Keifer's POV
Morning was creeping in like an unwanted witness.
No one had slept.
Yuri was pacing. Adrian was silent, which was worse than pacing. Ci-N sat curled on the couch, staring at the door like she could will it to open. Calix, Edrix, Felix, Rory, and the rest of Section E were scattered around the living room, tension thick enough to taste.
Jay.
Every second without her felt wrong. Like the world was slightly tilted.
Then—
Ding dong.
We all froze.
Adrian looked toward the hallway. "Aunty Nicole, please check who's at the door."
Footsteps.
The door opened.
A pause.
Then Aunty Nicole's voice, shaking slightly.
"Adrian… Keifer… it's Jayjay."
Everything inside me stopped.
We all turned toward the door at once.
Jay was collapsed in Aunty Nicole's arms.
And outside—
A black horse stood there like it had just delivered a legend.
Jay's hand still had a rope tied around it.
"What the hell?" Yuri breathed.
I didn't think. I moved.
I reached her first. She was pale. Too pale. Her hair messy. Jacket stained.
I carried her immediately.
"She's bleeding," Ci-N whispered.
Ci-N quickly untied the rope from Jay's hand and handed it to Aunty Nicole, who looked at the horse like she had just adopted destiny.
"Adrian, call the doctor," I ordered.
"I got it," Ciel said, already dialing.
I carried Jay to the guest room, the same room we had been sleeping in.
I placed her gently on the bed.
Everyone followed.
I carefully removed her jacket.
That's when I saw it.
A bandage wrapped around her left arm.
Blood soaked through it.
Felix stepped back. "What the hell happened to Jay?"
I sat beside her and stroked her hair gently, my jaw tight.
Who did this?
Who touched her?
A knock at the door.
Ciel stepped in. "The doctor's here."
The doctor walked in calmly, like this was just another Tuesday.
He looked at me. "Stand up."
I didn't move at first.
"Keifer," Adrian warned quietly.
I stood.
The doctor leaned over Jay. "What happened?"
I blinked. "You know her?"
He didn't answer that. "How did she get hurt?"
He injected something gently into her arm before unwrapping the bandage.
Everyone leaned in.
He opened his medical kit and cleaned the wound carefully.
"She looks like she was shot."
The room went silent.
"What?" I said, my voice dangerously low.
"But," he continued calmly, "I don't see any bullet inside."
Shock rippled through everyone.
"She removed it," Yuri muttered under his breath.
The doctor kept working, focused.
"Was Jay alone?"
Ciel answered softly. "Yes."
He nodded slightly. "She lost a lot of blood. But she'll be fine. Just avoid too much physical strain."
Fine.
She was fine.
The word barely settled in my chest.
Then suddenly—
He flicked Ciel lightly on the forehead.
"Is this how you take care of her?"
Adrian stepped forward immediately. "How dare you touch my sister?"
Yuri grabbed the doctor by the collar. "Do you have a death wish?"
The doctor… laughed.
Actually laughed.
"Ciel," he said casually, "please tell your boyfriend to let me go."
Adrian scoffed. "Why would she listen to you?"
Ciel stepped forward, slightly embarrassed. "Oh come on, Yuri. Let Doc Luke go."
Yuri looked at her.
She gave him a small pleading look.
After a tense second, Yuri released him.
The doctor straightened his coat.
"You called me at 5:20 AM to come here," he said calmly, "and this is how I'm welcomed."
I stepped forward.
"Who are you?"
He smiled.
"I'm Doctor Luke. Or Doc Luke, if you prefer."
He turned casually around the room.
"You are Yuri. Ciel's little red cutie."
Yuri blinked.
He pointed at Adrian. "Ciel's overprotective brother."
He continued, naming Calix, Edrix, Felix, Rory… every single one of us.
Then he looked at me.
"And you," he said, eyes narrowing slightly, "the legendary Mark Keifer Watson. Jayjay's protector. Husband. Her everything."
The room went quiet again.
"Let's go outside and talk," I said.
He nodded.
Before leaving, I leaned down.
I kissed Jay gently on the forehead.
"Get well soon," I whispered.
Then I stood up.
And followed the doctor out.
Because I needed answers.
And whoever shot her—
Would regret breathing.
End of Chapter. 🖤