I pushed Leonard away and collapsed to the ground.
Looking over, I saw Lily’s lifeless body. A bullet had pierced her forehead. It wasn’t as bloody as in the movies–just a small wound, but her eyes were wide open, staring unblinkingly toward the door as if still hoping for escape.
Police officers in hazmat suits rushed into the room, pulling Leonard away and urging him to leave.
I used the last bit of my strength to crawl over to Lily and fished a pill bottle out of her pocket.
As the officers escorted me outside, Leonard ran over, his face filled with panic.
“Eva! Are you okay?”
He was crying uncontrollably, tears and snot dripping onto my face
I didn’t mind it this time. Instead, I opened the pill bottle and shoved two of the pills into his mouth. I wasn’t sure if they would work, but Lily had been so careful with her life that I trusted they were safe.
More people arrived at the scene. We were rushed for radiation checks and had to be quarantined.
When I heard we were being taken to the hospital Julian worked at, I finally felt some relief.
“Get… Get Jill’s brother to… do the tests…
I managed to mumble, fighting to stay conscious. I couldn’t afford to pass out just yet.
Lily’s words echoed in my mind. Her plan had been cruel but brilliant.
If Leonard found out about my illness, he would have pieced together why I had distanced myself.
Plus, Jill and Emma knew the truth. Everything would come to light eventually.
Hospital employees were all dressed in protective gear. I felt my grip on reality slipping as they moved around me.
My thoughts became more and more scattered until, finally, I saw Julian. I tried to reach out for him, but he barely glanced at me before using my medical record book to push my hand back down gently.
“Patient is conscious. Radiation exposure is minor. Begin treatment with medication.
“You can rest now. I’ve noted your request. Everything will be fine.”
The nurse next to us looked at him with admiration.
“Dr. Pope, can you read minds? How do you know what she wanted to sa
say?”
Julian’s face remained expressionless as he glanced at her. “A bit. I also read faces. She had a dark aura around her earlier, but it’s faded since coming to this hospital.–The looming disaster seems to have been averted.”
I had been on the brink of giving up, but Julian’s sarcastic comment actually made me laugh before I passed out.
There’s no way Leonard knew about my condition because I was at the Pope family’s hospital.
1 woke up again to see Julian’s usual stoic expression hovering over me.
“You’ve been eating a lot of supplements, haven’t you? You’re holding up pretty well,” he remarked, reviewing my medical record. But his serious eyes told me there was more.
Chook 120 ELI Never Dias
“And there’s a ‘but,” right?”
He nodded. “Eva, the radiation exposure isn’t a big deal for most ordinary people, and the pills you gave Leonard were very effective. But for you… you’ll need regular check–ups. You understand?”
He didn’t need to say more–I knew what he meant. Lily’s final plan had worked. I really might relapse for the third time.
“But don’t worry,” he added with the same blank expression, “Even if it comes back, my superpowers will keep you alive.”
I nodded while I looked at his poker face. ‘Thanks, that’s somewhat comforting.”
“Where’s Leonard? How’s he doing?” I asked, remembering how he had charged in without hesitation. My eyes stung with tears at the memory.
Just then, Jill burst through the door. “Leonard? Leonard? What could possibly happen to him?”
“He’s so energetic, bouncing around like a monkey and insisting on coming to see you.
Jill rolled her eyes. “Don’t worry, that man’s not going anywhere. Evil never dies. He’ll be around for good.”
