Alandria looked in his eyes and saw sincerity. He was not faking anything. This man was damn serious.

"Zayden..." she said, "You have a different life and I have a different life. We should go our separate ways after this is over. Don't try to be..."

She was trying to find the right word and he found it for her.

"...an angel."

"Well...." she gave up trying to be polite, "Well yes! I can take care of myself and I can take care of my sister. I am thankful for what you just said, but it's my life."

Zayden didn't say anything. His gaze wandered and he squinted his eyes. Clearly, he didn't like what she had just said.

"Well let's go." he sighed and walked towards the car, leaving a confused Alandria behind.

"What the heck..." Alandria whispered to herself as she followed him.

They were not strangers, for sure. They had just become friends. They did care for each other a little...only a little...then why was Zayden trying to be a knight in shining armour and save her? Why did he care so much about her? Could it be that Zayden felt pity for her? How was that possible...he was Zayden Connors. He did not feel any pity when he attacked her in the changing room. But then again, he was not himself then. He was on some sort of medicines....medicines which she never questioned him about.

She was now in the front seat with him and he had started off the engine. Alandria watched as he turned the steering wheel and left the parking lot. He seemed so comfortable, so at ease...but his eyes...they showed something else. She could see some sort of restlessness in them. He was anxious for his father. Who wouldn't be? Alandria wondered if she would be anxious if aunt Ninana was kidnapped...that was a good question. She would call the police. It was the decent thing to do. But would she worry for her? Maybe a little. Maybe a lot. She was a family member after all. Aunt Ninana....what a strange creature she was. However, she knew that if Emmeline was kidnapped she would probably have a heart attack...no...she would not be able to have that. She would do everything in her power to save her. She was everything.

"Where are we going now?" Alandria asked him.

"To a safe place" he answered dryly.

What was wrong with his tone? Was he still angry that she did not accept his offer of "cohabiting" with him?

The more he drove, the more Alandria felt that he was getting angry...or restless.

Alandria observed him as he moved in his seat uncomfortably every time, even his breathing could be heard.

"Zayden are you okay?"

He did not answer.

He kept his eyes on the road. The scenery changed. They were driving into what seemed like a countryside. There were trees on the two sides of the road and not one house could be seen.

The car suddenly jerked forward and Alandria put her hand in front of her to prevent her head from hitting the front.

"S...sorry..." Zayden muttered as he kept driving.

"Zayden...you do not seem ok...." 

His face was damp with sweat, his eyes were about to close, his breathing was more uneven as it could get and Alandria swore she could see his lips quiver from time to time.

Worry crept in the young girl's mind. Something was wrong with Zayden. He was not well at all. He should probably stop driving.

"Zayden....maybe you should park the car for a few minutes..."

"No...."

"Zayden...you seem..." she put her hand towards his forehead to check his temperature.

"I SAID NO!" he yelled as he pushed her hand away roughly.

Alandria withdrew her hand quickly, her heart hammering inside her chest. Why was she even trying to care for him? Why?

"I have to get there...." he whispered as he took a deep breath, "I have to get us there...I can't let us....I have to...."

Alandria watched him. He was in pain. He was in great pain. And she wanted to help him. But how could she? She did not even know what was wrong with him.

"Zayden...." she whispered, "I am sorry...I know I am a nobody....but I..."

Zayden fixed his eyes on her now.

She gulped and continued:

"You...need to see a doctor..."

Suddenly she regretted using the word 'doctor'.

Zayden looked back towards the road.

The more they drove, the more Zayden started being more restless and sick. Alandria found the situation nerve-wrecking! She wanted to help and she couldn't! Where was he going? Why was he refusing help? What was wrong with him? She had had enough! She will order him to stop the car!

"Zayden!" she shouted

"We're here..." were the last words he said as he drove in the alleyway which gave to a charming wooden house with a vast green lake. The car then came to stop.

Alandria's jaws dropped. The scene in front of her could be used as a picture for a calendar. A cosy wooden house with lamps and trees around welcomed them. There were rock borders on the two sides where colourful flowers were planted, flowers which Alandria had never seen before. Pots of flowers were also kept in the garden along with a few of them next to the front door.

"This is really charm...." 

She halted.

Zayden was lying in his seat, lifeless.

"Zayden....?" Alandria called in a feeble voice, "Zayden!"

He was not moving. It was like he was...

"No!" Alandria cried, just the thought of Zayden dying made her stomach turn upside down.

"Zayden!" she called as she nudged him, her eyes watering.

Zayden was still, his lips slightly parted and perspiration dripping from his forehead.

Alandria was about to burst into a cry when she remembered that this was not the first time that this was happening. This had happened before! In the changing room!

"Ok! Think Alandria! Think!" she gasped as she tried to keep her composure.

A lot of crazy ideas flew to her mind along with the doubts, but she tried to keep herself focused on Zayden. She checked his pulse...he was still alive. Then she decided that she had to help him lie down. He looked way too uncomfortable in this position, plus he would be in immense pain when he would wake up because of his posture.

She removed her seat belt as fast as she could. She then rushed out of the car, ran to the other side and opened the door. She removed Zayden's seat belt and took his arm. After placing it gently around her shoulder, she pull his body out only to fall on the ground flat. Her little body could not bear Zayden's weight.

With immense difficult, she dragged him along the alleyway to the door. She was sad for dragging him like that, but she had no other choice. She made sure that Zayden was not hurt as she hauled him towards the door. Praying that the door was open, Alandria pushed it only to discover that it was locked.

"Zayden must have the key!" she said to herself out loud as she rummaged in his pocket.

Yes! She found it!

She quickly opened the door and was about to pull Zayden inside when he opened his eyes.

"Zayden!" she cried.

"Aland.....where...." he moaned, his eyes closing themselves again.

"No time for that! Come on! Try to stand!" 

She managed to make him stand, but he had put all his weight on her...well almost.

They walked in the house and Alandria's eyes darted from one place to another, searching for a bedroom.

When she found one, she felt like Zayden was about to drop. She rapidly walked towards the bed, pulling Zayden with all her force, and dropped him on the mattress.

"Ah...." was the only thing that escaped Zayden's lips before his breathing became he started moaning in pain and his chest started heaving.

"Ohh what do I do? What do I do?" Alandria muttered, her heart hammering.

She walked around on the floorboard in the room, thinking hard on how to treat Zayden. If only there was a hospital around! If only there was some nurse around! If only nurse Lena was around! She looked at the suffering Zayden and gulped. The tears ran down her cheeks as she plonked herself on the bed next to him. He stopped moaning. 

They were both quiet...the chirping of birds and the quacking of ducks echoing in the background.

Zayden opened his eyes a little and then lifted his hand slowly towards the young girl's face. She watched his curiously as he brought his shaking fingers to her cheeks to wipe her tears. Alandria felt like crying more. She had to do something!

"Zayden...." she called, his hand dropped and his eyes closed. 

Alandria cried her heart out. This was unfair! Zayden did not have to suffer like this! Why was this happening to him? She felt like she was going to pass out from the frustration when she remembered something! His phone! Surely he must have his doctor's number on it!

Alandria rummaged in his pockets again and removed his phone...his Iphone 11 Pro. She tried to remove the lock only to find out that it needed facial identification. She was about to roar in anger when she thought that the face needed was right in front of her. She allowed the camera to scan Zayden's face and quickly went through the contact list.

Author Note: Thank you for reading! I apologize for such a late update! I hope you all like this chapter.