He grabbed a robe, wrapped it over her towel, and slid one arm beneath her back, the other under her knees. Lifting her carefully, he carried her out.

“The couch,” she said, wincing.

“Got it.” He crossed the room and gently set her down on the sofa.

Hadley sucked in a sharp breath and clenched her teeth.

“Where does it hurt?” Eric asked, his voice tight. His hands hovered just above her, afraid to touch the wrong spot.

“My foot,” she said. She extended her right leg slightly and pointed at her ankle.

“Don’t move!” Eric knelt in front of her. “I’ll call a doctor right now.”

“No, don’t!” Hadley caught his arm and gave him a weak smile. “I just slipped. It’s not that serious.”

“But you said it hurt.”

“Of course it does—I fell.” She pulled her right leg in and checked her ankle. It didn’t look swollen.

“See? No swelling.”

Eric didn’t look convinced. “Can you move it? Try, just a little.”

“Alright…” She nodded and slowly turned her ankle. “I think I can. Yeah, it moves.”

“That’s a good sign.” Eric leaned forward and pressed around the joint with gentle fingers. “Does this hurt?”

“No. It’s okay,” she said, visibly relieved.

She motioned toward the walk-in closet. “There’s a first-aid kit in the wardrobe.”

“I know.” He was already on his feet. “Same place as the one in Olisvale Bay, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Stay put.” He ducked into the walk-in closet and came back with the kit in hand.

Sitting beside her, he opened the case and took out a bottle of spray. Lifting her leg onto his lap, he held it steady and carefully applied the cooling mist.

? : ﹒

“Ah! That stings!” Hadley winced, her teeth clenched.

“I know.” He set the bottle aside. “But it should help in a bit.”

Once she seemed settled, he looked at her seriously. “What happened in there? Why did you scream? Did you see something again?”

At his question, the color drained from her face. Her gaze dropped to the floor. “Yes. And no,” she whispered.

She remembered how it felt—another pair of hands moving through her hair as she rinsed the shampoo.

“Eric!” She grabbed his hand and gripped it tightly. Her voice trembled. “I think it’s getting worse. Isn’t it?”

Yes, it was getting worse. Eric couldn’t deny that anymore.

In a single day, Hadley had already experienced more than one episode.

“I can’t shake the feeling that… everything around me is dangerous,” she said, her eyes darting around the room. “I don’t know—I can’t tell—what I’ll see or feel next.”

“Don’t be scared.” Eric sat beside her, his voice low and steady. “I’m here. The moment you need me, I’ll be there. Always, alright?”

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