The flickering candlelight cast long, dancing shadows across the room, painting an unsettling scene. Elijah's heart hammered against his ribs, a frantic drumbeat echoing the thunder in his head. There she was, sprawled on the plush rug, her face pale and still, a deep crimson stain blooming on her temple. Jake stood over her, his face contorted with a mixture of fear and something else, something Elijah couldn't quite decipher.
'I didn't mean to hurt her,' Jake choked out, his voice hoarse with a mix of shock and despair.
The words were a slap in the face, a cruel mockery of the scene before him. It was as if he had expected Elijah to simply accept this explanation, to understand the inherent absurdity of the statement.
Elijah saw red. The image of Y/N, her laughter echoing in the halls of their shared apartment, her hand instinctively reaching for his, their intertwined fingers a comforting anchor in the storm of life, flashed through his mind. All the moments they had shared, the unspoken promises exchanged, the love that bloomed between them like a wildflower, all of it felt threatened, fragile, broken.
'Don't,' he growled, his voice a guttural rasp, barely audible over the pounding in his ears. He wasn't sure what he was trying to say, what he wanted to do. The urge to hurt Jake, to make him feel the same pain he had inflicted on Y/N, was a ferocious beast clawing its way to the surface. But there was something else, something stronger, pulling him back from the brink. His love for Y/N.
He had been there for her, a silent observer, watching their relationship blossom, his own feelings for her simmering beneath the surface, a quiet ache that he had kept bottled up. He had accepted her choice, her love for Jake, even though it tore at his soul. Yet, he had always been there, a safe haven, a shoulder to lean on, a silent protector.
Now, that protection was needed more than ever. He couldn't let his anger consume him. He couldn't let his own pain blind him to what mattered most. He had to save her.
'Call an ambulance, Jake,' he commanded, his voice surprisingly calm, a stark contrast to the storm raging within him. His own hand reached out to Y/N, gently lifting her head, his touch gentle, as if afraid to break her. He felt the pulse in her neck, a faint flicker of life that gave him a sliver of hope.
Jake didn't move, his gaze locked on the crimson stain, his eyes wide with terror. He seemed to be in a state of paralysis, unable to process the situation, unable to act.
'Jake,' Elijah snapped, his patience wearing thin. He couldn't afford to waste time. 'Call an ambulance, now!'
Finally, Jake seemed to snap out of his stupor. He stumbled towards the phone, his movements jerky and uncertain. He dialed the emergency number, his voice shaky as he spoke.
While Jake was on the phone, Elijah gently laid Y/N on the couch, his fingers tracing the contours of her face, his touch a silent plea for her to wake up. He felt an overwhelming sense of helplessness, a fear that he had never known before.
The ambulance arrived within minutes. The paramedics rushed in, their movements efficient and practiced. Elijah watched, his body rigid, his mind reeling, as they tended to Y/N. He stood back, swallowed his anger, and let them do their job, his heart a leaden weight in his chest.
As they loaded Y/N into the ambulance, he felt a surge of relief, a fleeting moment of hope. He watched as the ambulance sped away, its siren a haunting echo in the stillness of the night. He turned back to Jake, his face a mask of pain and anger.
'This isn't over, Jake,' he said, his voice low and dangerous. 'You're going to pay for what you did.'
Jake, pale and trembling, looked at him with fear in his eyes. He seemed to want to say something, to defend himself, but the words caught in his throat. He knew he had done something terrible, and he was afraid of the consequences.
Elijah felt the anger burning within him, but he also felt a deep sense of responsibility. He knew he couldn't let his rage consume him. He had to be strong, not just for himself, but for Y/N. He had to make sure she was okay, and he had to make sure that Jake paid for what he had done.
He knew this was just the beginning. His journey was far from over. He had to save Y/N, and he had to face the truth, the truth that had been hidden behind his feelings for her, the truth that he was no longer just a silent observer, but a protector, a guardian, a man who was finally ready to fight for what he wanted. And what he wanted, more than anything, was Y/N.
