Kneeling for a Second Chance (Sebastian and Valeria) novel Chapter 128

"I saw the video. It was terrifying. A white sedan suddenly sped up and charged through. It looked intentional. It was right when school was dismissed. The ground under the wheels was covered in blood…"

"People like that usually use mental illness as an excuse to take revenge on society."

Chatter echoed in the room.

Valeria's mind went blank with a sharp buzz.

The plastic water pitcher slipped from her hands and thudded onto the table, spilling water across the surface.

Lindsey hurriedly grabbed some napkins to wipe it up. She thought Valeria had just lost her grip, but when she looked at her, she saw that Valeria's face was paper-white.

"Valeria, are you okay?"

Valeria staggered backward, her coat still hanging on the chair, and rushed out in a daze, stumbling as she went.

Her phone was still in her hand.

"Are you Selena's mother? This is the emergency department at Slate City Medical Center. Your daughter, Selena Neal, is currently being treated in our facility…"

…

It was the first time Valeria had so many people in one place at the hospital. There were so many cries and screams.

Stretchers wheeled past her, bright red blood dripping onto the stark white tiles. It was her first time noticing just how large the city hospital's emergency department was.

Everyone's faces were twisted in grief, pain, and despair.

A woman slightly older than herself was covered in blood, clinging to a doctor's arm, collapsing to her knees. "Please save my child! I'm begging you. I'll get on my knees. I'll do anything! Please…"

Valeria's face was ghostly pale as she looked around, lost and dazed.

There was neither sorrow nor joy on her face. Her expression was blank, as though she had stepped into a foreign land of anguish and dread.

When she opened her mouth, no sound came out. She tried several times to speak to someone in a white coat, but her voice failed her.

The person pushed her aside, directing her to the nurse's station while dialing numbers and trying to reach various doctors.

This place felt like hell to Valeria.

Only in hell could there be so much crying. Only in hell could it be this cold. Only in hell could the floor be stained with so much blood that even the cleaning ladies couldn't scrub away, smearing the white tiles beneath her feet.

She moved through pain and despair, past the cries of countless parents. Her vision was a blur. Then, she finally saw a familiar face on one of the hospital beds.

She ran over, nearly falling.

Amid the cold, sterile scent of the hospital, she smelled something familiar.

He looked at her tear-reddened eyes and the lingering panic and despair that were still etched into her face.

His voice was far from steady. In the depths of his dark eyes, a flicker of panic appeared before he forced calm back into place. "It's okay. Selena's okay."

He looked at her and repeated himself.

At that moment, a tear slipped down Valeria's cheek.

Sebastian took advantage of this and pulled her closer into his embrace. His broad palm gently stroked her back.

Feeling her tremble, Sebastian lowered his head, letting his cheek brush softly against hers. Her face was hot and cold at the same time. Her body was in a state of overwhelming shock.

His voice was low and gentle, as if it were any louder, it might scare her. "Valeria, don't be afraid."

Valeria clung to the back of his shirt, her fingers gripping tightly. Tears streamed silently down her face.

Sebastian could feel the heat of them on his own cheek.

They were hers.