The frozen heart

Chapter 36: Between Heartbeats

Days slipped by in a blur of worry and fatigue, each sunrise fading into sunset with the same unyielding rhythm. Anne found herself lost in the slow passage of time, her world reduced to the dim confines of the abandoned castle and the figure of Kaiden lying on the cold stone floor. The wound on his abdomen had ceased its bleeding, but the absence of color in his cheeks and the unnatural coolness of his skin told her that he remained trapped in a realm of darkness.

She spent her days attending to him with a fierce devotion, each moment consumed by the need to care for the man who had once been a boy she saved. She washed his wounds with trembling hands, careful to keep the makeshift bandage fresh, replacing it daily to prevent infection. Her heart raced with each glance at his face, hoping to see the flicker of consciousness return. Sometimes he would wake but drift into the realm of dreams back again. The world outside the castle continued its relentless march forward, but within these walls, time seemed suspended.

Anne's fingers brushed over the bandage, the fabric now stained with blood and grime. She swallowed hard, forcing back the lump in her throat as she prepared to change it again. Gathering the remnants of her strength, she pulled out the fresh cloth she had scavenged from the remnants of their surroundings. As she carefully unwrapped the old bandage, she winced at the sight of the wound, a jagged cut framed by bruised skin. The protective ice layer had melted away, leaving behind only the aftermath of Kaiden's struggle.

"Hang in there, Kaiden," she murmured softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "You have to wake up. I need you."

The silence that followed felt suffocating. She pressed a cool cloth against his forehead, hoping to bring some semblance of comfort to him. Each touch felt like a prayer, a plea for his recovery. As she worked, she found herself glancing at the door, half-expecting him to walk in with that familiar confident stride. But he remained still, his body motionless as if caught in a relentless dream.

As the hours slipped away, Anne began to wrestle with another pressing concern. She looked around the castle's main room, her heart heavy with the realization that the cold stone floor was no place for him to rest. If only she could move him to a bed, somewhere softer, somewhere warmer. The thought of it was both comforting and daunting. Kaiden was too heavy for her to lift alone, and she feared that any sudden movement might cause his wound to reopen, putting him in even greater danger.

Determined, Anne set about making his makeshift bed on the floor as comfortable as she could. She gathered old, tattered blankets she found in the corners of the castle, their once vibrant colors faded by time. She layered them beneath him, folding and arranging them with care, trying to create a semblance of softness against the unforgiving stone. Her hands worked tirelessly, smoothing out the wrinkles and ensuring that he would at least have something more than the cold ground beneath him.

As she arranged the blankets, her thoughts wandered back to the moments they had shared—the laughter, the fleeting glances, the way he had always been there, a constant presence in her chaotic life. Her heart ached at the thought of losing him now, the man who had fought so fiercely to protect her. She tucked a corner of the blanket tightly around him, her fingers brushing against his cool skin.

"What am I going to do without you?" she whispered, biting her lip to hold back tears. The fear of his condition threatened to overwhelm her, but she forced herself to take a deep breath, channeling her anxiety into action.

After securing the blankets around Kaiden, she found an old wooden crate and carefully placed it by his head, hoping it would serve as a makeshift pillow. She positioned it carefully, mindful of his injury, and gently rested his head against the rough surface. It wasn't perfect, but it was the best she could do given the circumstances.