Always Watching

 Back in Monica's room, Osvaldo still had Monica in his arms as he tried to calm the crying girl down. Presently, Madeline had joined them after Cassian confirmed it was safe enough to let her in, and from Monica's anguished look, Madeline could feel her heart break on the inside.

"Osvaldo…"

"Shhhh…. Settle your mind first." He consoled Monica in a soft tone while stroking her hair lightly, "does it hurt anywhere else?"

"Not as much as it did earlier." She gently pulled away from his embrace after responding, feeling quite ashamed with herself that they had seen what she had become.

She thought she could persevere through the consequences, but she completely guessed it wrong.

"Osvaldo, you're so heartless, that thing you used on me…."

"If I took pity on you I would be endangering your life. It was a tough decision." He patted her head apologetically, unable to hide the fact that he nearly stopped when she kept crying out in pain.