Airy

Chapter 22

Since Lily and I were separated, her absence weighed heavily on my mind. But with time, a troubling suspicion grew: was she in danger? I couldn't shake the feeling that my silence had put her at risk.

Fear consumed me, turning my focus inward and blinding me to the needs of others. It took weeks for me to realize this and muster the courage to seek help.

Despite my doubts, Damien sprang into action when I finally reached out.

Sitting on the sofa in Damien's office, I studied the printed paper containing the scant information he had managed to find about Lily. The address where Damien's men were sent loomed ominously on the page.

"What if she's not okay?" I voiced my worry, glancing at Damien who sat at his desk, lost in thought as he stared at his laptop screen.

"She will be okay," Damien's reassurance was evident, but his expression betrayed his own uncertainties as he pursed his lips.

I could sense his efforts to comfort me, but his doubt lingered in the air. The name Lucian Lazarov alone sounded ominous, and I couldn't shake the feeling that it was my fault.

"It's my fault," I muttered under my breath, a wave of guilt washing over me.

"No," Damien's response was firm, his voice cutting through my self-blame. "It is not."

"I've been here for weeks, and I could have spoken up," I confessed, the weight of my silence heavy on my shoulders. "But I didn't," I finished with a heavy sigh, feeling tears welling up inside me.

Damien rose from his desk and approached me, his phone ringing as he settled beside me.

"Yes, Alex," he answered, his attention diverted to the call.

As he listened intently, my mind raced, desperately searching his expression for any hint of what he was hearing. But his features remained inscrutable, betraying no emotion.

Ending the call, Damien turned to me with a heavy sigh. "They found her," he announced, his voice tinged with uncertainty. "But they're not sure if it's Lily. They need you to confirm."

My heart pounded in my chest as I leaped to my feet. "Is she okay?" I demanded, my voice trembling with anxiety.

He shook his head, his silence speaking volumes.

Tears started falling from my eyes.

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Two hours dragged by as I sat in Damien's office, consumed by worry.

Frantically, I played with my fingers, picking at my nails until they bled, the anxiety gnawing at me.

Damien fielded call after call, each one bringing no respite from the tension that filled the room. Finally, he stood up, gesturing for me to follow him.

We descended the stairs and stepped outside, the cool air a stark contrast to the suffocating atmosphere inside. We made our way to a nearby two-story building that resembled a hospital, its sterile scent permeating the air.

Inside, nurses bustled about, their movements a blur as my head spun with a whirlwind of thoughts.

As we entered a room, the nurses parted, revealing a figure lying on a bed. My heart clenched with fear as I approached, my breath catching in my throat at the sight before me.

"Lily," I whispered, my voice barely audible as I approached her bedside. "Lily?" I called out, desperation lacing my words.

It was her, my heart plummeting at the sight before me. She was barely recognizable.

Lying on the bed, she appeared ghostly pale against the stark white linen sheets, her body marred by numerous cuts and bruises marring her delicate features. She wore a thin, translucent dress, mirroring the one I had worn when I first entered this place.

A nurse hurriedly covered her trembling form, shielding her from prying eyes. My gaze shifted to the marks on her neck, resembling bite wounds, sending a shiver down my spine.

My mind raced with a torrent of thoughts, threatening to overwhelm me, but I knew I had to remain composed, to stay strong for Lily.

The nurses bombarded me with questions about my blood type, and I realized I had no idea what to say. They swiftly seated me, offering to test my blood to determine compatibility for a transfusion to save Lily. I agreed without hesitation, but I could see Damien protesting from the corner of my eye. Ignoring his objections, I locked eyes with him and nodded, silently conveying my resolve. Relenting, Damien issued the order for the test to proceed, his expression a mixture of concern and worry.

After a few moments, they said I have a blood type that everyone can receive from. I wanted to cry and tell them to just save her now. I could not hear what else they were saying.