Beyond Good and Evil

Epilogue

Andreas, Niklas, Jonas and Tomi were all sitting with Alicia in the waiting room of the hospital, eagerly awaiting to hear any updates on Robert's condition.

All they were told was that Robert suffered an almost fatal shot to the back. If the bullet had moved a further few inches, it would have severed his aorta, and he would have been instantly killed.

Tomi was looking much better since his week-long stay in hospital. Stitches still mutilated his face, but other than that he was looking well rested and healthy again, his thick arms folded across his chest, his hair tied back into a neat bun.

"So they just attacked him, for no reason?" Niklas asked, glancing beside him to Alicia. She was sitting between him and Jonas, feeling not for the first time in her life, small.

She breathed a sigh, lifting her face to his. "They wanted revenge, because Rob killed Sean, Toby and Dandy. I would have called you guys, but one of them destroyed my phone. I don't know how I'm going to be able to afford a new one, since all my money is going into my degree course."

Jonas turned his head towards her, his brown eyes regarding her as a friend. She was grateful that all four guys from Machinae Supremacy considered her a friend now, and not merely that girl Robert was screwing.

"You can stay with me while Rob's in here, if you want," he smiled tight-lipped, folding one ankle over the other in front of him. "I have a girlfriend, so I wouldn't try to hit on you or anything."

Alicia glanced down at her fingers, idly playing with her nails. She had lost a night's worth of sleep because she had been worried sick about Robert. She couldn't recall the last time she had eaten, besides the birthday cake she made him.

"Thanks, Jonas," she whispered, "but I have to go back to Stockholm to complete my exams."

"Al," a familiar voice called.

Elsa bounded up the corridor, her heels clicking loudly on the blue linoleum, and came to a stop just in front of Alicia. She was dressed casually today, wearing a white jumper cut low above her tanned, lean stomach and a matching skirt just above the knees. Her white blonde hair fell in waves over her shoulders, not straightened for once.

"You played me," Alicia whispered, mostly to herself.

"What are you talking about?" Elsa asked, raising a thick, perfectly manicured eyebrow. "I just came in to see you! I heard what happened to Robert. Andreas told me."

Alicia raised a thick, brown eyebrow this time. "If you didn't message me, then who did?"

Elsa sat on her knee, much to the bemusement of Jonas and Niklas. "My phone got stolen by Sean. I don't know where it is now, but I'm getting a new one soon, I promise."

Alicia wrapped her arms around her friend's stomach, holding her like that for what felt like hours. She could never hate Elsa, no matter how bitter or how exasperated she felt. That night at Andreas' barbecue had been Alicia's own doing - she had let the guilt of kissing Tomi consume her, mixed with the grief of witnessing Robert bash him up right in front of her eyes.

"I'm sorry for fighting with you," she cleared her throat, making her voice louder. "It was my fault, not yours."

Elsa glanced over her shoulder, smiling warmly at her friend. Alicia noticed dark bags under her weary baby blue eyes. "It's a thing of the past, Al. Let's just move on, and forget this whole predicament."

A young doctor approached them, wearing a neutral expression on his face, unmasked by apprehension or sadness. He, like other hospital staff, wore a long white coat that came down to the back of his knees. As he approached the six of them, he lifted his gaze from his blue clipboard, providing Alicia with the chance to observe his tired brown eyes and neatly combed caramel hair.