Kai laughed hollowly, his hands trembling at his sides.
Why? It was the only thought left lingering in his shattered mind.
Even the physical warmth of Arjun's embrace felt suffocating, draining whatever little energy Kai had left.
Arjun slowly pulled back, holding the shoulders of the broken boy . "I think you should see the girl before it is too late."
Kai stood completely still. His eyes were empty, devoid of any light or fight.
Arjun's expression was masked with a smile , but beneath his calm, amber eyes, a cold, hidden truth lingered.
Watching Kai fall apart was tragic, but internally, Arjun felt a massive wave of relief. 'The monster is going to die. '
The Level 101 Executioner walked toward the lead doctor, speaking in hushed tones to secure permission for Kai to enter the isolation room.
"The doctor agreed," Arjun said, returning to Kai's side. "But only one person is allowed inside."
Kai ignored him. He remained frozen, staring blankly at the swinging doors.
Arjun couldn't hold back anymore. He reached out, his hand wrapping firmly around Kai's wrist.
"Get up, Kai. Time is running out, and she is waiting for you. This is the last time you are going to see her."
Arjun guided the paralyzed boy toward the door. With every step they took, Arjun could practically feel the chaotic, terrified rhythm of Kai's heartbeat echoing in the quiet hall.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
When they reached the door, Arjun gently pushed Kai inside and pulled the door shut behind him, leaving the Glitch alone with the anomaly.
Kai stood frozen inside the quiet room. The only sound was the steady, rhythmic beeping of the heart monitor.
Should he use the Elixir of Life on Nyra... or Lilia? .Kai was standing at two roads leading to different path .
If he chose one path , another path will crumble. If Kai chose Lilia then he couldn't
See the smile of the girl ,he couldn't tease Nyra .
If he chose Nyra then the promise.
The impossible choice tore at his sanity. Nyra... or Lilia? Lilia... or Nyra?
"Ka... Kai?"
A familiar, weak voice broke through the silence.
Nyra was lying in the hospital bed. Thick white bandages were wrapped heavily around her head, and a plastic oxygen mask covered her nose and mouth, fogging up with every shallow breath.
Kai's vision instantly blurred with hot tears.
His breath grew heavier, choking in his throat as he slowly moved forward. He didn't say a word. He just reached out and carefully, desperately, wrapped his hands around Nyra's cold fingers.
Even in her critical condition, Nyra could feel the violent trembling of his hands.
"Kai..." she whispered through the mask, her eyes half-open. Slowly opening her eye's for one last time to see person that was dearest to her "It is nice... to see you are fine."
A fresh tear broke down Kai's cheek. He slowly pressed her hand against his forehead, closing his eyes.
Then, with a shaking breath, he reached into his jacket.
He pulled out the small, golden earthen bottle. A faint, warm light radiated from the glass.
He couldn't see Nyra in this miserable condition. Ad he slowly tightened grab near Nyra hands."This is the Elixir of Life,"
Nyra narrowed her eye's as she listened to Kai ."It can heal anything. It can bring you back."
Nyra slowly turned her head away, looking toward the blank hospital wall.
Kai frowned, his confusion cutting through his grief. "You... you don't want to save your life?"
Nyra remained silent for a long moment.
But the hourglass was slowly coming to it end.
Kai sensed a vibration , Nyra gripped bed sheet tightly with other hand. "I know how precious that is... cough... you risked your life for it in the Inverse Pyramid."
Kai's eyes widened in shock. "But it is not worth more than your life!"
Nyra kept her gaze fixed on the opposite wall, refusing to look at the golden bottle. "It was meant to be used on the woman you were looking for."
Kai froze. The air left his lungs. "How... how do you know about that?"
Nyra let out a weak, rattling breath. "I'm a journalist, Kai. I know things. But..." She slowly turned her head back to look into his eyes, wanting to see the respones .
"Promise me... you will not use it on me. Save her."
Kai was plunged into absolute, suffocating despair. She was giving up her life for a woman she had never even met, just to protect his conscience.
Only fifteen minutes remained on the doctor's hourglass. The heart monitor beeped a steady, terrifying countdown.
Knock. Knock.
The heavy metal door slowly creaked open. A nurse leaned her head into the room, her face pale with fear.
"Mr. Kai?" she whispered nervously, her eyes darting toward the hallway, slowly closing the door . "The Super Cops are waiting outside."