Tricked to his Bed

ALESSA'S VIEW

The Hospital felt louder than usual, maybe it was just my heart beating. It was wild echoing in my.ears as I ran into the white corridor.

My chest was tight like something was pressing down on it.

Grandpa...

The words from Jace kept replaying in my head.

He fainted. After seeing the news.

My stomach twisted violently.This was my fault.

If I hadn't...

If that report hadn't leaked..

If they hadn't said those things about me.... 

"Room 16... second floor..." I whispered under my breath, my eyes scanning every door I passed. "Where is it...?"

Everything felt too loud. Their  footsteps were louder in my ears. The distant beeping machines and the murmurs of nurses.

Even my own heartbeat sounded wrong. I turned the corner quickly...

Suddenly, someone grabbed my wrist. I gasped, my body jerking back instinctively.

"What do you want?!" I snapped, my voice sharper than I intended, my breath still shaky.

Kai. Of course.

Why was he always...everywhere.

He didn't answer me, didn't even look annoyed.

He just pulled me slightly back, his grip firm as he positioned me against the wall, half-hidden.

"Look." His voice was low.

Like none of this was urgent. Like I wasn't falling apart right now.

"I don't have time for your childish plays."

I frowned, irritation rising but I followed his gaze anyway.

And then...My chest tightened.

A group of reporters crowded outside a hospital room down the hallway. Cameras lifted, Microphones ready. Waiting and Watching out.

My fingers started trembling before I could stop them.

No...Not here. Not now!!

My teeth sank into my nails, biting hard, my breath turning shallow.

"They are... here...for me? " I whispered, my voice barely audible.

My head started spinning.

What if they saw me?  What if they asked me questions?  What if they...

A hand suddenly grabbed mine.

Firm and Warm. I froze.

"Stop that." His voice cut through my thoughts.

I looked up at him, my heart still racing.

"I...."

"You look weak."

His words hit harder than they should have. Like a slap. My lips parted, but no defense came out.

Because he was right. I felt weak. I hated it. But I still had to be.

Before I could say anything else, he shrugged off his leather jacket and dropped it over my shoulders. He put his biker helmet on my head. 

It was too big and too heavy. It swallowed me completely.

Warmth wrapped around me instantly, carrying a faint scent that was... him.

"Wear it."

My fingers clutched the edges without thinking.

"I will handle it."

Wait...what?

I barely had time to react before he turned and walked away. Straight toward them. My heart jumped.

Is he crazy?

I stood there, frozen, my body still trembling but my eyes followed him.

He didn't hesitate or slow down. Just walked into them like he belonged there.

"Why are you outside my father's room?" his voice cut through the noise, loud and irritated.

The reporters turned immediately, cameras flashing to life. He covered his face instantly.

"Isn't this the room of the grandfather of the doctor with mental illness?" one of them asked quickly. "The one who killed a baby? We are waiting for her."

My breath stopped. My fingers tightened painfully around the jacket.

Even from here, it felt like the words were thrown directly at me. Like they knew. Like they were looking at me.

Like I was already exposed. Kai didn't react. Not even a flicker.

"I don't care," he said flatly. Cold and Detached.

"I don't want to know." he barked.  "Leave here this instant.." His words felt heavy and Commanding.

For a second, no one moved.

But one came out. "We are just doing our job here. You can't just send us away. We want to interview her and know why she isn't locked up in the psychiatric ward. Why is she out harming people?"

Then... "Hey!" I flinched slightly at the sudden voice.

Jace appeared out of nowhere, holding a camera like he had every right to be there. Like he was fucking one of them!!

"What are you all doing here?" he asked, almost casually. "Alessa's grandfather is in Room 16. Second floor."

My eyes widened. What? Before I could process it, everything exploded.

"Room 16?"

"Second floor!"

"Move, move!"

They rushed past. Fast, Loud and desperate.

I instinctively turned my face away, lowering my head, my fingers tightening around the jacket as they brushed past me.

Don't look at me.  Don't recognize me. Don't stop!!

But they didn't. They just ran. And then... they were gone.

Just like that the hallway fell quiet again.

My breath came out slowly, shakily, like I had been holding it for too long.

I didn't even realize my shoulders were tense until they dropped slightly.

When I looked up again, Kai was already walking back toward me.

Like nothing had happened.  Like he hadn't just saved me. Earlier in his house, I rejected him and Jace to go with me. But without them I wouldn't have seen my grandfather today.

My chest tightened slightly. He stopped in front of me. Too close.

For a moment, I didn't know what to say. Didn't know what I was feeling.

Relief? Embarrassment? Something else...?

Then his hand reached out. He took mine firm and warm.

My breath hitched slightly.

"You can go in now," he said.

I looked up at him. His eyes moved over my face briefly, like he was checking something.  Or Judging me.

"Put yourself together." My fingers tightened unconsciously in his grip.

"You're not a kid." The words stung and I chuckled slightly.

But somehow... They also steadied me. I swallowed hard. Pulled my hand away gently.

Adjusted the oversized jacket around me. And without looking back again...

I walked toward Room 16.

My heart is still pounding. But this time... I didn't stop. 

Immediately I opened the door. Grandfather threw his glass cup at me. It hit my forehead before I could dodge it.

I felt warm blood gushing out of my forehead.