
your
the scoffed, waving a hand dismissively. “Just a scratch.”
Inarrowed my eyes. “Your head is wrapped the a mummy.
“Yeah<b>, </b>well,” he muttered. “I got clipped by the bumper on the way down. You should see the bumper.”
His senile didn’t much buses “You’re right. Not funny. Just stupid, I should’ve gotten you outster.”
1pmised then asked. “What exactly happened anyways? I don’t remember anything” winced as I felt my head pulse.
He sat back down in the chair, dragging a hand through his hair. “We got to the hospital in an ambnce. You were out for a few hours. Docs gave you a retty heavy dose of painkillers You probably can feel anything right now, but when it wears off…” He exhaled “It’s gonna hurt like a bitch.”
Pani, rose, sharp and hot in my throat.
“They said you’ll get sensation back soon,” Niki interrupted, his tone firm. “The nerves weren’t too damaged. You just need time.”
And then it hit me.
Shit.” I muttered, eyes going wide. <b>“</b><b>Shit</b>, Shit. Nik
He stood up again, rmed. “What?”
have a presentation the day after tomorrow!”
He blinked. “You what?
“A presentation for my practical exam was practically shouting “It was supposed to be yesterday but the professor rescheduled and now
“Elena” he said firmly, trying to calm me. “You almost died.”
“Yes,” I cald, panic <b>colling </b>in my gut, “but this counts for thirty pe
y percent of my grade. It’s the one thing I actually prepped for, and I don’t know if they’ll let
me postpone it again.”
He ran a hand down his face. “You need to breathe. Your hands are bandaged. You can barely move. They’ll understand,”
“I can’t fall this ss, Nui
Oh my god what even am I going to do <b>Vasily </b>already dislikes me after the Lazar fiasco. There’s no way he’ll agree to postpone
Nik frowned then<b>, </b>“Can’t you have one of your friends help out?” He asks and I look at him dumbfounded. “Well…I guess I could ask Fiona to help set things up and move the sides I passed then, “No. <b>Wait</b>. I think she had work that day” I groan.
Niki sighs, “No one else? It’s just moving spes isn’t at Can’t you just ask any ssmate? Or do <b>y </b>
you!
need
more help?”
I shake my head, “I also need to add some more stuff, I addedst minute. But it’s <b>a </b>solo project I can’t <b>ask </b>a ssmate for help….not that anyone would be willing to help “troll my eyes and he frowns,
Before Niki could say anything else, the hospital <b>room </b>door burst open with a loud bang against the wall.
13:13 Fri, 25 JL GO
Chapter <b>52 </b>
“ELENA<b>” </b>
Time that yok bebouw leven turned my headl
My mother 3 voice–ram, high with panic. She stormed inside like a thunderstorm, still in heels and a coat that looked half–buttoned. Her blonde hair was down and face pale as bone. It was clear the was at work when she heard the news and rushed over. The moment her eyesnded on me, the berth caught in her threat.
didn’t habe. In two strides, she was at the side of the bed, arms wrapping around me in a tight embrace.
“Oh my baby,” she murmured, clutching me fiercely. I could feel her shaking, “You’re okay. You’re <b>okay</b>. You’re
Her voice cracked
She pulled <b>back </b>enough to look at me properly, cupping myce like she did when I was seven and scraped my knees. But the moment her gaze dropped, her breath caught again,
Her eyes locked on the bandages swathing both of them, fingers trembling as she reached for one–then stopped just shy, afraid to touch.
Oh my god,” she whispered, blinking rapidly. “Your hands…”
The expression on her face buckled. Her lips parted like she wanted to say more, <b>but </b><b>then </b>her eyes shifted–past me, to the man standing behind her.
He had risen from the chair when she entered. His posture was rigid, hands <b>at </b>his sides. He didn’t flinch, didn’t look away, but there was something tight in his jaw. Like he knew what wasing and had already decided not to defend himself,
Mom turned fully toward him, expression sharpening like a de
“what the het happened?” she said, low and furious. “Why weren’t you protecting her?”
The words hit the room like a p
Niki didn’t speak. Not right away. He <b>just </b>stood there, expression unreadable, like he’d been preparing himself for this exact confrontation <b>since </b>the moment they wholed usin
“Mom,” I said, quietly. “It wasn’t his fault=”
But she wasn’t looking at me anymore. Her focus was <b>razor</b>–locked on him.
“You were supposed to keep her sale,” she said. “Wh
“Why did you take her out if you couldn’t?”
The mergy in the room was crackling and my stomach plummeted.
“Mont What are you even saying-
But before I could say more, the door opened again. This time more gently.
A man in a white coal stepped inside, holding a clipboard and wearing a patient, practiced smile. A doctor. His ID badge read Dr. Marin.
He gave a small nod toward me.
“Mrs. Volkov,” he said gently “you need to rest your hands sustained second–<b>degree </b>burns, and there’s ligament bruising <b>as </b>well. You won’t be able to use them—at all—for a minimum of two weeks. Any strain or movement could <b>cause </b>long–term damage to the nerves and tendons.”
blinked
{“Two weeks?” Techool, stunned “Put–can’t
know he said qui, kl, sympathet “Tim sony t rest is absolutely crucial right now. We’ll continue the IV antibiotics and pain management in the maxstine. There’s some swelling, but no need for surgery as of now, which is good news
Fouldst even nos. My hands. Both of them. Looked down at theyers of white gauze and tape.
Twewerks ne tying, no gripping, no writing. No movement.
is inhaled sharply beside me, stepping closer to the doctor, but her eyes flicked back to Niki with unmistakable intensity,
As Dr. Marin word the room, she turned fully again.
Her dolon was quieter this time. No shouting. But sharper than ss.
“Start talking “she said. “Now”
“Tell me enactly what happened and how