The next morning, Zach finally regained consciousness. The unfamiliar ceiling above him greeted his eyes, leaving him momentarily confused. His body felt strangely heavy, but within seconds, the events of the previous night came rushing back all at once. He immediately pushed himself upright, his eyes scanning the surroundings.
Then, the soft glow from the tank drew his attention. The moment his eyes landed on it, he already knew. The black wings, the familiar strands of hair, the shape of her body, there was no doubt. It was her, submerged beneath the water, completely still.
The image of her lying lifeless inside the tank consumed him. His chest tightened, and he wanted to scream, but before his panic could take over, a hand gently held his shoulder. He turned to see Per sitting beside him on the couch.
"Hey... breathe. She's only sleeping, and she'll wake up soon," Per said softly, offering him a warm smile.
"Can you breathe comfortably now? If you want, we can remove the oxygen tubes," she asked.
Zach took a slow breath and nodded.
Per carefully removed the cannula from his nose and ears. "There. You can go check on her now if you want."
Without a word, Zach rose from the couch and walked slowly toward the tank. The only sound that filled the room was the quiet hum of the machine. He stopped in front of the glass and rested his hand against it, wishing he could reach through and touch her, hold her hand, and let her know he was there, watching over her, waiting for her.
Zach stayed there for nearly half an hour, standing completely still on his own. No words were needed to describe the heaviness of the scene. Per quietly placed food on the table, occasionally glancing at him from across the room. A soft sigh escaped her as she watched him.
When she finally decided to go to him, Ark rose from his chair by the table.
"I'll get him," he said before walking toward Zach.
When he reached him, Ark gently placed a hand on his shoulder. "Hey," he called softly. His eyes moved toward the tank before he continued, "She was poisoned before. A needle filled with lethal poison... was meant for you... but she took the hit instead."
Zach froze. His eyes widened as he slowly turned to Ark, the words sinking in.
Ark looked back at him. "You feel guilty?" he asked softly. "If you do, then maybe you're looking at it from the wrong angle. Don't just focus on the fact that she got hurt. Ask yourself why she did it. Why she was willing to risk herself."
"To protect... me," Zach answered hesitantly, the sadness still lingering in his eyes.
"To protect you," Ark repeated softly. His gaze shifted toward the tank once more. "Just like now... she was hurt because she chose to go on a mission to save a friend." He paused briefly. "It's okay to feel scared. It's okay to feel sad. But don't let guilt be the only thing you see." Ark gave him a gentle smile. "Your food is waiting." With that, he returned to his seat.
"Do you really think he needed to hear that right now?" Per asked, her voice filled with concern.
"Sometimes, the things that hurt us the most are the things we need to understand," Ark replied calmly. "If he only sees the pain, he'll never see the reason behind it."
A few moments later, Zach joined them at the long rectangular table and quietly ate his food.
When Per looked toward Ark, he responded with a proud wink. She let out a quiet sigh, but a small gesture of approval followed.
For a while, the room remained quiet. They stayed together, allowing Zach the time he needed to settle down and gather himself.
An hour later, Filbur and Cerro returned. Filbur swiftly approached the table, standing at its head. "This substance is a dangerous combination of potent opioids and sedative compounds. It contains traces of heroin, fentanyl, carfentanil, and a synthetic opioid known as U-47700. Among humans, mixtures like this are sometimes referred to as Gray Death, a highly dangerous cocktail capable of overwhelming the body and causing death."
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Divine & Wicked: The Strayed Memories (Book2)
Fantasy(Fantasy•Romance) COMPLETED Zach awoke a few days after his surgery, his mind foggy and his heart empty, as though his life had been reset. He moved through what he believed was his normal routine, unaware that fragments of a forgotten past were slo...
