Always, Lily

▫️ Thirty four

LILITH

Orion talked for half an hour. I listened into what he was saying without understanding most of it.

I didn't hear Enzo's name in the conversation so I remained anxious about his safety.

Meanwhile, our work group chat blew up with messages and clips some of the staff had captured.

It was just as Orion had mentioned. The hospital was being sealed. The police were stationed all over the premises so I knew it wouldn't be long before the whole thing was broadcast online.

From the videos I had seen, the doctor who was causing this ruckus was from the orthopedics unit.

I didn't know him personally but he was a middle aged man who managed one of the labs in the hospital.

I had heard that he was a friendly man so I didn't understand why he was threatening the lives of so many people.

I quickly checked on Oliver, sighing in relief when he told me he got off work at noon today. I checked on my other close colleagues too. Two of them were off duty but three of them were still in the hospital.

The police together with Enzo's team were protecting them but the whole hospital was in chaos.

I scrolled down the chats while biting my thumb, hoping the whole thing would quickly come to an end and everyone would remain safe.

Too invested in reading the chats, I didn't notice Orion leave until I heard him talking to mom downstairs.

I rushed down, catching him by the door where he was putting on his boots.

"Where are you going?" I asked, mom and Luce turning to me at the same time.

"I need to check on something." He vaguely replied, picking up his black leather jacket.

"And what is that?" I probed again, anxious that he was going to rush into the same danger as Enzo.

"Lily, he got called in for an emergency." Mom pulled me to her side so that I'd stop dragging Orion's arm.

"I'll be back in the morning." Orion looked at the three of us, hugging us briefly before he turned to leave.

"Orion," I went after him before the door closed on our faces.

"Lily, you have to stay at home to be safe." Orion placed his hands on my shoulders to calm me down.

"What about you? Will you be safe out there?" I tightly held onto his jacket, not wanting him to leave.

"I have to go. Enzo and the rest need me." He said while wiping the tears I didn't know were trickling down my cheeks.

"Please take care of yourself and Enzo too," I hugged him again before letting him go.

"I'll call you once everything is done." Orion shouted before driving away.

I turned back to get into the house and at the door, mom and Luce stood there with desolate faces.

It wasn't the first time we saw Orion leave for such jobs and yet, seeing him go didn't get easier by the years.

"He'll be back in one piece." We wrapped our arms in a group hug, assuring ourselves that nothing would happen to him.

They would be back soon. I whispered quietly into our hug.

I waited all night. I watched almost all news stations to get any update about them but the information shared was minimal.

Mom, Luce and I dozed in the living room that night. We held onto our phones, hoping Orion would call us soon.

Morning came, another day began yet we didn't hear anything. Evening came but there was still no news.