Elena's POV
I screamed when I saw the blood splatter onto me—Leo's blood.
The terror was so overwhelming that I jolted awake.
But everything around me was blurry, as if the world had been washed in white.
Where… am I?
I tried to sit up, but I couldn't feel my legs at all. My body felt weak, as though I had been lying down for years. I attempted to move my hands, but only my fingers twitched slightly.
"Call the doctor! Ms. Kim is awake!"
Someone shouted nearby. I heard hurried footsteps rushing away, but my mind was still in complete chaos. Slowly, my vision began to clear, and that was when I realized I was inside a room—but it didn't look like a hospital.
It looked more like a bedroom in a house.
The only part of my body I could move was my head as I slowly scanned the room.
That was when I noticed the needles attached to my hands and the monitor beside the bed.
A woman dressed in white suddenly entered the room. She froze in surprise when she saw that I was awake and quickly rushed to my side, glancing at the monitor with a mixture of shock and disbelief.
She approached me with a small flashlight and shone it into my eyes. I blinked repeatedly at the harsh brightness.
But wait…
My eyes widened in confusion when I realized something.
She could touch me.
She could see me.
What was happening?
Where was I? How could they see me?
My mind was overflowing with questions, but I couldn't form a single word.
How did I end up here?
"I never expected you would actually wake up. This is nothing short of a miracle, Ms. Kim," the woman in white said.
I studied her more carefully and realized she was a doctor.
"Do you remember me? It's Lyra," she said gently with a smile.
No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't remember her.
"You need to rest for now. I'll go tell Leo the news. He'll be very happy to hear this."
I froze.
She knows Leo?
"Leo…" I managed to whisper.
She looked surprised for a moment before smiling warmly.
"So you remember him? Leo. He's been waiting for you for a very long time, Ms. Kim," she said softly, her eyes beginning to glisten with tears.
She quickly wiped them away and stood up.
"Rest for now, okay? I'll keep monitoring your condition and check on you again later. I'm so happy that you're finally awake… and I'm sure my brother will feel the same way."
She gently touched my cheek before leaving the room.
A nurse stayed behind to watch over me.
My confusion only grew deeper.
What was happening?
I was awake… but how?
Wasn't I… dead?
With nothing else to do, I stared blankly out the window beside my bed.
The sky outside was bright blue, and the trees swayed peacefully in the wind.
Is this a dream?
If it is, then I don't want to wake up.
And if I really am alive… then this must be the happiest moment of my life.
I didn't even realize that tears had already begun streaming down my face.
Suddenly, I clutched my chest as my heart began pounding violently.
An uneasy feeling washed over me.
Something was wrong.
My gaze fell on the ring on my finger.
Did something happen to Carlos?
My hands clenched tightly as panic crept in. I didn't know what to do, so I forced myself to calm down.
Not long after, I drifted back to sleep.
When I opened my eyes again, I found myself standing in a living room inside a house I didn't recognize.
A loud gunshot rang out behind me.
Startled, I turned around—and froze.
Carlos had just been shot right in front of me.
"Carlos!"
I shot upright in bed, gasping.
I was back in the same room as before—the house where I had awakened earlier.
But this time I was sitting up, struggling to catch my breath.
The nurse saw me and hurried to my side.
"Ms. Kim, please lie down. You just woke up," she said anxiously.
My hands were trembling.
The dream replayed endlessly in my mind. It had felt too real.
My fear only grew stronger.
I needed to see Carlos.
"Ms. Kim! What are you doing?" the nurse cried in shock when I started pulling out the medical equipment attached to me.
I had to leave.
I had to find Carlos.
"Ms. Kim, please don't stand up!" she panicked.
But I pushed her aside and forced myself to stand.
A wave of dizziness struck me immediately, and I collapsed back onto the bed.
My legs trembled as if they had forgotten how to support my weight.
But I couldn't stay here.
I tried to stand again and again, but each time I stumbled.
"Dr. Lyra! Doctor! Ms. Kim!" the nurse shouted.
Panic filled me.
I did everything I could to move forward until I finally reached the door.
But just as I was about to step outside, the female doctor appeared in front of me.
She looked shocked.
"Where are you going, Ms. Kim?"
"I need… I need to see Carlos. Let me out!" I tried to push past her, but she grabbed my arm.
"Who is Carlos? You're not well enough yet," she said firmly.
"No! I'm leaving!" I shouted.
She immediately grew alarmed.
"Nurse! Call the others! Hurry!"
Within seconds, several people rushed in and grabbed hold of me to restrain me.
I struggled against them, but my body was far too weak.
Then I felt a sharp sting in my neck.
When I turned my head, I saw the syringe in the doctor's hand.
"H-no… let me… out…" I tried to protest, but the words faded as drowsiness overwhelmed me.
My vision darkened.
When I opened my eyes again, I was standing in the middle of a living room—exactly like in my dream.
I looked down at my hands and saw my reflection faintly passing through the floor.
Was I a soul again?
Chaos surrounded me—gunshots, shouting, people fighting.
This house felt strangely familiar.
It was as if I had been here before.
My gaze shifted toward the man descending the stairs with a gun in his hand.
"Kuya…" I whispered.
He didn't see me. His body passed straight through mine.
I followed him with my eyes.
He raised his gun and aimed it.
My heart dropped when I realized who he was pointing it at.
"Don't! Carlos!" I screamed.
But he couldn't hear me.
It was too late.
I watched in horror as the bullet pierced Carlos's body—the shot fired from my brother's gun.
Then I saw Leo draw his own weapon and fire back at my brother, but he dodged the attack.
Gunshots echoed as they exchanged fire.
Then suddenly Leo stopped.
Another bullet struck him.
I couldn't move.
It felt as though the entire world had collapsed on top of me.
My knees gave out, and I sank to the floor as tears streamed uncontrollably down my face.
There were so many things I wanted to scream, but no sound came out.
Why did I have to witness the people I loved dying right in front of me?
If only I could have done something.
If only I had been able to stop it.
Why did I arrive too late?
Was there truly no hope left?
Was I going to lose them both?
"Was I… too late?" I whispered weakly as I stared at them—both of their bodies soaked in blood.