Chapter 18: Goodbyes II

**Cleo’s POV**

Lying on the hospital bed, I stared at the stark white ceiling, my mind racing despite the stillness of my body. Tears traced silent paths down my cheeks, but I didn’t bother to wipe them away. The doctor’s words echoed relentlessly in my head: *temporary paralysis.*

How could this have happened? No, that wasn’t the right question—I *knew* how it happened. I just never thought it would go this far.

I closed my eyes, trying to block out the harsh fluorescent lights and the intrusive hum of the machines around me. The memory was too fresh, too sharp to ignore. Their threats had been clear: *Do what we ask, or Celine pays the price.*

The weight of their warning pressed on my chest like a boulder. I couldn’t let them hurt her. Not her. She was my sister, my best friend, my anchor in a world that often felt like it was spinning out of control.

But she didn’t know. She couldn’t know. If she ever found out what I’d done to protect her, she’d never forgive herself—or me.

The door creaked open, and her voice pulled me from my thoughts.

"Cleo," she said softly, her tone tinged with relief.

I turned my head to see her standing in the doorway, her eyes glistening with tears. She looked exhausted, like she hadn’t slept in days.

"Are you okay?" she asked, stepping closer. "I’m so happy you’re okay. I was so worried about you."

I averted my gaze, my throat tightening. She couldn’t stay. I had to push her away, no matter how much it hurt.

"Please leave, Celine," I said, my voice cold and distant. "I don’t want you here."

Her face fell, her brows knitting together in confusion. "Cleo, I can’t leave you, especially now when you need me the most. What do you take me for?"

I swallowed hard, my hands gripping the sheets beneath me. "I take you to be the cause of my temporary paralysis," I spat, each word laced with venom. "I see you as the cause of all my problems."

The look on her face nearly broke me. Her lips parted, and for a moment, she seemed too stunned to speak. When she finally found her voice, it was barely a whisper.

"I know I’m at fault, Cleo," she said, her tears threatening to spill over. "And I’m so sorry for that. Please let me in. Let me help you."

I turned my head away, unable to look at her any longer. If I did, I’d crumble. "There’s nothing you can do for me, Celine. Nothing you haven’t already done." My voice cracked, but I forced it to stay steady. "I need you to forget about me and move on with your life."

She stepped closer, her desperation palpable. "Cleo, what’s gotten into you? Why are you acting like this?"

I clenched my jaw, willing myself to stay strong. I couldn’t afford to falter. "Celine, I said leave me alone. You’re a ticking time bomb. Every time you explode, someone gets hurt. *I* get hurt."

Her tears fell freely now, but I pressed on, each word cutting into me as deeply as it did her.

"I can’t keep living like this," I continued, my voice sharp and unrelenting. "I have my own life to live, and you’re nothing but a distraction. I’m tired of having you disrupt everything. Just… leave me alone, Celine."

Her shoulders slumped, and for a moment, I thought she might argue. But instead, she nodded slowly, wiping her face.

"I’ll leave, Cleo," she said quietly, her voice thick with emotion. "But I want you to know I’m sorry for everything I’ve caused you."

She turned and walked out, her steps heavy with sorrow. The door clicked shut behind her, and the room fell silent.

As soon as she was gone, the mask I’d been wearing crumbled. I let out a shuddering breath, my hands trembling as I clutched the blanket.

The truth clawed at the back of my throat, begging to be spoken. But I couldn’t tell her. I couldn’t tell her that the accident wasn’t an accident. That the explosion wasn’t random. That it was a warning—a punishment for my failure to keep them away from her.

I had made a choice that day. I had chosen to protect her, no matter the cost. And now, I was paying the price.

I wiped at my tears, but they wouldn’t stop. The guilt was unbearable, but I would endure it. I would endure anything to keep her safe.

---

The clock on the wall ticked loudly in the silence, each second stretching into eternity. My mind replayed the events of that day, every detail seared into my memory.

I remembered the phone call—the voice on the other end, cold and unyielding.

"You know what will happen if you don’t cooperate," they had said. "You’ve already seen what we’re capable of."

And I had. The explosion was just the beginning. A warning shot.

I had tried to keep Celine out of it, tried to shield her from the danger. But she had a way of getting involved, of putting herself in harm’s way without even realizing it.

"You’re a ticking time bomb," I had told her. And it was true. But not in the way she thought.

She didn’t know that she was the target. That they were coming for her. That every step I took, every lie I told, was to keep her one step ahead of them.

---

The door opened again, and I hastily wiped my tears. A nurse stepped in, her expression professional but kind.

"How are you feeling, Miss Parker?" she asked.

I forced a smile, though it didn’t reach my eyes. "I’m fine," I lied.

She nodded, jotting something down on her clipboard. "The doctor will be in shortly to check on you. Is there anything you need in the meantime?"

"No, thank you," I said softly.

As she left the room, I let out a long sigh. My body ached, my mind was a whirlwind, and my heart felt like it was being torn in two.

But I couldn’t afford to fall apart. Not now. Not when so much was at stake.

I had to stay strong—for Celine, for myself, for the fight that lay ahead.

Because this wasn’t over. Not by a long shot.