Chapter 12

*****Xena's POV*****

I called Valkyrie, but there wasn't a reply and when I tried again, my phone went dead.

I cursed loudly for the first time, biting my lip in anger.

"Just take a taxi." Layla advised and I scoffed, "You know I can't do that. Where am I supposed to find a taxi here? I can only trek to the junction." I breathed out and she shrugged.

"Then do it."

"What?" I asked in surprise, and she just chuckled. You don't expect Ryder to come back and pick you up again, right? The rain would drench you completely, " she said mockingly, and I gritted my teeth. Layla was the worst.

Without a word, I grabbed my phone and bag before heading out of the school and onto the road. The walk from the college to the Junction would take roughly 40 minutes and I just hoped the rain wouldn't fall at that time.

I walked silently across the street, the weather still darkening as time passed.

I so wanted to curse the weather for changing this way, knowing it was the month of Christmas. Christmas was just around the corner and the rain deemed it fit to fall now.

I would call a mechanic once I got home, then he would be in school tomorrow to pick up my car.

Suddenly, the rain began to fall in little droplets, signaling that it would pour down heavily in no time.

I bit my lips and hurried my steps towards the area where taxis were mostly available. But even with my hurried steps, I couldn't reach it on time knowing I had short legs.

Soon, the rain began to fall and I tried to outrun it. It looked so comedic and embarrassing running in the streets, under the heavy rain.

And I also remembered that I was sick, I hadn't recovered fully. If I eventually caught a cold again, I would be done for.

After running for what felt like an eternity, I couldn't run anymore as my breath hitched. I saw a taxi coming in my direction and I thanked the goddess for having mercy on me again.

I flagged down the damn taxi and got in immediately.

After telling the driver my street number, he drove off.

I was breathing heavily, feeling very uncomfortable and cold. Thankfully, the driver was considerate enough to turn the Aircon off so I wouldn't freeze to death.

After a while, we arrived at my house and I paid before running off again and straight for my porch.

Once I had unlocked my door and got into the house, I collapsed onto the ground, my breath coming out even more heavily. Air left my lungs but gradually began to return.

"Oh no, your fever returned, You have to get out of these wet clothes." Layla urged and I hummed.

Of course, I needed to get out of the wet clothes, but I was tired and cold.

"If you remain in that cloth, the cold would end up killing you." She reminded but I paid no more attention.

Shivering nonstop, I managed to get on my feet and staggered upstairs. Once I was safely in my room, I turned on the heater, to warm the room up and stripped immediately.

Once I got rid of the wet clothes, now left in my underwear, I collapsed onto the bed.

"You still need to get rid of the wet underwear." Layla reminded me and I groaned.

"Don't groan at me, I'm just being considerate." She added with a snort and I hummed in approval.

"Now get up and get rid of it, then change up into something else and go take the pills given to you. Or no, just get yourself warm, the weather is cold already"

I was far from listening to her, but she gave me strength and I got up to clumsily change into something else.

I got dressed in sweatpants and a T-shirt, not bothering to take a bath.

Once I had covered enough, I staggered towards the bed and gently lay back down, covering myself up with the blanket again. Despite the warm heater in the room, I still felt cold all over.

I was shivering this time and Layla began to panic.

"Oh no! You have the wolf fever again! What do we do now?" She asked in fear, but I kept silent and just let my teeth chatter the way it was already chattering.

The old was sipping into my bones with each passing moment. I felt my entire body shiver as I stayed still.

Layla was continuously panicking, telling me to pick up my phone to call anyone.

"Just call Valkyrie!" She yelled, but I kept silent, not even able to move my body from the position I was lying in.

"Xena! Stop being so stubborn at this time, you need someone by your side. Someone to take care of you." She pleaded, but I said nothing as usual.

Just then, the doorbell rang, but I had no strength to even go down to answer it.

"Someone's here, maybe they can help you. Just try to go downstairs." Layla said, but I paid no attention again. Whoever was at the door would leave if they got no response.

After ringing nonstop with no response from me, the person at the door seemed to have gotten tired and left cause I heard the ringing stop.

How could someone even come in the rain to my house at this time?

Could it be Ryder?

Oh no, it couldn't. He left earlier with that girl and the weather being this way would make it difficult for him to even come out, that girl would probably be giving him the ride of his life this minute and here I was thinking he would come to my house to check on me.

The last time, I asked him to leave and even slapped him. Who in their right mind would want to associate with such a violent person again?

"He is our mate, and I see the genuine love in his eyes." Layla defended and I smiled thinly. She still thinks of the impossible.

Just as I continued to think back and forth, the window made squeaky sounds and I thought it was the wind. It took me a while to realize that someone was at my window, or more like climbing into my room.

I froze on the bed at once.

"Layla.." I called out with difficulty, "Someone's here... Could it be the stalker?" I asked in fear. If it really was a stalker, then I was done for. I was already in a vulnerable state and if he came into my room, he could take advantage of me.

"Calm down, I'm here," Layla assured me and I hummed, suddenly feeling the adrenaline pumping in.

I managed to climb off the bed, lifting a vase and staggering towards the window where the sound continued.

Just as I lifted the vase, aiming to break the head of whoever it was that was breaking into my house, I breathed in to hold myself together.

I would never go down without a fight.

And just like that, the window was pulled open, but before I could land a hit, the vase was snatched from my hand. I stumbled forward, directly landing in the intruder's arms.

I looked up with half-opened eyes and saw the face I wasn't expecting to see.

"Ry_Ryder?"