Chapter 24

Marie sat in tense silence, while Ethan stood and both of their eyes locked on Lucy as she lay still on the mattress. The dim light from the single lamp cast a warm glow, but it did little to alleviate the cold fear creeping into their hearts. Lucy had just calmed down after what felt like an eternity of thrashing and murmuring persistently. The sweat on her brow was a high contrast to the deathly shades of her skin. Her chest could be seen by anyone as it rose and fell with shallow breaths.

Ethan, his arms crossed tightly over his chest, tried to make sense of everything. Marie's words echoed in his mind, blending with his own observations. **What did she mean?** he mused, his thoughts tangled. **Something is different about Lucy… but what?**

Marie stood beside him, her fingers twisting the hem of her gown anxiously. She couldn’t shake the fear she felt seeing Lucy like this. Her friend looked so fragile, so far away, like she was lost in a place that neither of them could reach. The room felt stifling, as if the very air was fading away with the weight of unspoken words and the threats that loomed around the corner of the room.

"Ethan," Marie finally broke the silence, her voice trembling slightly, "What… What do you think is happening to her? She doesn’t look well. Will she be alright?"

Ethan didn’t answer right away. His gaze remained fixed on Lucy, as if the answer might appear on her face if he looked long enough. He took a deep breath, his mind racing through the possibilities. He knew Lucy was fighting something, but what? And why did it feel so… familiar?

When he spoke, his voice was low, almost as if he were afraid the walls might hear. "I think," he began, choosing his words carefully, "I think Lucy’s caught in her own mind, in a dream… or maybe a nightmare. She's fighting something… or someone. And from what I can gather, it's her own fears."

Marie’s brow furrowed in confusion. "Her own fears?" she repeated, trying to grasp the meaning. "What do you mean?"

Ethan sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It’s like she’s trapped in a world that she’s created in her mind—a place where all her fears and doubts live. She’s fighting them, struggling with them. And if she’s not careful, if she pushes herself too hard…"

His voice trailed off, the weight of his words hanging in the air like a dark cloud.

Marie’s eyes widened with worry. "You mean… she might not wake up?"

Ethan hesitated, then nodded slowly. "It’s possible. Her wolf is the root cause of all this. She's been trapped for so long. If her mind believes she’s in danger, then her body might react as if she really is. That’s why… if she reaches the brink, there’s a chance she might not find her way back."

Marie’s heart sank. She looked down at Lucy, her face a mixture of fear and helplessness. "What can we do? We can’t just leave her like this."

“I hope she wakes but even if she wakes. She might not be the Lucy you knew.” Ethan’s jaw tightened. "There’s only one person who might be able to help her. Leo."

Marie looked up sharply, her eyes searching Ethan’s face. "Leo? But… Why him?"

Ethan took a deep breath, trying to explain what he barely understood himself. "They share something… a connection, a bond. I’ve seen it before. Leo’s the only one who can reach her, pull her back if she goes too far. He’s the only one who can help her fight whatever she’s facing."

Marie bit her lip, uncertainty written all over her face. "But… will he? Will Leo help her, even after everything?"

Ethan didn’t answer right away but glanced at Marie and looked away. 

“I mean, Lucy told me that Leo doesn't want anything to do with her… so, I thought….”

“Trust me… I know.” He took a deep breath in. He also knew the complicated web of emotions and history between Leo and Lucy. He knew the obstacles, the misunderstandings, and the unspoken feelings that clouded their relationship. But he also knew Leo. And despite everything, despite the obstacles, Leo would never let anything happen to Lucy if he could help it.

"I believe he will," Ethan finally said, his voice firm with conviction. "He might not be in a good state, he might be confused, but he won’t let her go. Not like this."

Marie nodded slowly, a small flicker of hope sparking in her chest. She trusted Ethan, but the fear still gnawed at her. She looked back down at Lucy, her heart aching for her friend. "Then… we need to save her. You're the only one that can talk to Leo."

Ethan nodded, his gaze steely. "Yes, but first, we need to make sure she stays calm. You have to keep her stable until I can get Leo here."

Marie swallowed hard and knelt beside Lucy, her hand gently brushing a stray lock of hair from Lucy’s forehead. "Stay strong, Lucy," she whispered, her voice filled with emotion. "We’re going to get you out of this. I promise."

Ethan watched Marie, his own thoughts a whirlwind of worry and determination. Time was running out, and he knew it. They needed Leo, and they needed him now. But deep down, a nagging fear took root in his mind—**What if Leo couldn’t get here and has something else to do? What if it was already too late?**

Shaking off the dark thoughts, Ethan steeled himself. **No. I won’t let that happen. We’ll get her back. We have to or else, I don't know what Leo would do… he'll be cruel** With a final glance at Lucy, he turned to Marie. "Stay with her. I’ll go find Leo."

Marie nodded, her eyes never leaving Lucy’s face. "I'm never leaving her side.."

With that, Ethan left the room, the heavy door closing behind him with a soft thud. Ethan hurried down the narrow hallway, his boots echoing against the stone floor with every determined step. His mind was focused on one thing—finding Leo and getting him to Lucy as quickly as possible. The urgency in his stride mirrored the storm of worry brewing inside him. He couldn’t shake the image of what would happen to Leo if he was to lose Lucy who was lying motionless on the mattress, her life seemingly hanging by a thread.

As he turned a corner, he nearly collided with Isabella, who was walking in the opposite direction. The abrupt encounter startled them both, and Ethan instinctively took a step back, his expression momentarily betraying his unease. He quickly masked it, but not before Isabella caught the flicker of anxiety in his eyes.

"Ethan?" Isabella’s voice was sharp, laced with suspicion. She narrowed her eyes, studying his face. "Where are you rushing off to in such a state? And why do you look so… restless?"

Ethan tried to compose himself, forcing a calm he didn’t feel. "It’s nothing, Isabella. Just pack business. I’m looking for Leo."

But Isabella wasn’t easily convinced. She crossed her arms, her gaze piercing as she scrutinized him further. There was something off about his demeanor, something he wasn’t telling her. And she wasn’t about to let it go.

"Pack business?" she repeated, her tone skeptical. "You expect me to believe that? You look like you’ve seen a ghost, Ethan. What’s really going on?"

Ethan clenched his jaw, trying to keep his frustration in check. He didn’t have time for this. Every second spent here with Isabella was a second lost, and Lucy couldn’t afford that. But he knew Isabella well enough to realize that she wouldn’t back down easily.

"I don’t have time to explain, Isabella," he said, his voice clipped. "It’s important that I find Leo. And all I have to do is to get to him."

Isabella raised an eyebrow, her curiosity deepened even further. She wasn’t sure what Ethan was hiding, but she intended to find out.

"Why are you so desperate to find him?" she pressed, her tone softer now but no less insistent. "What’s going on, Ethan? You can tell me."

Ethan met her gaze, his expression hardening. "This isn’t your concern, Isabella. I don't have much time to waste. I have to go."

But his response only fueled her suspicions. **He’s hiding something.** Isabella thought, her mind racing. **And whatever it is, it’s serious.**

She watched as Ethan turned to leave, his body tense with the need to hurry. As he walked away, her eyes narrowed in determination. She didn’t believe him—not for a second. Something was happening, and she was going to find out what it was.

**He came from that direction,** she realized, glancing down the hallway Ethan had emerged from. Without a second thought, she started walking toward it, her pace quickening as her curiosity turned into a relentless need for answers.