"I'm sorry," Daniel said firmly, "you can't stay."
His words hit her like a physical blow. Traumatized and desperate, she was forced to retreat back into the cold, unforgiving night. The hospital was her only hope, but even that felt like a long shot. She didn't know if she would make it, if help would be there when she arrived.
Mark, her protector, would be searching for her. If he ever found out she'd sought Daniel's help, it would only add to the chaos. Daniel needed to understand her desperation, her need for help. She wasn't here to hurt him; she was here because she was hurt, in danger, and running out of time.
"I know your destiny is hard," she said, her voice trembling, "and dangerous. But you have to take risks to save people. It's what you're meant to do. You're meant to protect them, to fight for them, even if it means risking your own life."
She pressed her hand against the wound on her stomach, trying to stem the bleeding. The rain was pouring down, cold and relentless. As she walked away, Daniel watched her go, his mind in turmoil.
Was this all part of a plan? Or was she truly in danger? Could he bear the thought of letting an innocent person die, especially when he knew he could help? He was meant to save people, to fight the forces that threatened them. Maybe he could still save her, even if it meant putting himself in danger.
He wanted to call out to her, to offer his help, but fear held him back. He couldn't risk her safety, couldn't risk anything happening to her inside his house. He swallowed hard, his throat dry with anxiety, and retreated back into his house, locking the door behind him.
He returned to the kitchen, trying to focus on the food he'd been preparing, but his mind was consumed by the image of her, her pain, her vulnerability. He wished he could turn back time, could offer her his help, no matter the cost. That was what his destiny demanded, what his heart yearned for.
Daniel knew his destiny was a dangerous one, a path fraught with peril. He might not even get to fulfill his purpose before facing his own demise. There might be other ways, other paths, but destiny was a powerful force, a tangled web woven by generations past. Only his ancestors truly understood its intricacies, its beginning and its end. No matter how hard he tried to change his fate, if he was meant to die, he would die. If he was meant to live in this world, he would live, no matter the risks he took.
The girl was gone now, and there was nothing more he could do. Going out to search for her would only put him in more danger. He continued preparing his meal, his mind a whirlwind of conflicting emotions.
He served himself a small portion of food, barely enough to satisfy his hunger, and carried it to the parlor. But he couldn't bring himself to eat. How could he sit here, enjoying a meal, knowing that someone who needed his help was out there, struggling, possibly dying?
He knew that many hospitals would be closed at this hour, making it even harder for her to find help. It was a testament to the corruption that plagued their society. Hospitals, meant to be beacons of hope, were forced to shut their doors at night due to underfunding. The officials who controlled the money lined their own pockets, leaving the doctors and nurses struggling to provide care. Even those who managed to stay open were often staffed by inexperienced doctors, ill-equipped to handle the challenges they faced.
Daniel took a single spoonful of food, pushing the plate away. He was startled by a sudden shift at his door, his senses instantly alert. Could it be the enemy, finally coming for him? Perhaps they had tried to use the girl to lure him out, and now, having failed, they were coming to face him directly, hoping to teach him another lesson.
He cautiously reached for the door, his hand hovering beside the knob. He strained his ears, trying to pinpoint the source of the sound. It was a ragged, panicked breath, like someone was trapped just beyond the threshold, desperately seeking refuge. The sound was close, almost too close.
He tried the camera, hoping to catch a glimpse of whoever was outside, but the screen remained blank. With a hesitant push, he opened the door a crack, but found nothing. Then, he felt it – a wave of heavy, labored breathing just beside him.
His heart pounded in his chest as he turned to see the woman he'd sworn never to see again, lying on the ground, her face pale and her body slick with blood. She was barely clinging to life, her skin cold and clammy. Anger surged through him, a white-hot fury that threatened to consume him. This was exactly what he'd been trying to avoid, the very thing he'd warned her about. If she died here, they'd blame him, use her death as a weapon against him. He'd seen it happen before, and he knew there would be no escaping the consequences this time if it happens because he can't deny not being responsible.
"What the hell are you doing here?" he roared, his voice laced with a raw, unbridled rage. "I told you to leave this place, never to return without my permission! Get up, get out of here right now!"
She managed to sit up, her body trembling with cold and fear. Tears streamed down her face, her voice a choked whisper. "Please," she pleaded, her eyes wide and pleading. "I'm scared. I don't want to die. Mark wants me dead. I know you're afraid of me, maybe you think they're using me to trap you, but it's not like that."
"And I know you probably don't believe me, but I can't tell you what happened right now. I'm sorry, I just can't. It's too dangerous, it's about my life! You asked me to go out, I know, and I did. But the hospitals were closed, there weren't any nearby. I'm so cold, and I'm bleeding. I can't stay out here, I need somewhere safe. Your place is the best option, please don't send me back out there! It's not safe!" She begged, her voice choked with tears. Daniel felt a pang of sympathy, he couldn't ignore her plea.
He knew the risks, knew the dangers of helping her. They might be using her to trap him, to get to him. But seeing her there, so vulnerable and in pain, he couldn't bring himself to turn away. She needed help, and he would do everything he could to save her.
"It's okay," he said, his voice softer than usual. "Come inside, let me see what I can do for you." He reached out, helping her to her feet, her body trembling with pain.
"Thank you," she whispered, her voice barely audible. He guided her inside, leading her to the couch where he gently laid her down. He rushed to get some supplies, anything that could help stop the bleeding and ease her pain.