Vindicta

Guilty

Chapter Twenty Nine - Guilty

People cry for different reasons. Guilt, pain, anger, happiness, greed, jealously and fear.

You know that moment when you're hurting so much that the pain becomes unbearable, it's when you go into these depths of tranquility.

Numbness.

You just can't feel anything anymore.

That is exactly how I was feeling.

Alec's face from the morning when he was approaching me and I let the elevators close kept flashing infront of me. I wish I stayed.

I just wish I had talked to him. Maybe stopped him from going to work.

Anything, just anything.

"Scarlet? Are you listening to me?"

A voice interrupted and I turned towards Nicole quickly.

"What-what happened? Did Walter call back? Is Alec okay?"

A look of sympathy crossed her face. "Walter hasn't called back but we'll be at the hospital in five minutes. Try to hold yourself together. He's going to be fine."

How do you know that? I wanted to say but didn't--couldn't because of the lump in my throat.

With a nod, I wiped my tears away and looked at the road impatiently, then down at my phone which was trying to reach Alec's number in hopes that someone would pick up this time.

Nicole took a sharp right and within minutes, the car was parked outside the hospital. I jumped out of my seat and ran towards the entrance.

My heart was pounding loudly as the elevators went up to Alec's floor.

I ran down the corridor as fast as my feet could take me unless I saw a familiar face.

"How is he, Walter? Where is he?" I asked in a hurry, tears threatening to fall down my cheeks again.

"See for yourself," He muttered, getting up to walk towards the door.

I held my breath as he opened it for me.

"Alec," My voice broke into a muffled sob at the sight of him on the bed, his left shoulder covered up in bandage.

He looked up at me.

"I'm okay. Relax."

I didn't know why I suddenly fell in love with his voice.

Before I could process, I had lurched forward and thrown my arms around him, but only pulled back when he hissed out in pain.

"I-I'm sorry. D-did I hurt you?" I stepped away from him.

"No no. I'm fine. Relax."

"I'm sorry I'll just call a doctor," I muttered more to myself as I quickly turned around but he grabbed my hand.

"I'm fine, Scarlet."

"No," I snapped at him. "You're not fine. You've been shot. How are you even awake? Is it not hurting-"

"Will you please sit down for a moment?" He raised his voice a notch.

My lip quivered as I wanted to say more but couldn't because of the lump in my throat.

His hand pulled me forward and I found myself sitting beside him on the bed, as he wiped my tears.

"I'm okay."

A sob escaped my lips as I took his hand in mine and brought it up to my lips.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. It was just a bullet graze."