One Hundred and Seven

CHAPTER 107

"Here's your dinner, Mr. Gray."

A female nurse came in with a tray of food. She entered the room and placed the tray on the nightstand. Smiling flirtatiously, the female nurse looked at Nicholas with desire. She was especially aroused when she saw Nicholas' six-pack body clad in tight hospital clothes. They had run out of clothes that fit Nicholas' body size.

And Nicholas felt uncomfortable with the nurse's gaze for him. What's more, Alicia was sitting there, observing them both with a curious expression. Alicia wanted to know how Nicholas would react if he was teased by a woman much older than him.

"Um, thank you," Nicholas said nervously. He was afraid of appearing to over-respond to the nurse.

Nicholas' brown eyes shifted to Alicia, while scratching his head that was not itchy, Nicholas continued to say to the nurse. "I'll eat this with her."

And the expression on the nurse's face changed one hundred and eighty degrees. The smile that looked mischievous, now disappeared completely, along with his last words. "Alright. I will leave now. The doctor will examine you tomorrow morning, so after eating you can rest."

"Thank you."

After the nurse left, Alicia stood up from the chair and checked the tray on the table. Opening the lid, the girl began to prepare dinner for Nicholas. "I'll help feed you."

"That's a great idea!"

"You shouldn't have been so blatant when you refused the nurse earlier, Nic," Alicia teased, which made Nicholas chuckle amusedly. "You saw the look in her eyes, didn't you? She looked like she was going to eat you out of bed."

"Well, that was really scary."

"All right, now open your mouth first."

Alicia scooped up a spoonful of soup, blowing on it gently before passing it to Nicholas, who obediently opened his mouth. As she swallowed, Alicia's mind was filled with worry. Nicholas had been lying in a hospital bed receiving treatment for the gunshot wound to his leg and was already doing much better.

"Alicia, there's something I want to ask you."

The girl lifted her face after stirring her soup. She mumbled softly. "Um, what is it?"

"Did you see the person who attacked you in the forest?"

Deg!

Alicia's spoon clattered over the bowl. She met Nicholas' gaze, her eyes searching for an answer. "No, it was too dark, and they were wearing masks. It all happened so fast." Her voice trembled slightly, the memory of that terrible ordeal still fresh.

Nicholas nodded, his expression unreadable. "I understand." He took a deep breath, lines of worry evident on his face. "I have a feeling they're not after me, Alicia. It's you they're after."

"I wonder, why didn't they just let me die easily?" Suddenly, Alicia felt sad. Lowering the spoon into the bowl, she gently stirred the soup that was still warm there. Giving Nicholas a serious look, Alicia continued, "Why does this guy let me watch other people die, when he can just kill me in one shot? See? He even shot you in the leg without waiting for anything!"

Alicia's question still hung in the air, the weight of it settling between them like an unspoken truth. Nicholas paused, considering his words carefully before answering.

"I guess that's the point," he murmured, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon visible through the window. "There's something more to this, something more than just survival or revenge." His tone was pensive, tinged with a hint of urgency.

Alicia furrowed her brows, trying to decipher his cryptic words. "What do you mean, it's not a game of tricks, is it?"

Nicholas shook his head, a determined look in his eyes. "No, it's much more complicated than that. I've been researching, digging through old archives, and there's a pattern-a history that connects us, you and me, to something bigger." He leaned in closer, his voice barely above a whisper. "And whatever it is, they need you for it."

A shiver ran down Alicia's spine. "Me? But why?"

"I don't know, but it seems... they want to give you something more horrible than just death. Death looks easy to them, so they won't let you have it easy."

Alicia smiled bitterly. She held the tightness in her chest. Before then she looked up and looked at Nicholas with her teary eyes. "Should I be afraid now, Nic? Death is right in front of me and I still don't know what they want from me."

"Don't worry, Alicia." Nicholas took Alicia's hand, a faint smile touching his lips. "Together, we will uncover the truth and end this evil game once and forever."

Their determination formed a bond, setting them on a path of danger and discovery, where each step brought them closer to uncovering the secrets that lurked within the enigmatic forest and the evil forces that sought to manipulate their fate.

"Well, you can stop holding my hand, Nic."

"Oh my!" Nicholas hurriedly withdrew his hand. He acted like he had just made a big mistake and smiled in embarrassment. "Sorry about that. I couldn't resist getting close to you, anyway."

Alicia rolled her eyes lazily. "Stop teasing me, Nicholas Gray."

As Alicia wiped away the tears, Nicholas approached, his voice soft and reassuring. "You don't have to face this alone, Alicia. We will unravel this mystery together, and I will be by your side every step of the way."

Her heart skipped a beat at the unwavering support. "I don't know what I'd do without you, Nic. I'm sorry for making you hurt like this. I hope I won't make you hurt again in the future."

Their journey through the mysterious forest grew more dangerous with every twist and turn. However, amidst the danger, an unexpected closeness grew between them. Nicholas' determination mirrors hers, and their shared pursuit of the truth results in an unspoken connection, one that transcends fear and uncertainty.

Nicholas reaches for Alicia's hand, linking their fingers without thinking. His touch brought a sense of security, a silent promise that they would face whatever came their way together.

He released her hand, but the lingering closeness remained, a mutual understanding dancing between them.

"Let's focus on finding the truth, shall we?" Nicholas' voice contained a hint of mischief. "But before that, can we continue our evening tomb? My soup looks like it's getting cold."

"Tsk, okay okay."