Keifer's POV
I saw the blast before I felt it.
One second she was running.
The next—
Fire swallowed the doorway.
"JAY!"
The explosion hit.
Heat slammed into my chest like a wall.
The force knocked people backward.
Smoke burst outward.
For half a second… I couldn't see her.
That half second nearly killed me.
Then I saw her.
Thrown forward.
Her body hit the ground outside the gate.
And she didn't move.
My heart stopped.
Not slowed.
Stopped.
No.
No no no no no.
I ran.
I don't remember pushing people out of my way.
I don't remember Yuri shouting.
I don't remember anything except reaching her.
She was on the ground.
Too still.
Her hair half covering her face.
There was dust on her lips.
Her eyes closed.
"Jay," I breathed.
No response.
My hands shook as I touched her shoulders.
"Jay."
Nothing.
My chest tightened so violently it hurt.
Not again.
Not like this.
Not because of me.
I pulled her into my arms.
Her body was warm from the blast.
Too warm.
"Jay, open your eyes," I said, my voice breaking despite myself. "You don't get to scare me like this."
Please.
Please breathe.
I leaned closer.
There.
A faint breath.
Small. Weak.
Alive.
She's alive.
You don't get to leave when I still need to fix this.
They loaded her into the ambulance.
I climbed in before anyone could stop me.
The doors slammed shut.
As the siren started again, I looked at her face.
Pale.
Too pale.
Her eyelashes resting against her cheeks.
She looks peaceful.
I hate that she looks peaceful.
"Stay with me," I murmured.
Her fingers twitched.
Barely.
But I felt it.
And that tiny movement shattered something inside me.
She's still fighting.
Good.
Because I'm not done fighting either.
Sienna is this is your doing, you .made a big mistake
You wanted war.
You wanted to break us.
You wanted fireworks.
My jaw tightened.
You just declared one.
And this time—
I'm not pretending anymore.
The ambulance sped forward.
And I didn't take my eyes off her for a second.
The ambulance doors burst open.
Hospital lights replaced smoke and fire.
"Emergency! Blast victim!" someone shouted.
They rolled her away from me.
"Sir, you can't go inside!"
I tried anyway.
Hands stopped me.
The emergency room doors slammed shut in my face.
And just like that—
I was outside.
Useless.
I stared at the red light above the door.
On.
Still on.
Still on.
Still on.
Each second stretched like it was being pulled through barbed wire.
Section E arrived not long after.
Yuri first.
Then Ciel.
Calix.
Endrix.
Adrian.
Everyone.
Aries.
Percy.
Uncle Jasper.
Aunty Gemma.
Ella.
All of them.
Their faces pale.
Their eyes searching for answers.
I had none.
The doctor had taken her immediately.
They were dressing her wounds.
Checking for internal damage.
Running tests.
Words I heard but didn't process.
I didn't sit.
I didn't move.
I stood facing the emergency room doors.
If those doors opened, I would see first.
I refused to miss even one second.
"Keifer, sit down," Yuri said quietly.
I didn't answer.
"I'm fine."
I wasn't fine.
Two hours passed.
Two.
Hours.
The nurse came out once.
She avoided my eyes.
Walked straight past.
My heart dropped to my stomach.
"Excuse me," I called after her.
She kept walking.
That silence was worse than bad news.
Yuri grabbed my arm.
"Relax."
"Don't tell me to relax."
My voice came out sharper than I intended.
He didn't let go.
"She's strong."
I stared at the door again.
The nurse returned later with supplies.
Bandages.
IV bags.
Equipment.
She went back in.
No words.
No reassurance.
Evening slowly swallowed the windows.
The hospital lights felt colder.
Time became cruel.
Then finally—
The emergency room doors opened.
The doctor stepped out.
I moved before he finished closing them.
"She's okay."
The words hit me before I fully reached him.
"She's okay."
I blinked.
"Doctor…?"
He smiled.
"She's one strong and lucky girl. Her family should be very happy to have her."
Family.
I looked back at Section E.
At her dad.
At everyone standing there.
My voice came out steady this time.
"We are."
The doctor nodded.
"She has some injuries. A minor wound at her back, bruising on her leg, cuts on her arm and hand. Nothing life threatening. She will need rest."
Rest.
"She'll be transferred to a room soon. You can see her then. But please, she needs quiet."
"Thank you," Jasper said.
The doctor left.
For the first time since the explosion—
I breathed.
Really breathed.
The emergency doors opened again.
They rolled her out.
Bandaged.
Sleeping.
IV attached.
But alive.
Alive.
Thank God.
Thank God.
Thank God.
They began moving her toward a regular room.
I whispered under my breath,
"Thank God she's fine."
I tried to take a step.
Just one.
The hallway suddenly tilted.
The lights blurred.
My ears rang.
Not like the explosion.
Different.
Distant.
My legs felt hollow.
I haven't eaten.
I haven't slept.
I haven't breathed properly in hours.
The floor rushed toward me.
My knees gave out.
Someone shouted.
"Keifer!"
"Kiefer wake up "
"Kiefer not you too "
"Kiefer get up "
"Kiefer what wrong "
"Kiefer… "
Aries' voice.
Yuri's voice.
Adrian's voice.
Hands reaching.
The world dimmed.
Her face flashed in my mind.
Still breathing.
Still alive.
Good.
That's enough.
Everything went black.
End of Chapter 76. 🔥