As the door creaked open, Liana's eyes widened and her heart nearly stopped. Char and Ethilia stood just a few steps away, both trembling from the cold. Ethilia's hand was bleeding, and a deep cut marked Char's forehead.
For a moment, relief flickered across their faces when they saw Liana. Char's tense shoulders dropped just a little, while Ethilia's eyes welled up in relief and exhaustion. After everything, after all the fear, they were finally safe.
Char stumbled forward, one arm supporting Ethilia. "Help us, you fool. Don't just stand there," she said weakly, her voice cracking halfway through.
Those words snapped Liana out of her daze. She rushed forward, arms trembling as she grabbed them both. "Yes, come on, but stay inside!"
The watchman came running up, stopping short when he saw the two injured girls. His eyes widened in shock. Liana turned toward him, her voice shaky. "Can you please help?"
The old man nodded and quickly took Char's arm to steady her. "The rain's still pouring," he said, glancing toward the doorway. "They'll catch a cold if we try to take them out like this."
Liana bit her lip and nodded, tightening her hold around Ethilia's shoulders. "Hmm...You're right. Can I borrow your phone?"
He handed it over without hesitation. Liana's fingers fumbled slightly as she dialed. When Ashley's voice came through, Liana exhaled in relief. "Where are you right now? And bring an ambulance too."
"We're almost there...right in front of the college," Ashley replied. "And yes, we have already called an ambulance."
"Come to the basketball court," Liana said quickly. "Fast."
She ended the call and turned to Ethilia again, wrapping both arms around her. Her chin brushed Ethilia's damp hair; she could feel Ethilia's uneven breathing against her chest.
Ethilia was still shivering, her lips pale, but the moment she looked up and saw Liana's face, her fear softened... Her fingers tightened around Liana, grounding herself. While Liana's arms were around her, rocking her back slowly.
Char, on the other hand, was still trying to stay on her feet, her hand pressed against the cut on her forehead. Blood trickled down her temple now.
"Liana…" Char whispered, her voice barely audible.
Liana looked at her immediately. "What?"
Char's gaze darted away, unsure if Liana already knew who was behind all of this or how she might react after finding out. Still, she forced herself to speak. "Alex…"
Liana's jaw tightened. "I know, and we even tried to track him, but got no lead. He'll probably hide for a few days. I've already told Ashley to report it to the police. They've blocked his cards and are keeping an eye on every place he could go." Her voice dropped low, more steady than she felt inside.
Char gave a slow nod, pressing her palm harder against her forehead as if it helped with the pain. Her eyes fluttered closed for a second, trying to push through the dizziness.
Moments later, Ashley arrived, with the police following closely behind, along with Zade and Richard.
Char was losing her balance when Ashley hurried over and caught Char before she could fall. "Can you please open the main gate so the ambulance can come in?" she called to the watchman.
He nodded quickly and led Richard and Zade toward the gate while Ashley supported Char, her face pale with worry.
The ambulance pulled inside and stopped right in front of the door. Two nurses hurried out, one pushing a stretcher toward them.
Char lay down first, with Ashley helping her. Liana's voice shook as she told the nurses, "She has got a head injury, take her fast." The nurses nodded, and Ashley climbed into the ambulance to go with her.
When the nurses approached Ethilia, she immediately clung to Liana's arm and shook her head. Her grip was desperate, nails lightly digging into Liana's sleeve.
Liana pulled back slightly, her thumb brushing away a drop of tears on Ethilia's cheek. "I'll come with you," she said softly.
"Now lie down before I have to scoop you up myself." Even in that tense moment, a tiny teasing smile flickered across her face.
Ethilia sniffed and nodded before slowly lying down. Her eyes didn't leave Liana until the stretcher began to move.
Liana followed and sat beside her in the ambulance, holding her hand tightly. Her own head felt heavy, her vision blurring, but she blinked a few times to push the dizziness away.
In all the panic and fear for Ethilia and even for Char, she hadn't noticed her own pain. But now that things were calming down, the throbbing in her head returned, stronger than before.
Still, she refused to show it. She just kept caressing Ethilia's hand until they reached the hospital.
The doctor immediately sent both Char and Ethilia to the emergency ward. Char had already passed out, and Ethilia was still holding onto Liana's hand.
Liana squeezed it gently. "When you open your eyes, I'll be the first person you see," she whispered. Ethilia nodded weakly before letting the nurses take her away.
Liana finally let out a shaky breath of relief, but her vision was already fading. She had pushed her body too far, but now that her mind was easing even a little, her body gave up. Darkness swallowed her, making her knees weak.
"Liana…" Ashley gasped, catching her before she hit the floor. "Doctor!" she shouted.
Richard and Zade were filling out the patient forms nearby, and their eyes also widened as they saw the situation.
The doctor rushed over. "Get another stretcher...quick!" she called. A nurse came running with it.
As the doctor gently removed the bandage from Liana's head, she gasped. "She's bleeding again. The bandage is soaked with rain and blood; she could get an infection. And she's lost a lot of blood."
Richard helped to lift Liana onto the stretcher, and they hurried her into the emergency room too.
Ashley leaned against the wall outside. She pressed a palm against her chest, trying to steady her breathing. Zade and Richard soon joined her.
"Never knew all this could happen within twenty-four hours," Zade muttered, running a hand through his hair.
Ashley let out a shaky breath, wiping her face with her handkerchief as she took off her raincoat. "Honestly? It felt like a month, not just a night and half a day."