"Alora. Alora. Are you awake?"
"Get the doctor. Now."
I heard voices. Muffled at first. Distant. It took a few seconds before they registered as Christian's.
Slowly, i opened my eyes, squinting as I adjusted to the light.
"Christian?" I said when I saw his figure. It was blurred, but gradually it became clear.
"I'm alive?" I asked, barely believing the words.
"You can't get rid of me that easily, Mrs Gulf." He took my hand and kissed it. A small smile playing on his lips, but I saw the exhaustion and fear.
"What… happened?"
"Nothing you need to worry your pretty head about."
Slowly, the memories of the incident came back to me. It was in fragments, flashes of the cold room, the stench, the needle, Gabriel's face. And then it just hit. Gabriel trying to kill me.
"Gabriel," I croaked, "He… he tried to—"
"It's okay." Christian leaned closer, voice soft and firm, "It's okay. He can't hurt you. He'll never be able to hurt you again. I promise."
