Chapter 24: EMILIE'S WORRIES
"What are you doing out here at this hour, Adrian?" Someone called out to Adrian, who stood still, seemingly entranced by the moon, his attention momentarily fixed on its radiant glow.
"Your fondness for the moon is quite evident," Selena remarked as she stepped out of her car, with Finn trailing closely behind.
'Moon? What?'
Suddenly, Adrian had a chilling realization. "Is it night already?" he muttered to himself, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. Genuine fear gripped him; he had lost an entire day without any recollection of what had transpired. The last memory etched in his mind was that of the enigmatic magician and his extraordinary canine companion.
'What is happening to me?' Adrian questioned himself, the anxiety in his mind betraying his calm expression.
"Hello? Adrian, I'm trying to get your attention. You're unusually distant today. Last time we met, you were at least more welcoming," Selena chuckled as she playfully extended her arm to pull Adrian from his reverie. When their eyes locked, she saw a gaze that would remain etched in her memory for the rest of her days.
A gaze filled with an unsettling void, dark and suffused with pure darkness "Could you assist me in getting home? I don't believe it would be wise for me to walk from here, even though it's not a great distance," Adrian inquired, his voice exuding an unnerving coldness devoid of any trace of human emotion.
Selena remained silent; her response was merely a nod to Adrian. Finn observed their interaction in contemplative silence, as if trying to decipher the nuances of the situation. Adrian settled into the backseat of the car, his eyes shutting tightly. Despite his cold and clammy exterior, his body bore the telltale signs of having just endured a grueling marathon. Throughout the journey, not a word was spoken, and they arrived at Adrian's house in unbroken silence.
"Adrian, we've arrived," Finn announced as he brought the car to a halt in the driveway of Adrian's home.
"Thanks," Adrian responded with a solitary word as he opened the car door and disembarked. Upon unlocking the front door and entering, he was oblivious to Emilie's presence in the living room, where the TV sat curiously turned off.
"Where have you been?" Emilie inquired with her typical lack of emotion in her voice. Adrian offered no response and proceeded directly to his room, shutting the door behind him.
Emilie went to the front door to peer outside and noticed Selena standing next to the parked car.
As Emilie stood at the door, Selena approached her, her voice laced with concern. "There's something off with him. I found him on a food street while I was on a night petrol. You might want to inquire about what's happening," Selena explained before departing, leaving Emilie with a sense of unease.
After closing the door, Emilie proceeded to Adrian's room and gave a gentle knock. She was aware of his heightened senses and didn't want to cause him any discomfort, though she remained uncertain about his condition.
With no response from Adrian after some time, Emilie decided to enter his room without hesitation.
Upon entering the room, Emilie's eyes fell on Adrian, who was lying face down on the floor. Concerned, she rushed to his side and gently shook him, urgently asking, "Adrian? Can you hear me? What happened?"
Barely registering the shaking, Adrian opened his eyes partially, and upon seeing Emilie, he couldn't help but offer her a faint, appreciative smile.
"What happened to you?" Emilie inquired once more, her voice quivering with concern. She had never witnessed Adrian in such a condition. Though they had only been living together for slightly over a month, it felt like they had shared much more time together. They had enjoyed wonderful moments, a span of time Emilie had hoped would continue for many more months to come.
With no response from Adrian, Emilie's fear intensified. She summoned every ounce of her strength to turn him over and gently pressed her hand against his forehead. It was a chilling cold, far from the ordinary kind—it felt like an icy fire.
"Adrian, are you... are you dying?" Emilie asked hesitantly, her voice quivering with concern. "Please, don't scare me like this," she implored, her voice wavering. "We have so much left to do together. You said I could stay here, but if you're not here, they'll send me to an orphanage, and I don't want to go." Tears welled up in her eyes, and just as she was about to cry, she sensed Adrian stirring.
Observing his movements, she fixed her gaze intently upon him, acutely aware that these might be his final moments, and she didn't want to miss any small detail.
Adrian's voice barely audible, he managed to say, "So you do have emotions after all," a faint but appreciative smile gracing his lips.
Emilie found herself torn between amusement and the urge to jolt him awake, but she managed to quell her own impulses. She repeated her question, yet still received no response. To verify his condition, Emilie pressed her ear to his chest, straining to discern the faintest sign of life—his heartbeat was so feeble that it left her uncertain as to whether it qualified as a sign of life or not.
Uncertain about her course of action, she chose to remain by his side, ready in case he were to awaken.
Adrian's eyes fluttered open as the warm rays of sunlight bathed his face. "Where am I?" he wondered aloud, shifting slightly and instantly feeling aches coursing through his entire body. As he attempted to move, he sensed a weight resting on his chest. Glancing downward, he discovered Emilie curled up in a ball, sleeping with half of her body draped over him.
Confused and disoriented, Adrian examined the room around him, struggling to piece together the events of the previous moments.
With a soft groan, Adrian shifted Emilie slightly to ensure she remained undisturbed, but she gradually woke up. Groggily, she mumbled, "Adrian?" Adrian gently patted her head, then lifted her and laid her down in his own bed. He carefully tucked her in beneath his blanket.
"It's alright; don't worry. Go back to sleep," Adrian reassured Emilie, noticing tear stains on her face. It was in this moment that he fully realized he was no longer alone.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
samandridaku
samandridaku In the garden of the heart, worries bloom,
Like delicate flowers beneath the moon.
Each petal bears the weight of our mind,
Yet resilience in our souls we find.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone