Not The Fairy Tale I Signed Up For

A cold, commanding voice cut through the silence. "Take him to the basement. Keep him alive but make sure he regrets breathing."

The sound of hurried footsteps followed as orders were carried out. "Stay stationed here," the voice continued. "No one approaches this room without my approval."

Emma stirred, her body sluggish and weak. The heat she had felt earlier was replaced by an uncomfortable chill. Her fingers twitched as she tried to open her eyes, her senses sharpening bit by bit.

She blinked slowly, adjusting to the dim light. Her gaze landed on a tall figure standing by the bed. The man wasn't wearing a shirt, and her eyes drifted to his broad shoulders—wrapped in a bandage with a faint spot of blood soaking through.

Her throat felt dry as she tried to form words but her mind was full with questions.

"Who are you?" she croaked, her voice hoarse. She pushed against the bed, struggling to sit up. Her body felt weak and the heat was still covering her body. "How much do you want? I'll pay you double what they offered… just name your price."

"Woah, woah, woah… stay put!" Leon's voice echoed through the hotel room as Emma tossed the blanket aside and tried to get off the bed.

She frowned, narrowing her eyes as she tried to get a better look at him. "Leon…?"

Swiftly grabbing the blanket, Leon covered Emma without hesitation. "Stay put until the doctor arrives, okay?"

"What happened?" Emma asked, her voice trembling as she sat up, still oblivious to her state. Her eyes scanned the room in confusion. "That man said you were…" Her words faltered as her gaze fixed on the bloody bandage wrapped around his shoulder. "Are you okay?!" she exclaimed, abruptly standing and letting the blanket fall away.

"I'm fine!" Leon shouted, a note of panic in his voice. "But you… you're definitely not okay. Stay put!" He quickly pulled the blanket around her again, his movements firm but careful.

"No…" Emma protested, her brow furrowing. "I'm hot…" she mumbled, pouting slightly. Her flushed face, with reddened eyes, was just inches away from his. The heat radiating from her made it clear something wasn't right.

"I know you're hot," Leon muttered, trying to keep his composure, "but you need to be a good girl and stay on the bed until the doctor gets here. Be good, okay?" He bit his lip, his face twitching slightly as the pain from the gunshot wound flared up again from his sudden earlier movements.

"Can I get a glass of water?" Emma asked suddenly, her voice soft as she turned and clumsily climbed back onto the bed.

"Sure… wait here. I'll get it for you," Leon replied, his tone gentle despite the tension in the room. He stood carefully, holding his shoulder, and made his way toward the table. 

Reaching for the pitcher, he slowly poured water into a glass, pausing to close his eyes for a moment as he pressed a hand against his injured shoulder. The hastily wrapped bandage served as a reminder of the bullet wound his assistant had managed to patch up just moments before he rushed here.

He sighed as he turned back, walking toward the bed. His gaze softened as it landed on Emma, who was lying with her eyes closed, her breathing still uneven. Regret weighed heavily on him. He had memorized everything that was written in the book, every twist and turn.

But being shot? That wasn't written there.

Was this what they called a variable? Something unpredictable, something that didn't belong in the story he thought he knew so well? It unsettled him more than he cared to admit.

Leon set the glass gently on the side table, the faint clink echoing in the quiet room. He carefully dragged the chair closer to the bed and sat down. His gaze lingered on Emma, her flushed face and restless breaths a reminder of the Velasis1 still coursing through her.

She shifted slightly, murmuring something that was not clear. He didn't dare wake her if she was asleep. The drug's effects hadn't worn off, and he feared losing control of his own restraint.

Leon leaned back in the chair, his injured shoulder throbbing with every movement. He took a deep breath, grounding himself, and muttered under his breath, "You need to stay strong, Emma. We'll get through this."

Leon jolted awake, startled by the sudden weight pressing against him. "Gosh, Emma!" he blurted, his voice rough with alarm. He hadn't even realized he'd dozed off, but now Emma was sitting on his lap with her hands clinging to his neck.

"You can't do this, Emma," he said firmly, trying to steady his voice and his thoughts. "Take a deep breath. Let go." He gently pried at her trembling hands, but she only tightened her grip.

"Too hot…" Emma whimpered, her tear-filled eyes shimmering as they locked onto his. Her flushed cheeks and shaky breaths made her look more fragile than ever. "You're cold… I can't… hot…" she murmured, her voice cracking.

Leon's chest tightened. He gritted his teeth, trying to maintain control despite the heat radiating from her body and the undeniable effect of her presence so close. "Emma, listen to me," he said, his tone softening. "This isn't you. It's the drug. You need to rest."

But Emma shook her head, her tears spilling over. "Don't leave me… I need…"

"Emma." Leon cupped her face gently, forcing her to look at him. "You're going to be okay, but you need to trust me. I'll keep you safe, but you have to fight this. Please."

Her glassy eyes wandered across his face, her breaths shallow and uneven. The heavy silence in the room felt suffocating as Leon fought to maintain control over the storm brewing inside him.

"Huh?" Emma murmured weakly, her head dipping forward until it rested against his bare shoulder. Her lips grazed his skin, sending an involuntary shiver down his spine.

"Damn it…" Leon hissed through clenched teeth, his grip on her arms tightening as he tried to steady her trembling body. Heat radiated from her like a fever, her skin unnaturally warm against his.

"I've done everything I can, but this…" he muttered, his voice growing louder with desperation. He turned his head toward the door, shouting, "Where the hell is the doctor?!"

Emma whimpered, her fingers brushing over the bandage on his shoulder as if searching for something to anchor herself. Leon winced at the pain but refused to let go.

"Stay with me, Emma," he whispered hoarsely, his heart pounding. He could feel her slipping, her body growing weaker in his arms.

Without thinking, he grabbed her and pulled her back up, holding her firmly on his lap. "Don't move," he urged, his voice strained. He felt her trembling, the fever still raging inside her. "I'm fighting this with everything I have, so please… help me too."