Elizabeth did not understand why Alex prefered to run away instead of fighting back but the moment she saw the blood that had stained his shirt, she grabbed his hand and ran out of the bar.
She ran with everything she's got, her mind racing. Occasionally, she glanced back to ensure that Alex was fine and each time she didn't see any sigh of pain on his face, she felt somewhat relieved though she wondered why.
When they got far away from the bar, Alex stopped, causing her to abruptly stop. She thought something must have happened to him but when she looked at him, he was fine.
"That's enough," he told her.
Elizabeth narrowed her eyes, still catching her breath. "Enough?" she echoed, her grip on his wrist tightening. "You were bleeding, Alex. What part of that is enough?"
Alex glanced down at his shirt, the dark stain spreading slowly across the fabric. "It's not as bad as it looks," he said, his voice calm—too calm for someone who had just been bleeding.
"Not as bad—" She bit back her frustration, her heart pounding against her ribs. "You could've told me if you were hurt instead of playing it cool!"
His expression didn't change. If anything, there was a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes before he spoke again. "I didn't want to cause a scene."
"A scene?" She let out a bitter laugh, releasing his hand. "You were practically dripping blood! And you think running away quietly is better?"
For a moment, silence hung between them. The distant hum of the city seemed too normal after everything that had just happened.
Alex tilted his head slightly, his gaze locked on hers. "Why do you even care so much?"
The question struck her harder than she expected. Elizabeth opened her mouth to respond but hesitated, unsure of the answer herself. She shouldn't care—not about him, not about any of this. Yet, here she was, breathless and angry because he was bleeding and refused to explain why.
"I don't," she snapped, stepping back. "But if you drop dead, our deal's off, and I'm not letting that happen."
His lips twitched, almost like he wanted to smile but then he didn't. "Fair enough."
She crossed her arms, the cold night air brushing against her skin. "Next time, if you're hurt, tell me. I can't drag your stubborn body around if you pass out."
"I'll keep that in mind," Alex said, turning away like the conversation meant nothing. But as she followed behind him, Elizabeth couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to his silence and that, for reasons she didn't want to admit, it bothered her.
After they had walked for a while, she stopped him.
"Alex," she called out to him.
"Yes?" Alex replied, tilting his head slightly.
"Why are you protecting her?" She asked him. "Lilac, why are you so interested in her?"
Alex fell silent for a while, he was not sure if Elizabeth was worth trusting but afyer he remembered how she fought Lilac in his place and how worried she has been lately over his course, he sighed inwardly.
Something within stirred each time she showed him her weak sides, it has never happened before — Only lately. He wondered if something happened to her.
"About her," he mumbled. "I want to keep her my side."
The reply came out unexpected, Elizabeth was taken aback, it was the least response she had wanted to hear that very moment and for a while she didn't know how to respond to it.
"O-okay," she mumbled in a low tone. Inwardly, she was hurt — It felt as though she was being pierced with countless needles.
Why did she bother showing care? Trying to protect him? Try to see him in a different light?
Why?
Her head felt heavy, she could barely keep standing but she refused to show this side to him, not now, not any longer.
"Goodnight," she whispered and turned away. Without glancing back, she began to leave but before she could go any further, she stumbled snd was about to fall but just then... A pair of cold hands wrapped itself around her, stopping her from meeting the ground.
She gazed up weakly and saw Alex's golden eyes staring back at her.
What is it that she saw in those pair of eyes, worry? Anger? Or the both of them?
"I hate to do this," she heard him grunt but before she could say something, she fainted.
-------
Inside the bar, Lilac remained kneeling beneath the shattered remains of the ice pillar. Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth as her silver hair clung to her face. She could still feel the sting of Elizabeth's icy blade across her shoulder.
The door creaked open.
A chill far colder than Elizabeth's ice crept into the room. Several figures stepped inside, their black boots hitting the floor in synchronized silence. Each one wore a mask—smooth, expressionless, and inhuman. But the one in the center stood out. His mask was silver with jagged black lines carving through it, resembling a fractured skull.
Lilac's heart pounded harder against her ribs.
The masked leader strolled toward her, his movements slow and deliberate. "Where is he?" His voice was calm, but far from gentle.
Lilac kept her head down, trying to hide the tremor in her hands. "He got away."
Silence.
A harsh crack pierced the air as the back of his hand connected with her face, sending her sprawling to the floor. Pain flared along her jaw, but she didn't make a sound.
"You had one job," he said, crouching beside her. "And you failed."
Lilac swallowed the taste of blood. "I—I couldn't stop him."
His gloved fingers gripped her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze, or rather, the hollow eyes of his mask. "Don't lie to me," he warned. "You hesitated."
"I didn't!" Lilac protested, though they both knew the truth.
Another strike, harder this time—sent her vision spinning. The other masked figures remained silent, standing as still as statues, but their presence was suffocating.
"You know the rules, bitch," the leader murmured, brushing a bloodied lock of hair from her face. "Failure has consequences."
Lilac's heart continued to pound against her ribs as she forced herself to meet his gaze. "I'll find him," she promised, her voice trembling despite herself. "I'll finish the job."
The leader tilted his head, considering her words. Then, without warning, he drove his knee into her stomach. Lilac gasped in pain, collapsing against the cold floor.
"You'll find him," he agreed, rising to his feet. "Or next time, I won't be so kind."
Without another word, he turned and gestured to the others. They vanished into the night as quietly as they came, leaving Lilac broken and bleeding on the bar floor, alone.
Still, despite the pain, her lips curled into a bitter smile.
"Run all you want, Alex," she thought. "Theywon't stop until they have you."