The sterile scent of antiseptic and floor wax was a harsh slap to the senses after the pine-heavy air of Shere ridge the night before. In the high-security wing of the hospital, the only sound filling the air was the hollow hiss of the ventilator.Noah sat in a hard plastic chair, his eyes fixed on the man wrapped in the bleached sheets. Without the tailored suits and the armor of his academic posture, Elliott looked hauntingly fragile. His head was swathed in heavy bandages, and the bruise blooming across his temple was a violent shade of purple; Julian’s final, brutal signature.Elliott’s eyelids fluttered, a low, pained groan escaping his parched lips. When his eyes finally opened, they were hazy, drowning in the harsh fluorescent light. Then, they found Noah.“Noah?” Elliott’s voice was a mere shadow, cracked and dry.“Hey.” Noah reached out, his hand hovering tentatively before finally settling on Elliott's forearm. The warmth of his skin was a relief so sharp it nearly brought N
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