(keifer) pov
The first thing I felt was pain—deep and sharp, spreading through my back.
Then I heard it.
"Keifer… please… wake up…"
My eyes slowly opened, the light stinging. Everything was blurry at first… but when it cleared, my heart dropped.
Jay.
She was tied to a cold metal chair, her face pale, tears streaming down as her body shook.
"Keifer… I don't want to stay here… please…"
"Jay… hey, calm down… I'm here," I said, trying to sound strong—but my voice betrayed me.
She was panicking, her breaths uneven, her fear filling the room.
Seeing her like that… it broke something inside me.
I tried to move toward her, dragging myself across the floor, ropes biting into my wrists and ankles. I nudged her leg lightly with my elbow—the only way I could reach her.
For a moment, everything went quiet.
Then the door creaked open.
A man stepped inside, dressed completely in black. The moment Jay saw him, she froze—then her panic worsened.
He turned toward the stand where the cattle was kept and turned it on
"Hey… it's okay," I whispered, though I didn't believe it myself.
The man walked in slowly, like he had all the time in the world. His eyes moved between us, calculating.
He spoke, his voice calm but unsettling.
"Do you remember me?"
Jay shook her head immediately, her fear obvious.
He let out a small, humorless laugh.
"That's disappointing."
I clenched my fists. "What do you want?"
He looked at me, a faint smirk forming.
"Something unfinished."
He signaled to the others in the room. Rough hands grabbed me, forcing me back into the chair and tightening the ropes around me.
"Let me go!" I struggled, but it was useless.
Another man stepped toward Jay, adjusting the ropes, holding her firmly in place as she tried to pull away.
"Stop! Please—just let me go!" she cried.
The man in black stepped closer to her again.
"Try to remember," he said quietly.
walking toward the boiling cattle
Jay shook her head, tears falling faster.
He paused for a moment… then turned away, as if thinking.
The silence stretched, heavy and suffocating.
Then he walk toward jay and pore the hot boiling water on her hand
Jay let out a sudden cry, flinching sharply as he did that I couldn see from where I was—but it was enough to make her break down completely.
"STOP!" I shouted, my voice cracking.
My entire body strained against the ropes, anger and helplessness crashing into each other.
He straightened, looking completely unfazed.
And something inside me snapped.
"I swear…" I said, my voice low but filled with rage, "I will make you regret this."
he smiled like it meant nothing.
But then—a loud crash exploded through the room. The door burst open.
For a split second, everyone got distracted.
That was enough.
I didn't wait. I twisted my wrists hard against the rope, ignoring the pain until something finally snapped loose. One hand free.
Before anyone could react, I lunged forward, grabbing the chair and slamming it into the man closest to me. He stumbled back.
Voices echoed behind me—Percy, aries —but I didn't look. I was already moving.
Jay.
I reached her, my hands shaking as I untied the ropes around her.
"It's okay… I've got you… I've got you," I whispered.
She was trembling badly. "Keifer…"
"I'm here. I'm not letting anything happen to you."
The ropes came off. She leaned forward and I caught her before she could fall.
"You're safe now," I murmured.
Then I looked up. he was Gone.
The back door swung slightly. My jaw tightened. He ran.
But the moment I looked back at Jay—everything else stopped mattering.
"Hey… stay with me," I said quickly. "Jay… look at me."
No response.
Her body suddenly went limp in my arms.
My heart dropped.
"Jay?"
Nothing.
"Jay—!"
Panic hit harder than anything before.
Percy rushed closer. "What happened?!"
"She's not responding," I said tightly.
"We need to move. Now."
Without waiting, I lifted her into my arms. She felt too light. Too still. And for the first time—I was scared.
The hospital doors burst open as I carried her inside.
"Help! She's unconscious!"
Doctors rushed in, taking her from my arms and placing her on a stretcher.
"Jay!" I called out, but she didn't respond.
They took her inside. And just like that—she was gone from my reach.
The waiting area felt suffocating. Percy and her brother were there, but I couldn't focus on them.
I just stared at my hands. They were still shaking. I could still feel her weight.
Time passed—I didn't know how long.
Then the door opened.
A doctor stepped out. I was the first to reach him.
"How is she?"
"She's stable," he said. "But she's experienced severe emotional trauma. She's in shock."
My chest tightened. "Will she wake up?"
"Yes. But she'll need time."
I nodded. "Can I see her?"
The room was quiet when I entered.
Jay lay there, pale and still, machines softly beeping beside her.
Her hand was wrapped with bandage
I walked closer and sat beside her, carefully holding her hand. It was cold.
"Hey…" I said softly. "I'm here."
No response.
"You don't have to be scared anymore. He's not here. I won't let him come near you again."
Then—her fingers twitched.
My breath caught. "Jay…?"
Her eyes slowly opened. Unfocused. Distant.
Then—fear.
She gasped, her breathing turning uneven. "No… no…"
"Jay, look at me—it's me," I said quickly.
But she didn't hear me. Her panic grew.
"Don't—please—"
I softened my voice. "You're safe."
She flinched at my touch. I immediately pulled back slightly.
"Hey… I'm not going to hurt you."
Her eyes finally locked onto mine.
"…Keifer…?"she said her voice trembling
i embrace her with my body like i am protecting her from the world outside
"Yeah," I said softly. "It's me."
Tears filled her eyes instantly.
"I was so scared…"
"I know," I said gently. "You don't have to say anything."
She held my hand tightly, like she needed it to stay grounded.
"He was there… I couldn't do anything…"
"You survived," I said quietly. "That's enough."
She looked at me, still shaking.
"What if he comes back…?"
I leaned closer, my voice steady.
"He won't."
She didn't look convinced.
So I said it again—stronger this time.
"I won't let him."
Silence filled the room again.
But this time… it wasn't empty.
She slowly leaned closer—not fully, but enough. Enough to trust.
And I stayed right there.
Not moving. Not letting go.
Because this time—she wasn't alone.