I Will Die for You, My Darling! - Chapter 34
Chapter 34
And so, Isaac was simply tired. Moreover, today, he had a persistent, strange throbbing at the back of his head. He had a premonition that everything would go to hell.
Knock, knock.
Isaac didn’t respond.
“Big Cat.”
It was Gamon on the other side of the door. “The airship is scheduled to arrive in two hours. It’s time to prepare for the welcoming ceremony.”
Isaac still didn’t reply. He simply kept his hands in his pockets and stared at Arietta. The premonition wouldn’t leave him.
Meanwhile, in the hallway, Gamon sighed quietly, relieved that no one else was around. He rubbed his chin in frustration. Isaac looked like he wouldn’t budge. ‘Surely nothing drastic would happen while he was briefly away.’
“I’ll be back in thirty minutes.” That was his final ultimatum. In thirty minutes, Isaac would have no choice but to come out.
Gamon paced in the annex lobby, killing time. As soon as the thirty minutes were up, he headed back up the stairs. He knocked on Arietta’s bedroom door.
“Big Cat, the Sky City airship is scheduled to arrive in an hour and a half. You really must get ready now….”
There was no answer.
“Can you hear me?”
Of course, Isaac could hear him. He knew he had to go. But the premonition that everything would fall apart kept nagging at him. He didn’t think it had anything to do with the welcoming committee. He had a feeling that this woman, who had been lying there yesterday, the day before, and today, and would likely be lying there tomorrow as well, was going to cause some serious trouble. As if mocking him, as if to say, ‘I am the one who controls you.’
He couldn’t bring himself to leave.
Another knock came from behind the door.
“Boss….”
Then it happened.
Arietta’s body convulsed. Her eyelids flickered open, then closed again. Then, her body went limp. She looked much the same as before, but the temperature in the room dropped, a sudden chill in the air.
Isaac felt his scalp tighten. He placed his hand on Arietta’s neck, checking for a pulse.
Nothing.
His premonition had come true. Arietta had finally done it.
Isaac immediately pulled back the covers, lifted Arietta, and laid her on the floor. He began chest compressions.
No sound came from outside the door. A clueless Gamon knocked a third time.
Rage surged through Isaac, but he swallowed it down. He was grateful Gamon was there, on the other side of the door.
“Get the doctor!”
“What?” Gamon asked, his voice uncharacteristically bewildered.
“Tell them Arietta’s heart has stopped! Tell them to bring their equipment!”
Finally, he heard the sound of running footsteps in the hallway. Isaac gritted his teeth and focused on the woman whose heart had stopped beating.
“No, not now… It’s not the right time, it’s not…”
When would the right time come? He knew for certain it wasn’t now. It shouldn’t end by his hand…
It probably took less than three minutes for the doctor to arrive, but to Isaac, it felt like an eternity. What if Arietta died, despite their efforts? What if it ended so pointlessly…?
“Step aside!”
The doctor pushed Isaac’s hands away. It was blatant disrespect, but the situation was so urgent that even Isaac didn’t register it.
Several people crowded around Arietta. Isaac retreated and sat on her bed. He finally managed to glance towards the doorway where Gamon stood, his face ashen.
“I’ll inform them to delay the arrival by two days,” Gamon said, turning away without waiting for a response.
And so, Isaac was able to rejoin the battle to bring Arietta back to life.
