REBIRTH : Chasing The Limelight

Chapter 102: I’ll stay.

Elara did not even remember when she started moving.

One moment she was standing there, staring at the wreck in the distance, and the next, her feet were already carrying her forward.

The phone was still in her hand, Ziva’s voice faint and distant in her ear, but she was no longer listening. Someone reached out and tried to stop her as she passed.

"Hey, don’t go close! It might blow!"

A louder voice followed quickly. "Stay back!"

Elara pulled her arm free without even looking at them. She kept walking. When it reached a stage, she wasn’t even running anymore. She was already running.

By the time the others were still slowing their cars and stepping out carefully, she had already reached the vehicle.

Up close, the damage was worse. The front glass had shattered completely, pieces scattered across the road. The side of the car that had taken the hit was crushed inward against the concrete barrier.

Elara’s steps stopped. Her eyes moved quickly over the damage, then straight into the car.

Adrian.

He was inside.

He wasn’t moving. His head leaned down, chin resting near his chest. A few strands of his hair fell forward, obscuring his face.

Elara didn’t think. She moved closer to the window. The glass had not completely shattered but it was cracked through with long lines. She raised her hand and hit it hard.

"Adrian!" She yelled, her voice louder than she had expected. She grabbed the handle and pulled but it didn’t open. She hit the glass again. "Open it... can you hear me?"

Behind her, footsteps were getting closer.

"Stop! It’s dangerous!"

"It might explode, step back!"

But then a surprised voice cut through. "Wait... I know her. She’s a singer."

There was a change in the tone around her.

"Careful, let’s help her."

But Elara didn’t turn. She didn’t hear them properly. Her hand kept moving between the glass and the handle, pulling again and again.

"Adrian!" She called out, her voice low and heavy with exhaustion.

Inside the car, nothing moved at first. Then–

She didn’t notice the exact moment, but she noticed his body move slightly. Her hand froze on the handle.

There was a small sound, almost lost under the noise around.

A click.

Elara didn’t hesitate before she pulled the door hard. It resisted for a small second before it gave way and opened. She stepped closer immediately and leaned in. Her eyes went straight to him.

"Adrian..."

No response.

Her hands moved quickly to the seatbelt across his chest. Her fingers fumbled a bit before finding the latch.

"Wait... just–" she muttered.

She pressed the latch and the belt loosened.

In that same moment... His body shifted. Suddenly, his weight fell forward.

Elara’s eyes widened a little as she instinctively moved to catch him. His head dropped against her shoulder, his body leaning heavily into her.

She stiffened for a second. Then her hand came up quickly, holding him in place.

"Adrian..." She called again.

Her fingers pressed against his shoulder as she tried to pull him back just enough to see his face.

His eyes opened a little. Though it was unfocused, they still found her. He looked at her quietly, like he was trying to see her clearly.

Elara’s breath caught for a second.

"Stay awake..." Her words came out low, almost uneven, without her realizing.

He didn’t respond, he only looked at her. Then slowly, his eyes closed again and his weight became heavier against her.

Around them, the noise had grown much louder.

"Isn’t that Adrian Vale!"

"He’s unconscious!"

"Call them again, hurry!"

Sirens sounded faintly from a distance and when the ambulance finally arrived, the people moved aside a bit. The paramedics rushed out quickly, pushing through the small crowd.

"Please give space!"

"Go check the truck driver!"

Some moved toward the car without hesitation. One of them reached Elara first. "Miss, we need to take him."

Elara did not move immediately, her hand was still on him. Then slowly, she loosened her hold and stepped aside just enough for them to reach in.

They worked quickly, checking him, supporting his body, carefully pulling him out of the car and onto the stretcher.

Elara stood close, her eyes following every movement.

"He’s losing consciousness."

"Careful with his head."

They secured him and began moving fast toward the ambulance.

Elara took a step forward without thinking. "He’s injured—" she said slowly, her eyes still on him.

"You can come with us." one of the paramedics muttered, glancing at her briefly.

Elara didn’t hesitate. She followed them immediately and stepped into the ambulance.

–

At the hospital, Elara sat on the long bench outside the emergency room. Her phone was still in her hand, but she wasn’t using it. The screen had gone dim a long time ago.

The doors in front of her had closed the moment they took him in. She had not seen him again since then.

Her eyes stayed on that door. She didn’t know how long she had been sitting there. Minutes... maybe more.

Footsteps came from the side, and she looked up instinctively.

It’s Harris.

He had always looked easygoing whenever she saw him before, always with that half smile like he was about to say something unserious.

But now, there wasn’t any smile. Though, his face was calm, it was not the kind she was used to.

His steps stopped in front of her.

Elara looked up at him fully but neither of them spoke up. Then Harris asked calmly.

"What happened?"

"There was an accident," Elara said without hesitation. "A truck hit his car."

"You were there." He asked again, his eyes still on her.

Elara nodded in reply.

Harris looked at her for a moment longer, then he gave a short nod.

"Thank you." He said simply and stepped aside after that. He then took out his phone.

"Help me check the truck," he said into the phone. "I want everything on it.

He paused then added. "And please, make sure this doesn’t reach the media yet."

He ended the call without waiting for a reply, then he turned back to Elara.

"You should go," he said.

Her eyes moved back to the emergency room doors.

"I’ll stay," she said calmly.

Harris looked at her for a second. Something unreadable passed through his eyes, but it was gone just as quickly.

He didn’t argue. He only nodded and turned away, standing not too far from her.

Time passed again.

Then finally... the door opened. Both of them looked up at the same time.