The night I saved a devil

Your brother?

The hallway was quiet for only a moment.

Then~

“ELENA!”

A voice rang out from the far end of the corridor.

Footsteps followed immediately—fast, hurried, almost frantic.

Elena lifted her head slowly.

Lucia rushed into view, her hair slightly messy, her face filled with panic and disbelief. She stopped just a few steps away, staring at Elena as if she couldn’t believe what she was seeing.

“Elena…” Lucia breathed, her voice trembling. “Is that really you?”

That was all it took.

Elena’s lips trembled as her chest tightened.

“Lucia…”

The tears broke instantly.

Hot tears streamed down her face as she took one step forward, then another—before finally breaking into a run.

“Lucia!”

They collided in the middle of the hallway.

Lucia wrapped her arms tightly around her, holding her as if she were afraid she might disappear again.

“I’ve got you,” Lucia whispered quickly. “I’ve got you… don’t worry.”

Elena clung to her, her fingers gripping Lucia’s clothes like she was holding onto the only stable thing left in her world.

“I’m here,” Lucia continued softly. “You’re safe now. You’re home.”

Elena shook slightly in her arms, her voice breaking.

“I thought… I thought I’d never see you again…”

Lucia tightened her hold.

“Don’t say that,” she said firmly, her voice shaking slightly. “You’re here now. That’s all that matters.”

After a few moments, they slowly pulled away from each other, though Lucia kept her hands on Elena’s shoulders, carefully studying her face.

“Elena…” Lucia said more softly now. “Are you okay? How have you been?”

Elena quickly wiped her tears, trying to steady her breathing.

“I’m fine,” she said, forcing a small smile. “I just… I missed you.”

Lucia’s expression softened immediately.

“I missed you so much,” she admitted, her voice cracking slightly. “You don’t understand… I thought about you every single day. I kept wondering if you were okay… if you were even coming back.”

Elena shook her head gently.

“I didn’t think you’d still be here,” she said quietly. “I thought you might’ve left… or that something had happened to you.”

Lucia shook her head.

“No,” she said softly. “I didn’t leave. The caretakers… they’re actually very kind to me. And…” she hesitated for a moment before continuing, “this is my home.”

Elena nodded slowly, her eyes soft with emotion.

“Good,” she whispered. “I’m glad… you’re safe.”

That was when Lucia’s eyes dropped.

Her gaze shifted to Elena’s shirt.

The dried, dark stains of blood.

Her expression changed instantly.

Her brows furrowed deeply.

“Elena…” Lucia said, her voice sharp with concern. “Why are you covered in blood?”

She stepped closer, her eyes scanning her carefully.

“Are you hurt? What happened to you?”

Elena let out a small breath and shook her head with a soft, tired smile.

“Sissy, I’m fine.”

Lucia didn’t look convinced at all.

“You don’t look fine,” she said firmly. “Elena, don’t lie to me. Tell me what happened.”

Elena exhaled slowly, her gaze lowering for a moment before she spoke.

“…On my way here,” she began, her voice quieter but steady, “I saw a man. He was lying on the ground… and he was dying.”

Lucia’s expression shifted, her concern deepening.

“And?” she asked gently.

Elena continued, her voice tightening slightly.

“He had been shot. No one was helping him… and I couldn’t just walk away and leave him there.”

Lucia listened in silence, her expression softening with understanding.

“So I brought him here,” Elena said. “I didn’t know what else to do. If I left him there, he would have died.”

Lucia stared at her for a moment.

Then, slowly, a small, proud smile appeared on her face.

“You really haven’t changed,” she said softly.

Elena frowned slightly.

“What do you mean?”

Lucia shook her head gently.

“You still can’t walk past someone in need,” she said. “Even when it puts you in danger.”

Elena gave a small, tired smile.

“I guess I never learned how to be different.”

Lucia pulled her into another tight hug.

“And I’m glad you didn’t.”

Just then—

A voice came from behind them.

“I believe this is where I leave.”

They both turned.

The driver stood at the entrance, his posture calm, his expression composed as he looked at them.

“I’ve done what I could,” he said evenly. “I should head back now.”

Elena immediately stepped forward.

“Wait—” she said quickly. “Sir, thank you. I truly don’t know what I would have done without you.”

She reached into her pocket, trying to pull out money.

“Please, at least let me—”

“It’s fine,” the driver interrupted gently, raising a hand. “You don’t need to pay.”

Elena blinked, surprised.

“But—”

“I said it’s fine,” he repeated, his tone calm but firm.

Then he added more quietly:

“I just hope your… brother gets well.”

Lucia’s head snapped toward Elena instantly.

Her eyes narrowed slightly.

“…Brother?” she repeated.

Elena quickly turned to Lucia and gave her a subtle wink before turning back to the driver.

“Yes,” she said smoothly. “My brother.”

She nodded once, keeping her expression calm.

“Thank you, sir. For everything.”

The driver studied her for a brief moment.

There was something in his gaze—something knowing.

He understood.

A faint, almost amused smile touched his lips.

“Take care of yourself,” he said.

Then he turned and walked away, disappearing into the rain.

The moment he was gone—

Lucia immediately grabbed Elena’s arm and turned her toward her.

“Brother?” she repeated, her tone sharper now. “What brother are you talking about?”

Elena let out a small breath, her shoulders relaxing slightly.

“…It was the only way to get him to help,” she admitted.

Lucia crossed her arms, giving her a pointed look.

“So you just lied to him?”

Elena shrugged lightly.

“I didn’t have time to explain everything,” she said. “And he wouldn’t have helped if I told him the truth.”

Lucia stared at her for a moment, then let out a long sigh.

“…You’re unbelievable.”

Elena let out a soft, tired laugh.

“Yeah,” she said quietly. “I know.”

Lucia shook her head, though her expression had softened. She gently took Elena’s hand in hers.

“Come on,” she said. “Let’s get you cleaned up. You look like you just walked out of a war.”

Elena squeezed her hand lightly.

“…Maybe I did,” she murmured.