Sunlight slipped gently through the curtains, caressing Isolde's face.
She moaned weakly, trying to open her eyes. His body felt heavy, numb, as if it still refused to obey him. She turned her head slightly...and froze.
Someone was there.
Sitting near the bed.
Henry.
Henry… but what is he doing at my bedside?
Her gaze lingered on him. His features were relaxed, his shoulders slumped with fatigue. He was sleeping, his head slightly tilted, as if he had never left this place.
Isolde frowned, then looked around the room.
It wasn't his room.
The memory suddenly struck.
This is... the place where I woke up after...
She tried to stand up.
— Hm…
The movement, too sudden, woke Henry from his sleep. He jumped, looked up... then froze when he saw her awake. The surprise gave way, almost immediately, to immense relief.
— Are you awake?!
He got up immediately.
—How do you feel?
"A little weak… but it's okay," she whispered.
She hesitated.
"How… how did I get here?"
Henry stared at her, attentive.
— You don't remember anything?
She shook her head slowly.
—I found you unconscious in front of your house. Soaked, freezing... you could barely breathe.
A shiver ran through Isolde.
The memories came flooding back.
The door.
The rain.
The screams.
His gaze drifted towards the bedside table. His phone was there.
She grabbed it immediately.
No calls.
No messages.
Henry followed her gaze and gave a small, sad smile.
—They didn't call you.
Isolde suddenly raised her head.
- What ?!
"I know," he said softly. You wanted to check if your family was looking for you, right?
She didn't answer.
—So the answer is no.
His voice trembled.
—Maybe...maybe they don't know yet that I'm missing and—
— ISOLDE!
She jumped violently.
Henry took a deep breath, then continued in a calmer, but firm voice:
—It's been three days.
He stared straight into her eyes.
— You've been here three days.
— Tr… three days…?
—You spent hours in the rain. You were burning with fever. I had to call someone to take care of you.
A silence.
—And all this time... no calls. No messages. Nothing.
Isolde lowered her head. Tears rolled down her cheeks.
"Isolde… listen to me," Henry said more gently. I want to help you. But for that… you have to tell me everything. Without hiding anything.
She sniffed, wiping her cheeks with a trembling gesture.
— I… I can't.
His voice cracked.
— You can't understand.
- For what ?
— Because you and I… we don't live in the same world.
Henry gave a strange smile.
—Are you sure?
He slowly raised his hand in front of her.
Under Isolde's wide eyes, his fingers lengthened, revealing dark, powerful claws... which he immediately made disappear.
—We have more in common than you think.
Isolde took a deep breath… then closed her eyes.
- All right…