Chapter 61

Adriel's eyes fluttered open, his mind foggy and his head pounding. He was met with the stark brightness of the room, and his gaze instinctively scanned around for Emma. She was lying on the ground, a few feet away, her eyes closed. Adriel's heart skipped a beat as he struggled to sit up, his wheelchair abandoned beside him.

"Emma!" he croaked, his voice hoarse from screaming.

A figure rushed to his side, helping him sit up. "Easy, Mr Adriel. You are safe now."

Adriel's gaze locked onto the security personnel's face, but his eyes darted back to Emma. "Is she...?"

The guard nodded. "She is alive, but we need to get her medical attention. She's been hit."

Adriel's world went dark again as he remembered the sound of gunfire. He had thought Darwin had shot Emma, and his mind relived the horror. He forced himself to focus, his eyes fixed on Emma's pale face.

With a surge of adrenaline, Adriel pushed himself up, using the guard for support. He stumbled towards Emma, his legs trembling benea