Louis’s words completely made Elisa forget her fear. She stared at him blankly, her eyes like cracked crystals, as if they would shatter with the slightest movement.
“Do you remember?” Louis undid the chain that bound Elisa’s wrist, his hands trembling with emotion. He cupped Elisa’s wet face and gently brushed the strands of hair on her face behind her ears.
“I remember,” Louis said hoarsely. “I remember Elisa, I remember the little crybaby who needed candy apples to be comforted, I remember when big brother had to carry you home.”
Elisa blinked, and tears rolled down her cheeks. She didn’t want to cry, but the tears couldn’t be controlled.
“Autumn.”
“Mm.”
Elisa choked up. “Big brother.”
“It’s me, it’s always been me.” Elisa called Louis and he answered, gently wiping the tears from her face. “How did my little crybaby grow so big and still loves to cry?”
Elisa shook her head; now wasn’t the time to dwell on the past.
The person she loved had finally come to take her away. They both had to get back safely. Thinking of Finn’s words, her heart tightened. Her previously weak hand suddenly gripped Louis tightly.
“We have to leave quickly, it’s very dangerous here…”
Before she could finish, Finn’s voice came from outside: “Where do you think you’re going?”
Louis tensed all over, holding Elisa in his arms, looking at everyone here.
He had a premonition of an ambush before coming in, but seeing Elisa tied up, he couldn’t care about any danger.
Elisa bit her lip, hearing the sounds of fighting and even gunfire outside. She looked at the door right in front of her. They were so close, yet so far away.
Beside Finn were eight or nine men, all tall and menacing, emitting a fierce aura.
They held knives, steel rods, and even syringes.
Elisa looked at Louis, and the two of them locked eyes, their fingers intertwined.
Without saying anything, they understood everything. From each other’s eyes, they only saw one thing: a safe return home.
“If we can make it home unscathed, will you marry me, Elisa?”
Her recently stopped tears rose again. Elisa’s nose turned red, and she nodded.
Louis smiled.
Elisa reminded him, “Don’t touch the syringes they’re holding.”
Seeing the tightly clasped hands of the two, Finn’s face suddenly became fierce. The commotion outside was getting louder, and someone would soon barge in; they had to act quickly.
“Go!” Louis took a deep breath, his eyes full of rage, swiftly protecting Elisa and engaging with the group of people.
Louis moved swiftly and fiercely, like a leopard, evading the attacks of the men.
But he couldn’t handle eight or nine people by himself, especially while also protecting Elisa. He took punches, his clothes torn by knives, the blades grazing his skin.
Fear gripped Elisa; this was even more terrifying than being kidnapped. This scene was all too familiar, Louis, Finn, and herself unable to move, completely overlapping with seven years ago.
She didn’t want Louis to get hurt because of her. They had promised to leave together, but she hesitated.
She looked at his tightly held hand and caught sight of Finn’s sinister gaze. Following his line of sight, Elisa glanced to the right and saw a man wielding a steel rod, aiming for Louis.
Louis was busy dealing with the man on his left, and in his position, he couldn’t dodge the steel rod.
Elisa immediately let go of his hand, trying to push him away, but Louis had already sensed her intention. If she let go of his hand, he held on even tighter.
“Louis, let go of me quickly, or you will get hurt.”
“I won’t let go, not in this lifetime, not even in death.”
Louis kicked the man away, his eyes bloodshot, full of bloodlust.
The man holding the steel rod just wanted to divert Louis’s attention, while the real threat was a person holding a syringe, aiming it at Elisa’s neck.
Louis caught sight of it and pressed Elisa into his arms, forcefully turning his body.
“Elisa!”
With Louis’s shout, Elisa felt everything spin; her mind couldn’t keep up with her body. Louis controlled her, turning her around and burying her face into his chest.
Elisa felt Louis’s hands holding her tighten slightly and heard his muffled groans. Her heart clenched, and she looked up at Louis, who was protecting her, his brow furrowed with worry. “Are you okay?”
Elisa’s mind was still foggy for a moment; she didn’t know what was happening. She tried to shake her head when she emerged from Louis’s embrace, but she saw Louis’ face turn pale. There was a syringe stuck in his shoulder, containing a small amount of red liquid.
The tension in Elisa’s mind snapped. Finn’s earlier words echoed in her ears. It was an infectious virus more severe than HIV, transmitted through saliva, blood… Finn had intended to inject this drug into her body, making it easier to control her and prevent her from being with other men. But after Elisa’s threat, Finn changed his mind and decided to inject the drug into Louis’ body. He knew how deep their feelings were for each other. Elisa loved Louis and wouldn’t leave him because of a virus. Similarly, Louis infected with the virus wouldn’t come near Elisa; he would keep his distance. This complication in their love meant they couldn’t be together, and if Louis died from the virus, Elisa would feel guilty and live a lonely life. Finn’s aim was for Elisa to live a lonely life, so Aoife’s body would be cleansed.
Elisa stared at the needle still embedded in Louis’ shoulder, her eyes moist, tears streaming down without her noticing. She struggled to call out, “Louis.” Her throat felt uncomfortable, as if she were swallowing a needle, causing pain with every breath and even making her fingers tremble.
This needle wasn’t much to Louis; it didn’t hurt or bother him, but he couldn’t understand why his little crybaby was so heartbroken.
This drug clearly wasn’t a good thing; Elisa had warned him not to touch it.
Finn quickly provided him with an answer: “The drug injected into your body can transmit the virus. If you don’t want Elisa to die, you better let her go.”
Finn laughed cruelly and maliciously. This kind of separation was what he enjoyed the most. The most tormenting thing was to break someone’s heart.
Elisa was right; he couldn’t have what he desired, so he aimed to destroy it. Why should Aoife have died, and he couldn’t gain happiness through her body?
After hearing Finn’s words, Louis’ pupils suddenly contracted. He felt his body grow cold, as if a hand were squeezing his heart. The hand that had never let go of Elisa suddenly released her.
“Louis!” Elisa grabbed his sleeve. “You promised you wouldn’t let go of me.”
Louis’s voice was calm and light. “I’m highly likely to have been infected with the virus Finn mentioned. Elisa, don’t touch me.”
“Infection will lead to death!”
“I don’t want you to die, Elisa.”
Louis’s throat was hoarse. He didn’t know how severe this virus was or how strong its transmissibility. The only solution was to distance himself from Elisa, but her grip on his sleeve tightened.
Upon hearing Louis’ words, Elisa felt as though her bones were being crushed one by one, and her ears were aching. Louis said more, but she couldn’t hear clearly. She focused on his lips, suddenly leaning in and biting his lip, deepening the kiss until she tasted a strong metallic flavor, then she let go of him.
Elisa’s lips were also cut, mixed with saliva and blood.
“This infectious virus…”
“I know.” As soon as Louis spoke, Elisa interrupted him, smiling. “It’s contagious, it’s fatal. Louis, do you think I can live alone if you die?”