Somto cut off the thought. There would be time to investigate later. For now, Nnenna's survival was the priority.
As Nnenna's body convulsed violently, a familiar sound echoed in her mind.
Ding!
The Love System's voice was cold and unfeeling as it announced, "Urgent alert. Your three days are over, and you do not have enough good points to sustain your life."
Nnenna's heart sank at the words, even amidst the chaos of her seizing body. The trembling wasn't just her physical condition; it was her soul reacting to the harsh reality of her impending death.
Her thoughts raced. 'This can't be the end. No, not like this. I've come too far to lose now!'
With the last shreds of her consciousness, she mentally called out to the system, "Isn't there something you can do? Please, I'll get the good points! Just give me time, an hour, thirty minutes, anything!"
The system's response was merciless. "I warned you of this outcome. I cannot stop your death. There is nothing I can do for you now. I'm sorry."
The apology rang hollow in her ears as her vision darkened. The sound of the doctor's voice, her family's feigned panicked shouts, Somto's threats to the doctors, and the rustle of medical equipment faded into nothingness.
The room around her blurred, the faces of her tormentors and supposed loved ones blending into one indistinguishable void.
Her mind began to shut down, her grip on reality slipping. It was as if she were floating away, weightless and powerless.
The Love System's words repeated in her subconscious, cruel and final. "There is nothing I can do for you."
Yet, deep within her, a spark of defiance flickered. 'No... I won't go like this.'
Even as she hovered on the edge of oblivion, a part of Nnenna refused to surrender. If this truly was the end, then she would face it with the same quiet determination that had carried her through the years of suffering.
But in her heart, she held onto a sliver of hope, a desperate belief that something, or someone, would intervene, maybe the man she saw in the garden that day.
As the medical team worked frantically to stabilize her, Nnenna's consciousness drifted into a strange, ethereal space. It was neither life nor death, but somewhere in between, a liminal plane where time felt suspended.
The last coherent thought that crossed her mind before the void consumed her was clear and resolute, 'This isn't the end for me. It can't be.'
In Four's room, the atmosphere was tense, a stark contrast to the calm exterior he usually exuded.
He sat on the edge of his chair, his cold eyes scanning Ikenna, who leaned casually against the wall with crossed arms. But despite his relaxed posture, Ikenna's expression betrayed his deep suspicion.
"I think he knows something," Ikenna said, his tone low and deliberate. His eyes narrowed, reflecting the calculations running through his mind.
"He'll try to deny it, and I almost let him fool me. But the fact that he even cares... That alone shows he's hiding something we don't know."
Four nodded, his steady demeanor unshaken. "I think so too. Somto's behavior wasn't natural. He's too composed, too strategic to act so carelessly. He must know more than he's letting on."
Ikenna straightened, stepping closer. "How do we get it out of him?"
Four leaned back slightly, his sharp gaze unflinching as he considered the question. "I don't know yet," he admitted.
"Somto's not the type to break under pressure. He's calculating, he won't reveal anything unless he wants to. And right now, we don't have enough leverage to push him."
Ikenna frowned, tapping his fingers against his arm. "So we're stuck. Meanwhile, he's probably planning his next move while we're here spinning our wheels."
Four's cold demeanor remained unbroken. "He's good at playing the long game. But so am I."
Ikenna sighed, running a hand through his hair. "You know, Somto does have a point about your physical therapy."
Four's eyes narrowed slightly, but he remained silent.
"How are you supposed to find her if you can't even walk properly?" Ikenna continued, his tone almost chiding. "I get that you want answers, but how effective are you like this? You're only going to slow yourself down."
Four's lips thinned, his gaze hardening. "My condition doesn't define me," he said coldly. "You know that."
Ikenna raised a hand defensively. "I know, I know. But think about it, what if she needs you? What if she's in danger? You need to be at full strength if you're going to help her."
Four sat in his chair, his expression as cold as ever, yet his thoughts were anything but calm. He had been reminded of the girl who had barged into his room three days ago, the one who had left him with words that lingered in his mind.
She had said something that resonated, something he couldn't shake off.
"She was right," Four said aloud, breaking the silence. "I'll need my strength. And for that, I'll need my legs."
He turned his steely gaze toward Ikenna, who had been quietly observing him. "We'll start physical therapy from the next session," Four announced, his tone decisive.
Ikenna raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised. "What brought about this change of heart? I've been trying to convince you for weeks."
Four didn't respond immediately. Instead, he leaned back in his chair, his mind briefly replaying the girl's words.
"Someone told me something that made me reconsider," he finally said, his voice steady but distant.
Ikenna tilted his head, intrigued. "Someone? Who? And what did they say that finally got through to you?"
Four's lips tightened into a thin line. "It's not important," he replied tersely, clearly unwilling to elaborate.
Ikenna wasn't satisfied with the vague answer. "Not important?" he echoed incredulously.
"I've been lecturing you about the importance of therapy for weeks, and her words, whoever she is, outweigh mine? There's no way that girl is ordinary. It's Nnenna, isn't it?"