Chapter Four Slipping Away
1062 Words
The night had grown deep, yet Elena still hadn’t come home.
It was something that had never happened before.
Liam sat at home, anxiously staring at the pot of porridge on the table, his stomach empty and tight with unease.
A constant restlessness gnawed at his heart, an ominous fear he couldn’t shake.
He tried calling his sister’s phone — switched off.
He had no idea where to look for her.
By midnight, Liam could no longer sit still.
He threw on a jacket and went out into the cold night, aimlessly wandering the streets.
Sis… where are you? Are you okay? Don’t leave Little Liam behind… please…
Since they were little, weak and sickly Liam had always been shielded by Elena.
When someone bullied him, it was Elena who would rush over and fight them off, her small body standing between him and the world.
After their parents passed away, it had always been the two of them, leaning on each other for survival.
To Liam, Elena wasn’t just his sister, she was his protector, his anchor, the warmth he clung to when he cried, the hand that held his when he was sick, softly whispering, “It’s alright. Everything will be okay soon.”
And now, it was Elena working herself to exhaustion, doing everything she could to save up for the surgery he so desperately needed.
At one in the morning, walking alone down the empty streets, Liam realized with painful clarity just how much his sister meant to him.
“Sis… Sis…”
He had walked up and down the streets countless times, but there was still no sign of her.
What now? Where else can I look?
The seventeen-year-old boy could only stagger forward, calling out and crying softly to himself.
Elena had a dream — a wildly shameless one.
In her sleep, a devastatingly handsome man held her tightly, and she clung to him in return.
Just thinking about it made her cheeks flush.
When she finally opened her eyes, her head throbbed with pain.
She instinctively lifted a hand to massage her temples.
“Ugh…”
The moment she moved her arm, a sharp ache made her gasp.
What… what happened?
Why did her arms and legs feel so sore?
And her thighs… every tiny movement sent a sharp, burning pain through her body.
It wasn’t a dream, was it?
She fought to piece together her scattered memories.
Blurred, chaotic, shameful images flashed through her mind, hazy but unmistakably real.
Oh God…
Elena felt her whole body go cold.
A deep, chilling breath filled her lungs.
The ache between her legs returned, the soreness and exhaustion flooding her nerves.
Her hand, trembling uncontrollably, reached down.
She didn’t need confirmation.
She knew.
Something precious was gone.
Scenes from the night before rushed through her mind in a flood.
She’d been drugged, someone had found her, and then…
Her and that man…
There was only one thought left in Elena’s mind now, she had to get out of there.
She suddenly remembered… it had been her who kissed him first.
God… I can’t live with this. I’ll never show my face again.
Panicking, she slid off the bed, her aching legs barely supporting her weight.
She hurriedly scrambled to pick up her clothes, wincing with every movement, her legs weak and burning.
Cautiously, she crept along the wall, moving with unsteady steps, terrified that the man on the bed might wake up and stop her.
And just as her slender figure reached the door, nearly slipping away from sight, the man in bed — Adrian, opened his eyes.
The warmth beside him was gone, and the powerful urge to call out to her tugged at him.
But his pride wouldn’t allow it.
He’d never been the type to be left behind.
He was always the one to leave first.
Seeing her slip away should’ve made things easier, one less problem to deal with.
But this time… a strange emptiness spread through his chest.
He couldn’t deny it — the inexperienced, clumsy woman from last night had fit him perfectly.
His large, empty hand clenched tightly.
Her warmth still lingered on his skin.
Her soft moans, laced with pain, echoed in his mind.
As morning light crept through the window, Adrian ran a hand through his hair, a cold smirk on his lips.
Damn it. I actually indulged all night. That’s never happened before.
And yet…
What was this woman after?
Wasn’t she going to use this to threaten him?
Out on the streets, Elena had no time for tears.
She hadn’t been home all night, Liam must be worried sick.
She quickened her pace, ignoring the soreness in her body.
She had to get home, had to see him.
When she finally reached the small, cramped apartment, the scene that greeted her made her heart shatter.
Liam, fully dressed, his face streaked with dried tears, had fallen asleep on the couch.
From his pale face and the messy state of his hair, she could imagine how desperately he’d searched for her through the night.
“You silly boy… why were you so worried?”
Elena knelt by his side, gently brushing a hand over his thin, tear-stained face.
He had the same delicate features as her — the same eyes, the same brows.
But years of illness had stripped the healthy flush from his cheeks, leaving him fragile and pale.
As long as I have you… I’ll stay strong.
For you, Liam… I’ll keep going.
Her hand gently curled around his, their fingers interlocking.
Tears slipped down her face, soaking into their entwined hands.
They were each other’s world.
Family, blood, unbreakable.
Once Liam woke, she would tell him a lie, that she was fine, that she’d spent the night at a colleague’s house, and had left too quickly to call him.
She would stitch together a believable story, make sure he understood that his sister was fine.
He could never know the truth.
His frail body and weak heart couldn’t withstand the shock.
And then… there was the surgery.
The astronomical cost of the operation weighed heavily on her heart.
Where could she possibly find that kind of money?
If she failed… she would lose the only family she had left.
A sigh escaped her lips.
Elena closed her eyes, tears sliding silently down her face.
- Writer
