CHAPTER 22
ALEXIA P.O.V
Adrenaline surged through my veins as the countdown echoed in my ears.
3… 2… 1—
GO.
The moment it ended, I sped forward.
At first, I held back—letting the other racers think they had a chance.
But after the first two trials—
I accelerated.
Fast.
Precise.
Deadly.
Soon, I was in the lead.
And right behind me—
That obnoxious idiot.
"Not bad…" I muttered. "But not good enough."
One by one, the racers dropped out.
Until it was just the two of us.
Then came it.
The Devil's Teeth.
Without hesitation, I went all in.
Speed rising.
Wind roaring.
At the last second—
I executed my signature turn.
Sharp.
Clean.
Perfect.
I glanced sideways.
He tried to follow.
But he failed.
I saw the rescue team rushing in.
"Good," I muttered. "At least he's not dead."
And then—
It happened.
A strange sound.
High-pitched.
Unnatural.
Like something tearing through the air itself.
I screamed.
My hands slipped off the steering wheel.
My ears rang violently—
The sound growing louder—
Sharper—
Painful.
Then—
My tire came off.
The car spun wildly.
Out of control.
My vision blurred.
My head slammed hard against the steering wheel.
Everything tilted—
Spinning—
Breaking apart.
I jumped.
Just before the car went over.
But I didn't land safely.
I was hanging.
From the edge of the cliff.
My grip was slipping.
My ears—
Bleeding.
The sound still echoing in my head.
My vision darkening.
Then—
I saw him.
The same man.
All in black.
Mask.
Still.
Watching me.
I blinked.
Was I hallucinating?
I looked again—
And he was gone.
My fingers lost strength.
Slipping.
Slowly—
And just as I let go—
Someone caught me.
Strong hands.
Pulling me up.
"Alexia… Alexia, look at me!"
A voice.
Familiar.
But distant.
Like it was coming from underwater.
"You're safe now. Don't worry."
I couldn't speak.
I just nodded weakly.
And then—
Darkness.
*Flashback*
"I'm scared… what's going to happen?"
"Nothing. Nothing at all. Mum and Dad are just busy… that's all. I'm here. I won't let anything happen to you."
"Help me… help me… HELPPPPP—!"
*Flashback ends*
I jolted awake.
Drenched in sweat.
Breathing hard.
My chest rising and falling rapidly.
Everything felt—
Too loud.
The beeping of machines.
Footsteps.
Voices.
Like a thousand sounds crashing into me at once.
My heart pounded violently.
Like it would burst out of my chest.
I clutched my head as a sharp pain struck.
My fingers dug into my palms—
Hard.
Too hard.
Until I felt warmth.
Blood.
I was losing control.
Then—
Arms wrapped around me.
Strong.
Firm.
Pulling me in.
My face pressed against a chest.
Warm.
Steady.
And then—
That scent.
Sandalwood.
Familiar.
Calming.
Slowly…
Everything faded.
The noise.
The pain.
The chaos.
I relaxed.
For the first time since Old Man died—
I felt safe.
Without thinking, I snuggled closer.
Holding onto that warmth.
Greedy for more.
Not wanting it to end.
Darkness took me again.
"Shhhh… you're disturbing her rest."
"If anyone's disturbing her, it's you."
"As if I'm half as noisy as you are."
"Oh please, you snore like a pig."
"I do NOT snore!"
"Yes, you do!"
I groaned softly.
Clara.
And Naomi.
Arguing.
Again.
"Both of you are very noisy right now," I muttered as I slowly sat up.
The room came into focus.
"You're awake!" Clara rushed over and hugged me tightly.
"Don't ever do that again," Naomi added, her voice shaky.
"Where am I?" I asked, scanning the room.
It didn't look like a hospital.
More like a luxurious bedroom.
But—
The monitors.
The IV.
Everything was still there.
"You're in Asher's medical room," Clara said.
"Asher?!" I froze.
"You mean your brother?" I pointed at her.
They both nodded.
"Is something wrong?" Naomi asked.
"If you're not comfortable, I can have you moved to a hospital," Clara added quickly.
"Thanks, Clara, I would really appreci—"
"She's not going anywhere."
The voice cut through the room.
Cold.
Sharp.
Dominating.
Asher.
"What? Why?" Clara snapped. "She's not your prisoner! You can't keep her here—I won't allow it!"
"It's not up to you," he said, his tone dropping.
"But I—"
One glare.
And she went silent.
She looked at me helplessly.
I gave her a small reassuring smile.
Even though—
My head was pounding again.
"Leave," Asher ordered.
"What? Why? I haven't even talked to her properly—"
"Clara."
She huffed.
"Fine."
She turned to me.
"We're coming back tomorrow. And this time, nobody is stopping me."
She shot him a glare before storming out.
"Take care," Naomi said softly, hugging me before leaving as well.
Silence.
Just him.
And me.
Awkward.
Heavy.
Unanswered.
What was wrong with him?
He saved me.
Brought me here.
And now—
Wouldn't let me leave?
I thought he wanted nothing to do with me.
"Thank you," I started.
"What happened?" he cut in immediately.
"Huh?"
"Before your tire came off—you already lost control," he said, eyes sharp. "That shouldn't have happened. You were fine before the race. So what happened?"
"I… I don't know," I admitted. "I just suddenly felt uneasy but—wait… how do you know that?"
"Doesn't matter."
"It does matter," I frowned. "Have you been stalking me?"
"I have better things to do."
That stung.
"And no," he added. "I wasn't stalking you. I just happened to be there… watching how reckless you are."
"Reckless?!" I snapped. "Me? Reckless?!"
"Mistakes happen! How does that make me reckless?" I shot back.
"Why were you even there in the first place?" he fired. "Do you know how dangerous that place is?"
I froze.
He raised his voice.
That—
Was new.
He was always calm.
Cold.
Controlled.
But now—
He sounded…
Concerned.
"Why do you care?" I challenged. "What am I even doing here? You ignored me for weeks, then suddenly appear and start scolding me like I'm a child!"
"Maybe if you didn't act like one, you wouldn't be treated like one."
"I can do whatever I want! It has nothing to do with you!"
"You're impossible," he muttered.
"Fine," he said coldly. "Do whatever you want. You can leave… after you recover."
And with that—
He walked out.
"What the hell…?" I whispered.
Frustrated, I lay back down.
Trying to sleep.
But I couldn't.
My body still weak.
My mind restless.
"Ugh…" I groaned.
A knock sounded.
A petite girl peeked in.
Seeing I was awake, she walked in with a tray.
"Your breakfast, Miss."
"Thank you."
I started eating—
But she didn't leave.
"Anything else?" I asked.
"No… Sir asked me to tend to all your needs… and not leave your side."
I paused.
What was his problem?
"Thanks, but I don't need a babysitter. You can go."
"I'm sorry, I can't. That would be disobeying his orders."
I sighed.
"Technically, you're not disobeying," I said calmly. "Right now, what I need is privacy. I don't like being watched while I eat."
"Oh… I'm sorry. I'll wait outside."
"Thank you."
She left.
I exhaled.
Asher…
He's full of surprises.
But where was Tyler?
It wasn't like him to disappear like that.
He didn't even come looking for me.
And that sound…
That thing I heard at the race—
It wasn't normal.
And that man in black…
Who was he?
My head started pounding again.
Too many questions.
No answers.
Something was wrong.
I could feel it.