Third Person's POV
Silent Hill Private Hospital; Seven Days Later
The room was silent except for the steady beeping of the heart monitor.
Soft afternoon sunlight filtered through the curtains and spilled across the hospital floor. The flowers on the nearby table had already been replaced twice during the past week.
Alexander sat beside Elena's bed. His gaze remained fixed on her face.
It had been seven days since the surgery.
Seven days since the old woman had attacked her.
Seven days since Elena had closed her eyes and hadn't opened them since.
The doctors called it recovery but to Alexander, it was torture.
His elbow rested on the armrest while one hand remained wrapped around Elena's fingers.
The warmth of her skin was the only thing stopping him from tearing the entire city apart.
Across the room, Sebastian stood quietly near the window. Even he looked exhausted.
The past week had been chaotic.
Every nurse, doctor, cleaner, and security guard in the hospital had been investigated. Every piece of footage had been reviewed. Every possible lead had been chased.
Still, there was nothing.
It was as though the old woman had appeared from nowhere and vanished into thin air.
Sebastian looked toward the bed.
"The doctors said her condition has improved significantly."
Alexander said nothing.
"Her vitals have been stable for two days."
"..."
Sebastian sighed softly.
"You should rest."
"No", Alexander replied immediately.
His eyes never left Elena. A week ago, he would have laughed if someone had told him a single woman could reduce him to this.
Now he understood.
The fear had never truly left him.
Not after hearing that her heart had stopped while he stood outside the theatre, unable to do anything.
Not after realizing that for the first time in years, there had been a problem he couldn't solve with power or money.
A faint movement suddenly interrupted the silence, causing Alexander to freeze.
Sebastian frowned as he stared intently at Elena.
Elena's fingers twitched once. Then they twitched again.
Alexander immediately leaned forward to be sure he had seen properly.
The heart monitor quickened slightly.
"Elena", Alexander called out softly.
Her eyelashes fluttered weakly.
Sebastian straightened instantly.
"Call the doctor," Alexander ordered.
Sebastian rushed out of the room.
Several doctors rushed inside moments later but Alexander barely noticed them.
His entire focus remained on Elena.
Very slowly…
Her eyes began to open. The bright hospital lights made her squint immediately. Confusion filled her expression.
For several seconds she simply stared at the ceiling. Then her gaze shifted and landed on Alexander. Neither of them spoke.
Elena's lips parted slightly. She closed them again, swallowed, and called out weakly,
"Alexander..."
The sound was barely above a whisper, yet it hit him harder than anything else.
For one brief moment, relief flashed across his face then it disappeared so quickly that nobody else would have noticed.
But Elena saw it.
She saw the tension leave his shoulders, the tightness around his eyes soften, and a little light return to his eyes.
One of the doctors stepped forward quickly.
"Miss Elena, can you hear me?"
Elena blinked. "Yes."
The doctor smiled immediately.
"Do you know where you are?"
She looked around slowly then her eyes returned to Alexander.
"I'm in the hospital."
The doctor nodded happily. "Excellent."
Elena frowned slightly as she let her gaze move around the room once more.
"Where's Hazel?"
Alexander's expression changed.
The room became quiet.
Elena pushed herself upright slightly despite the weakness in her body.
"Where is she?"
Alexander straightened his back and his fingers tightened around hers.
"She's alive."
Tears pooled in Elena's eyes and her lips curved up slightly as she clasped her hands together.
Alexander watched her carefully. His eyes widened as he saw tears form in her eyes. He quickly sat on the bed with her and hugged her gently while rubbing one hand on her back.
"It's going to be okay", Alexander cooed as he gently rubbed soothing circles on her back.