You're Alive

Mia awoke to the faint scent of antiseptic and the soft, rhythmic beeping of machines. Her head throbbed, and her body ached as though she had been hit by a truck. She blinked, struggling to make sense of her surroundings. The sterile white walls of a hospital room greeted her, and she realized she was lying in a bed, an IV drip in her arm.

"You're awake," a familiar voice murmured.

Mia turned her head, her heart skipping a beat when her eyes landed on Alexander, sitting by her side, his face etched with worry and exhaustion. His usual composed demeanor was now tinged with visible concern, and his grip on her hand was firm but gentle.

"What happened?" Mia croaked, her throat dry, her voice weak.

"You were caught in the blast," Alexander explained, his eyes flickering with a mix of relief and anger. "You were thrown across the hall when the explosion went off. I couldn't reach you in time... But you're safe now. You're alive, Mia."

Mia closed her eyes briefly, trying to process what he was saying. The memory of the explosion was a blur, but the fear and the pain she had felt in that moment flooded back. She had nearly lost everything.

"Is everyone okay?" she whispered.

Alexander's jaw tightened. "Most of the staff is fine, but we lost a few good people. The intruders—" His voice trailed off, and Mia could see the edge of fury in his eyes. "They didn't leave without leaving their mark."

Mia felt a chill run down her spine as she remembered the ominous words of the man before the explosion: You're already dead. Was it all part of some greater plan? And what about their unborn child? She instinctively placed her hand over her belly, checking for any signs of distress.

"Is the baby okay?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

Alexander's face softened as he looked at her belly. "The baby is fine," he said gently. "The doctors have confirmed you're both safe. But Mia..." He hesitated, his grip tightening on her hand. "We can't stay here. They know where we are. It's only a matter of time before they come after us again."

Mia's heart pounded in her chest. She had thought they were safe—safe in their fortress, behind the walls that Alexander had built to protect them. But the explosion had shattered that illusion.

"What do we do now?" she asked, fear creeping into her voice.

Alexander's gaze was unwavering as he looked at her. "We leave. We go to a place where no one can find us. A place where we can rebuild everything. You and the baby are my priority now, Mia. No one touches you again. I swear it."

Mia nodded, grateful for his resolve but overwhelmed by the sudden shift in their lives. It felt as though their world had been turned upside down in an instant.