"Bill."
The sound of his name jolted William from his daze. His eyes fluttered open, momentarily disoriented as the sterile white walls of the emergency room came into focus.
"Yeah," he grunted, dragging himself upright from the stiff hospital chair. "How did it go?"
Dr. Jacob Austin, clad in a white coat, adjusted his narrow glasses and flipped through the patient chart with practiced precision.
"Second-degree acid burns on the face and right hand. There will be permanent scarring, so plastic surgery will be necessary. The acid caused moderate damage to her corneas, leaving her temporarily blind. A corneal transplant is the only way to restore her vision. I've already added her to the waiting list.
Additionally, a high concentration of drugs was found in her bloodstream—consumed orally. It's too late for stomach pumping, so we've placed her on several IV drips to stabilize her condition. Apart from minor bruises and scratches from the fall, no other external injuries were detected."
As the doctor spoke, William's eyes remained fixed on the man's name tag: "Dr. Jacob Austin." The name echoed in his head, a strange detachment creeping over him as he struggled to process the weight of the words.
The silence stretched, heavy and suffocating.
William blinked several times before clearing his throat awkwardly. "Ahem… Were there… any internal injuries?"
Jacob arched his eyebrows slightly before shaking his head, offering William a somewhat reassuring look. "The gynecologist confirmed there are no signs of forceful penetration. It doesn't appear that she was assaulted."
"I see."
Though the words should have brought relief, William couldn't shake off the heavy weight pressing against his chest. The thought of everything Anna had endured made it impossible to find comfort in this small mercy.
"Bill," Jacob continued, his tone growing more serious, "you understand the protocol, right? I'm legally obligated to inform the authorities—"
"That's not happening," William interjected sharply, his eyes darkening. "And make sure her stay here remains off the records. No one can know she's here."
Jacob let out a heavy sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose as if to ward off the frustration creeping in. "Fine. But you owe me one. Understood?"
William gave a curt nod, acknowledging the favor without further words.
"She's been heavily sedated, so it will be a while before she wakes up. Go home, get some rest. I'll call you the moment she regains consciousness."
"No," William replied, shaking his head as he clutched the damp jacket he had used to shield Anna from the rain. "I can't rest now. I'll stay with her."
Jacob studied him for a moment before relenting with a nod. "Alright. Room 701. No nameplate on the door. I'll assign a private nurse in case you need anything."
Without another word, William turned on his heel and made his way toward the elevator, his heart heavy with both anger and regret. He couldn't leave her side. Not after everything that had happened. Not when she needed him the most.
"Thanks, man," William muttered quietly, his voice heavy with exhaustion. Jacob patted him on the back with a reassuring nod.
"Don't worry, Bill. The damage is repairable."
William watched as the doctor's figure disappeared around the corner, the echo of his words lingering in the sterile hallway. Repairable? Who knows.
***
The VIP room was dimly lit, the soft hum of medical equipment the only sound breaking the heavy silence. William's eyes immediately locked onto the fragile figure lying in the center of the room. Anna's pale body was draped in a thin white blanket, her arms resting limply on the sheets with IV needles piercing her veins.
Slowly, he approached the bed, his gaze tracing the delicate lines of her face. The upper half was obscured by pristine white bandages, her eyes shielded beneath two cotton pads for extra protection. The sight made his chest tighten painfully, Jacob's clinical words echoing in his head.
Plastic surgery. A corneal transplant. She can recover. That's a relief. And yet...
His eyes softened as he leaned in slightly, speaking in a low voice, almost as if afraid to wake her.
"Well... you ran away from whatever tried to kill you. So, I guess... you wanted to live. And that changes everything."
With a heavy sigh, William sank into the plush armchair beside her bed. He tilted his head back and closed his eyes, hoping to find solace in the darkness behind his eyelids.
This day had stretched endlessly, filled with turmoil he hadn't anticipated. His return to the country was supposed to be uneventful, but fate had other plans. Strangely enough, he couldn't bring himself to regret it.
Not when it led him back to her.
Because he met Anna again. Twice in one day, even. Fate must be on his side.
With that somewhat reassuring thought, the weight of exhaustion finally pulled him in, allowing him to let go and surrender to slumber.
***
Anna's mind gradually emerged from the depths of unconsciousness as a searing pain around her eyes jolted her awake. Disoriented and trapped in a fog of confusion, it took her a moment to reconnect with her body. Then, fear surged through her veins, her lips parting in a silent gasp.
"Ugh!"
She struggled to push herself upright, but a crushing wave of dizziness forced her back onto the bed. Panic seized her as her breath quickened, her mind racing to grasp her surroundings. Yet, one horrifying realization drowned out all rational thought: she couldn't see.
"No... Oh God... No, no, no!"
Her trembling hands shot forward, ripping the IV needles from her veins. The brief sting barely registered as her fingers clawed at the bandages wrapped around her face. She peeled them away, layer by layer, desperate to escape the suffocating darkness.
Before she could tear off the final layer, a pair of strong, warm hands gently seized her wrists, restraining her frantic movements.
"Hey, calm down! Calm down!"
The deep, steady voice sliced through her panic, grounding her just enough for her body to freeze, though her lips continued to quiver.
"Who... what is going on?" she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.
"I'll explain everything," the voice soothed, "but you have to promise me you'll stay calm."
There was something familiar in that voice—steady, commanding, yet oddly gentle. Recognition struck her like lightning.
"William... Stark?"
A soft chuckle followed. "Well," he replied, "I guess the 'who' part is covered now."