Ashes Of The Throne | Part I

Chapter 141a | Loves Most Fragile And Terrifying Form

Time dragged on excruciatingly slow for Jesse, each passing minute stretching into what felt like an eternity. She had sent Jasmine upstairs to find Richie and explain what had transpired, hoping that together they could manage Eko. But for now, her focus remained solely on the man lying in the hospital bed before her.

Toni had been heavily sedated when they wheeled him out of surgery—his fractured leg reset with precision, the sword wound in his thigh meticulously cleaned and sutured, and the abdominal injury carefully treated. The poison that had seeped into his body had been identified, and the IV running into his arm was working steadily to flush the toxins out of his system. The steady drip of fluids was the only sign that his body was fighting, slowly purging the venom that had nearly claimed him.

Now that he was back from the operating room, Jesse felt a fragile sense of relief—though it was tentative, like a thread stretched too thin. Toni wasn't just her best friend; he was her rock, her constant in a world that often seemed to shift beneath her feet. Whenever everything else felt chaotic or uncertain, Toni was the one she could count on, the steady presence that kept her grounded.

But now, seeing him so still, so vulnerable, lying there hooked up to machines—it shattered the image of the unbreakable person she had always known him to be. The weight of what had almost happened pressed down on her, suffocating her fragile relief. He had come so close to being taken from her, and the thought of that tore at her.

Taking a deep, shaky breath to steady herself, Jesse leaned forward in the stiff metal chair of the ICU. Her eyes never left Toni's still form, her gaze continued to trace the battered lines of his body. The bandages over his abdomen, the dark bruises that marred his olive skin—his chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm, the only indication that he was still fighting.

Leaning closer, Jesse reached for Toni's hand, her fingers gently brushing against the IV cannula embedded in his skin, the cold plastic a stark contrast to the warmth of his touch. The fluids dripped steadily into his weakened body, helping to purge the poison from his veins. She brought his hand to her cheek, closing her eyes as she pressed his cool fingers against her skin. The contact grounded her, the reality of his presence reassuring her, however fragile it felt.

"You're going to be alright," Jesse whispered, her voice trembling with the weight of her own fear. "You and Matthew... you're both going to be okay. We've been through worse." She forced the words out, as if saying them aloud would make them true, as if speaking them could somehow will them into existence. She wanted so badly to believe it.

Jesse kept her eyes closed, holding onto Toni's hand as though it were the last thing tethering her to the world. "We've been through worse," she repeated, but this time, the whisper was meant for her, a quiet prayer in the face of overwhelming uncertainty.

And then, Toni stirred.

The movement was faint at first, a shift beneath the covers, but enough to make Jesse's heart lurch. He gradually regained consciousness, his brow furrowing as he squinted against the harsh light of the room. His hand weakly reached up to touch the bridge of his nose, groggily trying to orient himself.

"Toni?" Jesse's voice cracked as she jumped to her feet, her heart pounding in her chest. She leaned over the bed, her hands trembling as she gently cupped his cheeks, forcing him to meet her gaze. "Toni, can you hear me?"

His eyes fluttered open, his focus hazy as he tried to register her presence. His lips parted, but no words came, only a soft, strained breath.

Jesse's throat tightened, tears welling in her eyes as she searched his face for any sign of recognition. "You're safe," she whispered, her thumb brushing lightly across his cheek. "You're safe. I'm right here."