Aiden winces as he adjusts himself on the ufortable hospital bed. The doctors have put his foot in a bulky cast now. I sit beside him, my hands fidgeting uncontrobly as waves of concern wash over me.


    “How are you feeling?” I ask softly. I reach out a hand to take his but I hesitate. I can’t help the spike of guilt that stabs me when I remember how this all happened in the first ce.


    Aiden offers a crooked smile that doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “Te been better,” he admits. “That doesn’t matter, though. Are you okay? Did that man hurt you?”


    1 let out a quietugh. “I’m not the one in a hospital bed, remember?” I murmur, regret staining my voice.


    Aiden looks at me with intensity. “Carol. You don’t me yourself, do you?”


    Tears begin to prick the backs of my eyes, unbidden. I press the heels of my hands against them. “I’m sorry. This isn’t about


    me.”


    “Carol.” His voice sounds heartbroken and loving all at once. “Carol, look at me.” I can’t bear to look at him, especially whenThis content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org .


    toward him. he’s been hurt like this. He gently takes my chin with his hand and guides my eyes


    “Carol. This isn’t your fault,” he says firmly. “If anything, this is my fault. I shouldn’t have let you return to your apartment alone. It was incredibly irresponsible.”


    I shake my head quickly. “No, no, it wasn’t you. I insisted on going there alone. I thought everything would be okay. I mean, it wasn’t even for that long…” My eyes flick back up at him. “Speaking of which… how did you know toe help me?”


    Aiden shrugged helplessly. “I didn’t. I got released from practice early because I was trying to overexert myself.”


    I p his arm yfully, blinking the tears out of my eyes and forcing a smile. “Aiden, 1 scold yfully, although my heart


    isn’t in it


    “It was pure chance,” he continues, his voice heavy. “Pure chance that led me back to you. Otherwise…” He trails off. I shake my head and squeeze his hand.


    “Don’t think about that,” I insist. I know I’m being a hypocrite. As much as I don’t want to, that’s all I’ve been thinking about, too. What if he hadn’t been there? Would that have been it this tene?


    Aiden has a pained expression on his face, but he obliges. The two of us spend a moment, drinking in each other’s presence. The horror of the situation still hangs heavy over both of us.


    “Carol,” he, murmurs, eventually, “I’m so sorry. I feel like I’ve brought so much danger to you. I


    “Oh, don’t you


    u start,” I say gently, but firmly. “You can’t me yourself for everything that happens to me, you know.” Aiden’s eyes are clouded with concern. “This isn’t all happening by chance, Carol,” he says quietly. “There’s no other exnation for this. These attacks are targeted, but they’re not targeting me. They’re targeting you.”


    1 let out a shaky breath. I hade to the same conclusion. It was always easier to exin everything away as being more about Aiden with me as coteral, but recent months have made that impossible. Stalker is calling at my childhood home and two independent attacks on me don’t leave much room for questioning,


    I decide to opt for the most positive spin I can think of. I rub Aiden’s shoulder gently. “At least the man was caught.” I say, softly. “He’s in police custody, now. Unlike some of the previous talkers, his crime is obvious. I’m sure he’ll be put away for a long time.


    Aiden’s eyes darken in the way they do when he’s piecing together a n. “I want to speak to them,” he says suddenly.


    1/3


    “Aiden, please calm down, you need to rest,” I say. “We can just let the police handle this for now.”


    I can see the pain begin to crawl back across his expression. As the adrenaline wears off, I’m sure the pain is bing even worse for him. My heart aches.


    “OK, OK. I understand. He sits back on the bed with a defeated expression.


    “Don’t worry.” I whisper. “I won’t leave your side.


    The night drags on. Doctors and murses quietly make their way and out of Aiden’s room, but otherwise, things are peaceful, I eventually drift off in the chair beside Aiden’s bed. As much as Aiden insists that I should go to sleep in afortable bed, he seems understandably nervous to have me leave his side again.


    My dreams are gued with heavy unease and confusion. I hear no voice speaking to me, this time. I strangely feel as though almost miss it.


    I’m awoken by light nting through the hospital windows. I begin to stir. I check the time – 7AM. I haven’t gotten much sleep, but that’s to be expected.


    I nced over to check on Aiden. He is awake as well, although the disturbed expression on his face almost makes it seem like he hasn’t slept at all.


    “Aiden…I begin softly. He seems to know what I’m going to say.


    “I know. I’m sorry, he murmurs. “I just don’t think I’m going to be able to rest until I speak with the police”


    As much as it pains me, I know he’s probably right. We request the hospital staff to help us get in contact with the police regardingst night’s incident. It takes about an hour, but eventually, an officer arrives at Aiden’s door


    The rhythm of the conversation goes simrly to how it normally does. Aiden asks questions, but the police officer provides


    y little information. Once again, the conversation heads to where it normally does.


    very


    “Did he have any afiliation with the capital?” Aiden pushes. The police officer looks confused.


    “No, not at all. He’s from around these parts. Never really settle down. There’s not a lot on record about him.”


    d killer?” I ask quictly. The police officer looks


    I feel a shiver go down my spine. “Is there any chance he might be a hired somewhat rmed.


    “Well, we haven’t found any evidence of that, but it is possible,” he says. I wrap my arms around myself. The thought is terrifying, but it almost makes more sense than anything else now,


    “Just… Please look into his background. See if he has any ties to the capital at all, no matter how small,” Aiden insists. “If you find anything, please let us know. It could be a matter of life and death


    The police officer hesitantly agrees before bowing out of the room. I don’t feel any better than I did before we spoke with him. Still, Aiden’s words have piqued my curiosity.


    “Aiden, if you don’t mind me asking, why all the questions about the capital?” I ask softly. When I see Aiden’s expression twist, 1 almost regret asking in the first ce, Still, he doesn’t deny me an answer,


    His expression is distant as he speaks, as though he can’t even understand his own words. “Because… I’m beginning to suspect my family.”


    三