Page 126 of Sardonic Burn

But she doesn’t even notice that I’m there.

Kalina is inconsolable. She’s crying, begging, and trying her best to snap Noelle out of the trance. It’s not working. She caged herself, and no one will be able to reach her until she unlocks the door.

My voice doesn’t reach her.

My pleas don’t phase her.

And it’s killing me.

Ray and Niko are a different story. They’re looking for Dylan, day and night. They’re finding every person who worked with him, killing them, and making an example out of them. Henrick is helping, too.

They think Dylan escaped.

He did not.

Lyla transferred him to a secure location where Cecilia patched him up. He’s been there all this time, recovering. I have big plans for him. Now that there isn’t a way for him to escape, I’m in no rush.

He’s on an island with twenty people watching him at all times. Lyla is monitoring the entire thing and checking in with my regularly. I shot his chest, but it wasn’t fatal. He’ll live.

He’ll live until I decide otherwise.

The only time Noelle showed any emotion was when I mistakenly mentioned his name. She started screaming, scratching her face, and hitting every nurse that approached her. She was sedated, and no one has dared to utter his name ever since.

I fucking hate the motherfucker with every fiber of my being for doing that to my Noelle.

He broke her, and I don’t know how to glue the broken pieces together.

With a deep breath and a bouquet of lilies in my hand, I knock on the door. One of the nurses opens it with a smile, steps aside, and allows me to come in.

“Hudson,” the nurse calls. “You can give me the flowers. I’ll find them a good spot.”

“Thank you.” I nod and give her the flowers. “Any improvements? Anything I need to know?”

A sad smile forms on her lips as she shakes her head. “Sadly, no. She ate a little more than usual, but that’s it. She’s still not speaking.”

The doctor says that her vocal cords were affected, but it will heal in time. However, the fact that she is refusing to speak is entirely her choice. The veil of darkness is something she’s covering herself with, unwilling to let go.

“Did Dr. Mallory visit?”

She nods. “He says that she needs constant surveillance. Once she’s discharged, he’s suggesting you put her in the psychiatric ward for a while.”

“Thank you.”

She nods, puts the flowers in a vase with fresh water, and leaves. The door closes behind her, and I step further inside, pulling a chair from the side and taking a seat next to Noelle.

She’s sitting up, leaning against the bed frame. Her eyes don’t move when I get close to her. She continues to stare into the void. She blinks only twice. If I didn’t see her chest moving, I would’ve thought she was dead.

I’m so close to her, yet she’s so far away.

I take her hand in mine, her cold touch making my heart burst over and over again. Over the last two weeks, I’ve continuously taken care of her body. Her hands are dry, despite the weather becoming warmer. No matter how many things I do to bring back the moisture, it’s not working.

“Hi, baby,” I whisper, trying not to spook her. “I’m here.”

Softly, I brush away the hair from her face, and she doesn’t even flinch. She sighs, and that’s the most I’ll get fromher today. Although she’s not rejecting anyone’s touches, she’s not leaning into me anymore.

It’s all my fault.

And the guilt is eating me alive.

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