A Cold Heart , Burned for Him
Ch ~ 4
The fluorescent lights above hummed like they were whispering secrets. Arielle lay still in the hospital bed, a gauze-wrapped gash climbing up her arm like an unfinished poem. Her skin looked paler than usual, drained of its fire, but her eyes… her eyes burned.
Julian sat beside her, his shirt sleeves rolled up, a smear of her blood still drying on his wrist. He hadn’t meant to come. He hadn’t meant to care.
Julian Crest ( ml bff)
“What happened?”
Arielle’s lips curved, tired but smug
Arielle Voss ( fl bff)
Was chasing a ghost. Slipped.”
Julian Crest ( ml bff)
“You don’t chase ghosts.“You summon them.”
Arielle Voss ( fl bff)
“Maybe it wasn’t a ghost. Maybe it was you.”
Julian didn’t respond. He reached out to adjust her IV drip, fingers brushing the inside of her wrist. She flinched, just slightly—then leaned into the touch.
Arielle Voss ( fl bff)
“I didn’t call anyone
Arielle Voss ( fl bff)
“So how did you know?”
He looked at her then, expression unreadable.
Julian Crest ( ml bff)
“You have a way of bleeding straight into my path.”
Arielle Voss ( fl bff)
“You always show up when I’m broken,” she murmured.
Julian Crest ( ml bff)
“You’re always broken
Arielle Voss ( fl bff)
Her smile widened, cracked and beautiful. “But you never leave.”
Julian said nothing. Instead, he reached into the drawer and pulled out a cool cloth, pressing it gently against her forehead. The intimacy of the gesture was unbearable
Arielle Voss ( fl bff)
She grabbed his hand. “Tell me something awful. Something real.”
Julian Crest ( ml bff)
He hesitated, then spoke low. “When I saw the blood on the floor, I was angry it wasn’t worse. And then I hated myself for it.”
Arielle Voss ( fl bff)
Arielle’s breath caught—and then she laughed. “Good. That means you still feel something.”
Julian Crest ( ml bff)
He looked away. “Don’t mistake pity for emotion.”
Arielle Voss ( fl bff)
“I never do."
Arielle Voss ( fl bff)
“But this... whatever this is between us? It’s not pity. And you know it
He stood to leave, but her fingers clutched his sleeve like a lifeline.
Arielle Voss ( fl bff)
"Stay."
Julian didn’t move, didn’t answer. But he sat back down.
And he didn’t let go of her hand.
Arielle Voss ( fl bff)
“I’d rather be his nightmare than nothing at all.”“He doesn’t get to walk away—not after how deeply I’ve let him cut.”
Julian Crest ( ml bff)
Should have left the moment I saw the madness in her eyes. But I didn’t.”“I don’t care about her. I can’t. So why do I feel like I’m the one bleeding?”“She scares me. Not because she’s broken—but because I want to break with her.”
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