SINS (Completed)

Bonus- LOVER, HUNTER, FRIEND & ENEMY

November 25, 2025. London.

Hardin Scott

I stand resting against the wall down the hallway, hospital rooms lining on either side of me. I cross my arms and lean my head back into the hard plaster, counting minutes to me having to inevitably leave.

There's a depraved exhaustion setting into my head, the smell of the sanitized floors and medical machine beeps stealing the air from my lungs.

Two hours have passed and there are still no signs of consciousness. Not a single ray of assurance with which I can trick my head into believing that I can live through this.

A bleak streak of light falls in through the window at the end of the row. I know there are probably paparazzi down there already, because there's no chance in hell that the news of her accident and me being here would rest.

I look at the skies, lost- tracing the colors blended lazily. But even the reds and oranges of the dusk reminds me of how Tessa's face used to hold more colors than that- and now it's frozen pale, like of someone in deat-

I release a panicked shaky exhale and turn my head away.

I catch a sight of Lily sitting, her chin resting on her fisted hands, paralyzed and staring ahead. The sunrays glow softly on her face, her tear stained features glimmering in it beautifully.

She looks like an artist's muse sitting to model for him, especially with the traumatic sadness in her eyes.

I know how much Tessa means to her. The hanging guilt of what she did five years ago crumbles her like it does me, but it was not her fault.

Like the lone king ruling at the highest, darkest corners of hell, the reason of every grief, was me. Because my shadows are too many for my life- to the point that it floods all over anyone in proximity.

Looking at her right now, I think of this whole predicament all the more, how everything just keeps getting fucked. Even after 5 years- my demons have not had enough of me.

Making her sit on the hospital bench as I cry and plead for the life of the one woman I've loved is not fair to her. Once again, I've been irresistibly selfish.

I just pray, tenaciously that one day she could look into her eyes again- we could look into her eyes again.

A sudden rush erupts as the elevator door open and a train of panic-stricken people appears with long, hurried strides. Lily stands and scurries to my side, holding my arm.

There are about five people, two of whom I recognize. Celia Young and Ashe Mercer. Both rush to her room, looking through the glass door and looking for doctors, while the other three get engaged in hospital procedures and urgent phone calls.

"Hardin-" I watch the whole scene transfixed, before Trevor speaks up walking up from behind me. I turn around to look at him. "-we have to go."

"I'm not moving from here, Trev." I clench my teeth together as I repeat to him in a quiet warning.

"Her sister is here you see it, everything is under control. You want to stay here and get spotted so that she wakes up and asks questions you won't have answers for? Do not make a scene here, Hardin." He scowls at me, his words falling like a desperate, angry plead.

"Sir- the media crowd is thickening by the minute, especially after Mr. Mercer. If we have to leave, we need to move now." Fred speaks up from behind us, his hands joined behind his back.

I turn silent for a minute, the suddenness of making an urgent decision reeling my head off in conflict. I turn to Trevor, imploring him with gentle request.