Triple Point

Chapter 85: Crushed Hopes

Elsie

For the rest of that day. Elsie couldn't help but worry. She ended up sticking closer than ever to Camilla, adamantly holding onto her hand or arm as if she would disappear if Elsie let go. Elsie couldn't think about anything else besides trying to figure out what it was they were hiding from her.

She was so distracted that she couldn't even bother to feel hungry or thirsty or tired; she even ignored the food and water that some of the healers brought her out of pity, and her mind wouldn't let her rest long enough to fall asleep. Only once Elsie began to feel light-headed did she force herself to stomach some food and water, but only because she didn't want to trouble the healers with an unnecessary patient.

And with each day that Camilla didn't wake up, Elsie grew more worried.

Throughout that time, Elsie didn't see any sign of Hitomi, Mack, or even the two kids. In fact, aside from the healers, she didn't see anyone until several days later, when there was a soft tapping on the curtains around Camilla's bed as if someone was trying to knock. A second later, AJ entered, and she greeted Elsie with a stiff nod and a tight smile.

"How're you holding up?" AJ asked while she lingered awkwardly under the curtain.

"Fine," Elsie said automatically. Based on her claims, she had been fine for the past several days, once it became too exhausting to think of a real answer. While Mack and Hitomi may have easily been able to read through her lie, the only people that had been asking her that question were the healers that would stop by to check on Camilla.

But while the healers would simply nod at Elsie's default answer, AJ took a moment to look at Elsie searchingly before she glanced at Camilla and sighed.

"If you care about Camilla even half as much as I care about my brother, then I know you're lying," AJ replied.

At AJ's words, Elsie felt slightly guilty for trying to put on an act. She had heard from the healers that Ian Juneau wasn't doing too well, and even though he was technically awake, he didn't respond to anything around him. AJ would apparently spend most of her free time and energy trying to bring his mind back, but between doing that and also running around to help the healers with the other captives, the strain was visibly wearing her down.

But before Elsie could apologize, AJ continued.

"But I know what you mean," AJ said softly. "And... that's why I need to talk to you about something."

Immediately, Elsie felt like time stopped, or maybe only she was frozen. Was this it? Was AJ going to tell her what the others had been hiding from her? Elsie knew she had pressed both Mack and Hitomi for answers when she last saw them, but now that AJ was willing to give them, Elsie wasn't sure she wanted them anymore.

But avoiding answers meant that Elsie was simply running away from her problems, and she couldn't do that anymore. Camilla had stayed by her side that night in Elsie's condo, and she got herself captured because of that. The least Elsie could do was face this problem head-on.

"What's going on?" Elsie asked, determined to not let her hesitation show.

AJ's eyes glanced around before settling at the ground between them.

"We should probably talk in private," she finally replied.

Instinctively, Elsie's hold on Camilla's limp hand tightened ever so slightly.

"I'm not leaving her," Elsie stated firmly.

"Just for a moment," AJ insisted, then gestured vaguely behind her. "Hitomi can look after her."