[HIDDEN ROOM]
The door opened. Aiden stepped in. Silent. His eyes scanned the room instantly.
The bed is empty. The monitor, still running. Bandages, disturbed.
A faint smirk appeared. "…So, you woke up." A pause. "…Good."
He walked further inside. Slow. Unhurried. Like he already knew, she was still here.
[WARDROBE]
Rania held her breath. One hand pressed against her wound. Still hurting. Still fresh. Her other hand, tightened around the knife. Her mind raced.
Why is he saving me… after everything? Her eyes sharpened. I need answers.
The wardrobe door creaked slightly; Aiden stepped closer. Then, opened it.
In a split second, Rania moved. Her arm locked around his neck from behind. The knife pressed just below his throat. Close. Dangerous.
"Well… well…" Her voice low. "You walked right into your own game." A faint, sharp smile formed. "How does that feel?"
Aiden didn't panic. Didn't struggle. Just smiled. "…How do I feel?" A pause. "I feel like I should fight back right now."
Before she could react, his leg shifted, hooking behind hers, and in one smooth motion, he turned. Pulling her with him.
Now, she was the one caught. Held tightly. "…Now," he murmured. "…who's in the game?"
Rania's grip weakened for a second, her body reacting slower than usual. Injury. Pain.
Aiden noticed. Of course, he did. He leaned slightly closer, but before anything more, Rania reacted.
Her hand pushed against him, then, a quick strike to his abdomen. Not strong. But enough. Aiden stepped back slightly.
Then laughed. Soft. Dangerous. "I missed this." A pause. "You fighting me like this." His eyes stayed on her. "…It's familiar."
Rania's breathing grew uneven. "…Let me go, Aiden." Her voice lower now. Controlled but strained. "…Please." A beat. "I don't like this."
She tried to step back, but her body hesitated. Not because she couldn't move, but because something still remained.
Aiden noticed. Again. "…You're weaker than before." A pause. "…Not just your body."
Silence. Rania's eyes darkened. "…Don't assume things." She tightened her grip on the knife again. "I can still kill you."
Aiden smirked. "…You had the chance." A beat. "You didn't."
Silence filled the room. Heavy. Unspoken.
Rania didn't lower the knife. "…Answer me." Her voice was steady. "Why did you save me?" A pause. "You should've let me die."
Aiden tilted his head slightly. "…Should I?"
Her eyes sharpened. "Don't play with me." A step closer. "You hate me, right?" A beat. "I shot you."
Silence. "…In front of my father."
Aiden didn't react. Not outwardly.
"…And yet," she continued, "you brought me here…" Her grip tightened. "…treated my wound…" A pause. "…kept me alive." Her voice dropped. "…Why?"
Aiden exhaled slowly. Then, "…Because you're useful."
Silence. Rania's expression didn't change. "…Explain."
Aiden stepped closer, not threatening, but calm. "You're still Brandon's strongest weapon."
A pause. "If you disappear…" A pause. "…he'll move faster."
Her eyes narrowed slightly. "…So, I'm just a tool to you now?"
Aiden shrugged lightly. "…Weren't you always?" The words landed. Cold. Sharp.
Rania laughed. A short, bitter sound. "…Right." A beat. "That sounds more like you."
But something felt off. Too simple. Too clean. "…That's not the real reason." Her voice dropped.
Aiden's eyes flickered, just for a second. "…You're overthinking."
"No." A step closer. "I know you." A pause. "You don't do things like this for strategy alone." Silence.
"…Then what do you think it is?" he asked calmly.
Rania didn't answer immediately. Her gaze locked onto his. "…You still need me." A beat. "…Or you still care."
Aiden smiled. But this time, it didn't reach his eyes. "…Care?" A soft chuckle. "You really think I'd risk everything for that?" A pause. "You're not that special, Rania."
That hit. Harder than it should. Rania's grip tightened just slightly.
"…Good." Her voice is colder now. "I'd hate it if you were still that stupid." A pause. But her eyes lingered. Just a second too long.
Aiden noticed. Of course, he did. "…Believe whatever you want." A beat. "But don't mistake this." His voice lowered. "You're alive because I allow it."
Rania scoffed. "…Still arrogant." A pause. "Nothing changed."
But something had. Because neither of them, said the truth. He didn't save her, for strategy. He didn't keep her alive, for control. He saved her, bBecause he couldn't watch her die. Again.
Rania slowly lowered the knife, but didn't step back. "…Fine." A pause. "I'll play along." Her eyes darkened. "But don't think I trust you."
Aiden smirked faintly. "…I never asked you to."
Two enemies. Standing too close. Bound by lies. And something, neither of them dared to say.
Silence lingered again between them. Heavy but not hostile.
Vex exhaled slowly. "…Can you get out now?" A pause. "I want to rest…"
Her brows lifted slightly, a teasing edge in her voice. "…peacefully." A faint smile followed. Sharp. Annoying on purpose.
Aiden looked at her. Then smiled. Not irritated. Not offended. Just amused. "…Well." A small shrug. "Up to your command."
He stepped closer instead of leaving. Vex's eyes narrowed immediately. "…What are you doing?"
Without answering, Aiden reached out, and gently took the knife from her hand. Effortless. Controlled. "This thing…" He examined it briefly. "…is not good for you anyway."
Vex scoffed. "…Says the man who just got held at knifepoint."
Aiden chuckled softly. "…And still walked out fine." He placed the knife aside, far from her reach.
Vex noticed. Of course, she did. "…You don't trust me."
Aiden glanced at her. "…Should I?" A pause. "…You literally tried to kill me five minutes ago."
Vex smirked slightly. "…You deserved it."
Aiden leaned slightly closer, just enough to lower his voice. "…You still can." A beat. "But not today."
Vex's expression flickered, just for a second. Then hardened again. "…Get out." This time, less playful.
Aiden raised both hands slightly. "…Alright." He turned, walking toward the door.
Then paused. "…Try not to escape again." A glance over his shoulder. "…You're not strong enough yet."
Vex rolled her eyes. "…Worry about yourself." A beat. "…I might still finish what I started."
Aiden smiled. "…I'll be waiting." The door opened. Then closed.
Silence returned. Real silence this time. Vex's expression dropped. The smile gone. Her hand slowly moved to her chest. Pain. Still there.
"…Annoying." A pause. "…He's really annoying." But her eyes, lingered on the door. Just for a moment longer than necessary.
Aiden stood there. Not moving. Not leaving. His expression, no longer smiling. "…Rest, huh…" A faint exhale. "…You never could." Then, he walked away.
Inside, Vex tried to rest. Outside, Phantom kept watch. Because no matter what they said, neither of them was at peace.
[HIDDEN ROOM | NIGHT]
The room was quiet again. Too quiet.
Vex lay still on the bed. Eyes closed. Breathing slow. But not fully asleep. She knew.
The door opened. Soft. Careful. No sound, unless you were expecting it. He came back.
"…How long is he going to stay?" she thought silently. Her brows almost moved, but she stopped herself. Still. Pretending. Waiting.
Aiden stepped inside. No rush. No hesitation. Just presence. He walked toward her slowly. Then stopped beside the bed. Looking at her. Not as an enemy. Not as a target. But as something, he almost lost.
Rania didn't move. Didn't react. Just closed her eyes tighter. Then slowly, her breathing softened. Real this time. Sleep took over. She didn't realize when she stopped pretending.
Silence filled the room. Aiden exhaled quietly. "…You know what?"
His voice low. Barely above a whisper. He reached out, his fingers brushing gently through her long hair. Slow. Careful.
"…It really hurt." A pause. "When you said…" His hand stilled slightly.
"…that your love for me was nothing." A faint breath escaped him. "…Like something you could just step on."
He looked away for a moment, pushing his hair back slowly. "…I deserved it." A pause. "…Maybe I still do."
His gaze returned to her. Soft. Unguarded. "For everything you did to me…" A beat. "I'll accept it." Silence. "…All your hatred." His voice lowered further. "…I'll take it.
A faint smile, but not a happy one. "…Because at least it means…" A pause. "…you still feel something."
His hand moved again, lightly brushing her hair away from her face. "…Even if it's just a little."
He sat down beside the bed. Careful not to disturb her. "…Seeing you like this…" His eyes softened. "…hurt more than anything."
A pause. "…You're always so strong." A faint exhale. "…But not like this." He leaned back slightly. Not touching her anymore. Giving space but not leaving.
"…I don't know if I can get you back." A beat. "…But I want to." Silence returned. Deep. Heavy.
---------------------------------
The first light of morning slipped into the room. Soft. Quiet. Rania stirred slightly. Still asleep. Unaware of everything that had been said.
And beside her, Aiden was still there. Waiting. Like he never left.
--------------------------
Vex's eyes opened slowly. Her body didn't move at first. Just her gaze, searching. The chair. The corner. The door. Empty.
"…So, you left." A pause. A faint smile appeared, but it didn't reach her eyes. "…Yet you still care." Her voice soft. Almost mocking. Almost… not.
She pushed herself up slowly. Pain shot through her chest. "…Tch." Her hand pressed lightly against the bandage. "…Still hurts." A beat. "But better than before."
Vex pulled the comforter off herself and placed her feet on the floor before heading to the bathroom.
The bathroom door is opened with full strong and she stepped inside. Cold tiles. Clean mirror.
Vex grabbed a damp towel. Pressed it lightly against her skin. Careful. Controlled. Not letting the pain show. "…I'm fine." A pause. "…Still fine."
She looked at her reflection. Same eyes. Same expression. But something felt different. "Feels kind of unusual, doesn't it?"
After Vex cleaned herself, she stepped back into the room. Her gaze shifted, toward the flowerpot. "…Still there."
She moved it slightly. Revealing the hidden door behind it. Her brows lifted. "…He didn't close it." A faint, wicked smile formed. "…Careless." Or maybe not.
The door opened quietly. Fresh air hit her immediately. Cool. Light. Alive.
A vast garden stretched before her. Filled with flowers, different colors. Different shapes. Too soft, for someone like him. "…Still the same." A small breath escaped her. "…You really didn't change."
She walked slowly; each step careful. Still healing. Still hurting. Her fingers brushed lightly across the petals until she stopped.
A sunflower. Taller. Brighter than the rest. Her gaze softened. Just slightly. "…I remember this." Her fingers touched it gently. "…You gave me one like this." A pause. "On our first date."
A faint scoff. "I told you I didn't like flowers." Her lips curved slightly. "But you insisted." A beat. "You said…" Her voice lowered. "…it was a symbol of your heart."
Silence. Her grip tightened slightly on the stem. "…If I had known your intentions back then…" A faint laugh escaped her. "…I would've thrown it back at your face." A pause. "…Crushed it."
She exhaled slowly. "…But then again…" Her gaze lowered. "…I was playing the same game." A beat. "…So I accepted it anyway."
Her eyes closed. The breeze brushed past her. Soft. Calm. "…I really hate this feeling." A faint whisper. Almost lost in the air. But she didn't move. Didn't walk away. Because no matter how much she denied it, she still remembered.
The garden remained quiet. Sunlight falling gently around her. And somewhere, someone was watching. Not interfering. Not stopping her. Just letting her breathe. For now.
TBC