Page 115 of Hospital for Immortal Creatures

“What were they?” Mikhail’s gaze was fixed on hers.

“Raised heart rate, trembling in my legs. Although… Come to think of it, I was cold all of a sudden, too, so maybe that’s why I fainted.”

“What happened after?”

“My stomach tightened. It felt like fluttering butterflies, but not at all in a romantic way. More like a feeling that something bad was about to happen. And then… It got even stranger. Like I could see us walking towards each other.”

He winced. “I’m not following.”

It didn’t make any sense to her either. “Like I was myself but not in my own body. I was watching from a distance. And I knew that someone else was watching. I had one single thought. Danger. That was it. I thought we were in danger.”

“Do you usually have a strong intuition?”

“You could say that, but… It’s never been this strong.”

Mikhail got up and paced up and down the room, thinking something over. “Some humans are more intuitive than others, right?”

“Of course.”

“Is it possible you were adopted?”

“What?” Amelia laughed. “That’s absurd!”

A dark shadow ran over Mikhail’s face. “Are you sure?”

“I’m an exact copy of my mother! Same bone structure, same eyes, nose, lips…” She pointed to her forehead with her index finger.

“Is it possible your father isn’t your biological father?”

“No! Why are you asking me these questions?”

“Was one of your parents immortal?”

She shook her head. “No way.”

He resumed his pacing. Before she could reconsider, Amelia pushed off the bed and bridged the distance between them. She reached out, her hand landing on his arm, right above his wrist.

The effect was instant. Electricity spread from her fingertips, tingling up her hand, filling her entire body with warmth, until it settled in the pit of her stomach. This time, she knew without a doubt what the flutter meant, but she didn’t pull away.

“Thank you for taking me out today. Despite what happened in the end,” she said without letting go of him.

Mikhail’s gaze dropped to where her fingers touched his skin. Though his expression remained neutral, Amelia sensed he had also felt something.

“Get some rest. I’ll see you tomorrow,” he said, his tone detached, but his irises burned with intensity.

Then he left, yet the spark their contact had kindled wouldn’t leave her long after midnight.

37

“Where are you going, sunshine? You can run but you cannot hide…”

The terrified boy raced ahead of her, but they both knew it was in vain. The ending awaiting him was inevitable.

They stood on opposite sides, bound by a grim fate. For every murder, there needed to be a killer, but also a victim. Sometimes an innocent victim, but then again, everything had a price. This time wouldn’t be any different.

She quickened her pace. The little boy wasn’t particularly bright because, instead of heading down the corridor of the other wing, he stopped in front of the lift, his index finger pressing the button like crazy.

When he realised that it would not get there on time, he tried to dash around her, but…

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