Chapter 106–Alive
The red light above the operating room stayed on for what felt like forever.
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Then—
it finally switched off.
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The Door Opens
For a split second—
nobody moved.
Nobody breathed.
Nobody even dared to hope too loudly.
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Then the doors opened.
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Lyra stepped out first.
Mask off.
Hair slightly messy.
Eyes exhausted.
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And for a terrifying half-second—
she said nothing.
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JJ's hands went cold instantly.
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"Lyra…"
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Rhys followed right behind her.
Tired.
But steady.
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And then—
he nodded.
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A single nod.
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That was it.
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Relief Hits
Something inside the hallway broke.
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Not loudly.
Not dramatically.
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Just… release.
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Percy actually sat down in shock.
Aries exhaled like he had been holding his breath for hours.
Freya covered her face.
Honey let out a shaky laugh.
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Even Yuri closed his eyes briefly.
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Alex leaned back against the wall.
"…thank god."
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JJ
JJ didn't move at first.
Like she didn't understand what she was seeing.
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Then Lyra walked closer.
Softly.
Carefully.
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"She's alive."
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That was all she said.
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And JJ broke.
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Not loudly.
Not violently.
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Just knees giving out.
Hands shaking.
Breath collapsing.
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"Is she—"
Her voice cracked.
"…is she okay?"
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Rhys stepped forward.
"We stopped the bleeding."
A pause.
"She made it through surgery."
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JJ covered her mouth instantly.
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Cole
At the far end—
Cole froze.
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For the first time in hours—
his body finally moved.
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"…alive?"
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His voice was barely audible.
Like he didn't trust the word.
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Lyra nodded.
"Alive."
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And that was enough.
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Cole turned slightly away.
Hand pressing against the wall.
Shoulders trembling once.
Then again.
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Not crying.
Not yet.
Just… survival catching up.
---
Keifer immediately stepped beside him.
Didn't say anything.
Just stayed.
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The Condition
Lyra exhaled slowly.
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"She'll need time."
A pause.
"Recovery will be slow."
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Rhys added:
"She's stable, but not conscious yet."
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Another pause.
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"She'll wake up."
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That last line hit harder than anything else.
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She will wake up.
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JJ Again
JJ wiped her face quickly.
Trying to breathe.
Trying to stand again.
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"She's… really going to wake up?"
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Lyra nodded again.
"Yes."
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A softer tone now.
"She's Care. She doesn't leave things unfinished."
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That made Percy laugh through his shock.
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"Yeah… that sounds like her."
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Aries looked away.
Relief and frustration mixing.
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Cole and Keifer
Cole finally turned back.
Slowly.
Like the weight of the world had shifted slightly.
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Keifer spoke quietly.
"She's not gone."
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Cole didn't answer immediately.
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Then—
a breath.
"…I know."
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But his voice broke slightly at the end.
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And that said everything.
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The hallway didn't erupt.
Not yet.
---
It didn't feel like celebration.
Not fully.
---
It felt like surviving a disaster and realizing you're still standing.
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JJ looked toward the recovery wing doors.
Eyes swollen.
Hands still shaking.
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"…I want to see her."
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Lyra nodded softly.
"Soon."
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Rhys added:
"When she stabilizes more."
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JJ nodded.
Slow.
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Like she finally allowed herself to believe it.
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Alive.
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Care Patel was alive.
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And for the first time in what felt like forever—
the world finally let them breathe again. 🖤💔✨
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The world didn't go back to normal after surgery.
It just… waited.
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Two days of waiting.
Two days of quiet panic.
Two days of watching monitors like they could change fate if stared at long enough.
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JJ & Keifer – The Waiting Room Night
JJ hadn't slept properly.
Not once.
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She sat curled on the hospital chair, hoodie too big, eyes tired but refusing to close.
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Keifer sat beside her.
Not speaking much.
Just there.
Constant.
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At some point, JJ's voice came out small.
"…she pushed me."
Keifer looked at her.
Didn't interrupt.
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JJ swallowed.
"…the bullet was meant for me."
A pause.
"…she didn't even think."
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Her fingers trembled slightly.
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"She just… came in front."
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Silence.
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Then JJ finally looked at him.
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"She saved me."
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Keifer didn't respond immediately.
Because there was nothing easy to say to that.
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He only reached out.
Slowly.
Carefully.
And held her hand.
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The Soft Moment
Later that night—
the hospital lights were dim.
Everything quieter.
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JJ leaned slightly against him without realizing.
Exhaustion winning for a second.
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Keifer didn't move away.
Instead, he shifted closer.
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"…you should sleep."
JJ shook her head lightly.
"No."
A pause.
"I'm scared I'll miss it."
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Keifer understood immediately.
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Then softly:
"…she's not going anywhere."
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JJ didn't answer.
---
Just stayed there.
Holding his hand tighter.
---
And after a long silence—
she finally leaned up slightly.
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And kissed him.
Soft.
Tired.
Real.
---
Not dramatic.
Not loud.
Just… grounding.
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When she pulled back, she whispered:
"…Care really saved me."
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Keifer didn't speak for a second.
Then:
"…I know."
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And for the first time in two days—
JJ's breathing steadied slightly.
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The Waking
On the morning of the second day—
something changed.
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A monitor beep shifted.
Then another.
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Lyra was the first to notice.
Her eyes snapped up instantly.
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"Rhys."
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Rhys was already moving.
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JJ stood immediately.
Keifer right behind her.
Cole at the far end of the corridor froze mid-step.
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The room filled instantly.
Not chaos.
Not panic.
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Hope.
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Inside the room—
Care's fingers moved slightly.
---
Then again.
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Her eyelashes fluttered.
Slow.
Heavy.
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JJ pressed her hand to her mouth.
"…Care?"
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A pause.
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Then—
Care opened her eyes.
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Confused.
Tired.
But there.
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And the room exhaled all at once.
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JJ
JJ broke instantly.
She rushed forward but stopped right at the bedside.
Like she was afraid it wasn't real.
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"Hey…" JJ whispered.
"…you're awake."
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Care blinked slowly.
Her voice was weak.
"…you're loud."
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That got a broken laugh from JJ.
A real one.
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Tears immediately followed.
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"You idiot…"
JJ leaned closer.
"…you actually did it."
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Care looked at her properly now.
Slow recognition.
Soft smile forming faintly.
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"…you're okay?"
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JJ nodded quickly.
"Yes."
A pause.
"…because of you."
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Care frowned slightly.
"…that was… not the plan."
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JJ laughed through tears.
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Keifer & Cole
Keifer stepped closer slowly.
Care turned her head slightly toward him.
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He didn't say anything at first.
Just looked at her.
Like confirming reality.
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Then quietly:
"…don't do that again."
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Care blinked.
"…no promises."
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That made him exhale sharply.
Half relief.
Half frustration.
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From the corner—
Cole just stood there.
Silent.
But his eyes softened in a way nobody had seen before.
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Like something inside him finally unclenched.
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The Truth
JJ held Care's hand tightly.
And whispered:
"…you saved me."
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Care frowned slightly.
"…that's my job."
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JJ shook her head.
"No."
A pause.
"You chose it."
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Silence.
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JJ's voice broke a little again.
"…you didn't hesitate."
"…you just came in front of me."
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Care looked away slightly.
Tired smile.
"…annoying habit."
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JJ laughed softly.
Then leaned closer.
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"…thank you."
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And for once—
Care didn't argue back.
She just closed her eyes briefly.
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Safe.
Alive.
Back. 🖤✨💔
______________💜✨
A/N...
Hey my cuties 💛 🥰
I just… I really needed to say this from the heart.
Thank you. So, so much.
After my last note, I didn't expect that many comments, messages, and words of support. I thought maybe people would just scroll past… but instead, you all stayed. You listened. You replied. You comforted me. 🥺💛
And honestly… that gave me courage I didn't even know I still had.
You reminded me that I'm not writing into emptiness. I'm writing for people who actually care.
So thank you for that. Truly.
It meant more than I can explain.
🌺
Also I wanted to ask you all something 👀✨
How many of you have read "Shadows Across Four Worlds"? 🌍🔥
I really want to know which readers are following that universe too… because that story is so close to my heart and I want to hear your thoughts on it as well 💛
🌹
And one more update 📢
I'll be posting one more chapter today 📖✨
And from now onwards, it will be one chapter daily only.
I need to slow things down a bit so I can take care of my health and also give you better writing instead of rushed updates.
Thank you for understanding this too 🫶
You all are honestly the reason I'm still writing right now.
And I'll never take that for granted.
Love you all endlessly 💛
Regards,
Yours lovingly,
Author ~CARE...🧿✨