Jacob gestured toward him.
_"Get up, don't wear yourself out."
Matthew nodded.
+"I'm gonna smoke a cigarette. You go ahead."
_"Cut down on those, Matthew. You know how bad they are."
+"Yeah, yeah, Grandpa. Now get lost."
Jacob took a deep breath and left the room without replying.
He headed toward Diana's room, knocked on the door, and waited.
Just like last time. no answer. He rolled his eyes.
_"I'm coming in…"
He opened the door. No sign of her, not on the balcony, not in the bathroom.
Where the hell had she gone now?
He quickly checked the library and the TV room. Still nothing.
Room by room, he searched, nothing.
Thinking maybe she'd gotten hungry, he rushed downstairs
only to find Matthew alone in the kitchen.
+"What's with the look?" Matthew asked.
Jacob swallowed hard.
_"Have you seen Diana, by any chance?"
+"Isn't she in her room?"
_"If she were, would I be asking you?"
He walked over to the intercom, pressing the button.
_"Diana, are you downstairs? Erik, have you seen her?"
Erik's voice echoed through the kitchen:
/"Yes, sir. She's in the main floor library. It's been about an hour and a half."
Matthew frowned.
+"Go in."
/"Sorry, sir?"
+"I said go in! What are you, deaf? Open the door and go inside!"
/"Y-Yes, sir."
There was a click, and after a few seconds:
/"She's asleep, sir."
Jacob let out a sigh of relief.
_"Alright. You can leave."
Turning to Matthew, he said,
_"I'll go wake her."
He opened the library door and stepped in. He had completely forgotten she might wander around the estate.
Walking over quietly, he gently shook her.
_"Wake up, kid…"
She was fast asleep.
_"Hey… blue eyes… come on, wake up…"
He brushed aside a lock of her hair and gently tapped it against her small, pale nose.
A thin blanket covered her, but the cold had turned the tip of her nose pink.
After a lot of effort, she finally woke up.
_"Phew… finally. You wanna go back to sleep?"
Diana stretched her arms and let out a small groan. Her voice was thick from sleep.
-"I was planning to if you'd let me,"
she said and turned her back to Jacob.
His eyes widened.
_"You've got to be kidding me."
He grabbed both her hands and pulled her up into a sitting position. Diana didn't even bother to open her eyes.
_"Looks like I have no choice,"
he sighed.
Then he started tickling her.
No matter how hard she tried to ignore it, she couldn't hold back. Laughter burst out of her.
-"W-Wait, stop! Jacob, please!"
Tears welled up in her eyes from laughing so hard.
_"You need to really wake up."
-"I'm awake! I swear, I'm wide awake!"
But Jacob didn't stop.
Desperate, she suddenly grabbed her side.
-"Ow! Ah ugh! Stop, it hurts again! The pain flared just like before. It even felt like she might be bleeding."
Jacob immediately pulled back, alarmed.
_"Hey, hey...are you okay? Look at me. Take your hand off, let me see. maybe the stitches came undone. Diana..."
But when he looked up at her face, he saw her smirking.
Through gritted teeth, he muttered,
_"You better pray I don't catch you…"
Diana burst out laughing and bolted for the door. She flung it open only to smack right into someone.
-"Ugh!"
She clutched her nose and groaned. At first, she thought it was Erik, but as she stepped back, she saw Matthew's frowning face.
And it looked terrifying.
Before she could even think, she slammed the door shut on him.
Jacob's shocked voice rang out,
_"Diana?! Are you insane? Why the hell did you shut the door in his face?!"
She was still breathing hard, startled, her hands clamped over her mouth.
-"I don't know...I swear it was completely instinctive!"
She paused, thinking.
-"What's he gonna do to me now?"
Then looked at Jacob with pleading eyes.
-"You go first. I'll come right after you. Please?"
Jacob let out a long sigh and walked to the door.
He opened it slowly but Matthew was gone.
_"Come on. He's gone. You're safe now."