12 Something that Could Save Them

The terror surging inside Ainsley's [JX] body receded when he felt a familiar touch landing on his skin. However, upon hearing Sinclair [MSY], he couldn't help but involuntarily shiver. He just used both hands to slide down the hand from his eyes. "Sinco? What are you doing here?"

"I tried calling you, but you wouldn't answer. Where's your phone?" Sinclair let the other touch his hand and grip at his wrist. He was trying to feel a tremor in Ainsley's hands, but none came. Even if it was not a good method of measuring things, at least Ainsley was not avoiding his hand, his touch… him. "Why are you here?"

"Hey, that was my question." Ainsley brought down the hand with his fully. He then remembered about Gavyn [TTX] and wondered if the other man was done and just waiting for him. "Wait, I should go see Gavyn. Sinco, come with me. I met someone."

"Someone?" Sinclair frowned as he followed behind Ainsley while he let the other drag him by the hand. "You were meeting someone earlier?"

Ainsley only glanced at Sinclair with all of his displeasure. "Why do you sound like I'm a boyfriend cheating on you? Listen, earlier, something happened. Gavyn saved me, but he got hurt in return. Come with me. Let's pay for his hospital fees."

How convenient was it to have a walking bank account? He bet Sinclair wouldn't refuse to pay after hearing the story. Even if Ainsley could pay for it, it would eat up a lot of his cash.

He walked to the room where he left Gavyn and saw the doctor exiting the room. "Hi, doc! How was Gavyn's arm? Is it bad?"

"Hm? Ah, no, not at all. It's not going to require more than extra care." The doctor smiled at the other as if recognizing him as the friend of the patient earlier. "The flesh was almost torn off from the bone, but it will heal as long as he kept it away from water and strain. Right… Mr. Hawke didn't say what bit him. Can you tell me what it was?"

"…it's someone from the streets. He's behaving like those patients in the ward over there." Ainsley didn't know how to call them right now.

Whatever he had in mind would be insulting to those people. After all, it wasn't their fault for losing control and being afflicted by such a disease.

When he said so, the doctor's countenance changed. Ainsley immediately made a follow-up: "It's sad, but we had no choice. He attacked me and then Gavyn. In an attempt to stop him, Gavyn had to push him into traffic."

Sinclair's eyes narrowed. Did Ainsley witness another car accident that killed the victim?

"I think I have heard of that. The ambulance got here before you guys did." The doctor just arrived when ER got another patient with that description based on the accounts he overheard from the person that arrived with the ambulance. It did seem that some ignored the signs of this strange sickness and would randomly turn while walking to work.

"…is Stephen [Mr. Lu]…?" Ainsley decided to ask. He would feel rather guilty if his negligence had killed someone. Even if he was the victim of that person… after all, Stephen recognized him.

"Actually, I have no idea what happened. It seemed that even if the head was bashed in, the patient survived. Why don't you ask around the ER? I think they should know more," the doctor suggested as he realized that Ainsley was familiar with the other patient as well.

Ainsley decided to do just that and thanked the doctor. He then led Sinclair away, only for Sinclair to tell him that Stuart asked him to meet at the billing window instead. On their way there, Ainsley didn't even let go of Sinclair's wrist.

Because of this, Sinclair murmured, "You must have been very scared. I'm sorry I wasn't there to save you instead."

"…huh? Well, yeah, I am, but I'm not blaming you or anything." Ainsley rubbed the back of his head. "Sinco, what do you think is happening? I can't stand still while seeing all of this. There must be something that could save them."

"Hm? Why did you suddenly think of that? You're not a scientist that could study the disease." He didn't understand why Ainsley suddenly wanted to save people. Not only could they not save these people even if they wanted to, but Ainsley was also quite powerless in this area.

"Sinco, I saw Stephen lose control and try to eat my face." Ainsley only glanced at the CEO.

Actually, there were more words in his mouth, but he didn't know if he could say them to Sinclair's face. If it was before, he would freely say how he watched Stephen turn into a mindless monster that scared him until a little pee came out. Right now, wouldn't that touch something that he was not willing to uncover at the moment?

He then sighed. "In any case, my other friends have been affected by the thing. I don't want to just accept that they'll go insane and start biting people like Stephen."

Sinclair looked around them and suddenly pulled Ainsley into a small corner. Even if they both barely fit, the tinge of shyness and incredulity didn't remain on Ainsley's face. How uncaring of Sinclair King to do something that could be presented as provocative by the media. It's just that the look on those gray eyes told Ainsley that he shouldn't kid around.

The best friend whispered to him in a serious tone, "Leo, listen to me. Don't try to do anything reckless. Do you remember what Michelle said yesterday? The King family is also bothered and will be looking into these incidents. Of course, the other families will be doing the same. No need to be the one going after whatever this is."

"But… I just wanted to help them…" Ainsley turned to look in the direction from they came from, where they had seen the affected patient. "If my friends are being affected for real, then…"

"Leo…" With a slow movement, Sinclair took a hold of Ainsley's chin and turned his face, so they would be staring into each other's eyes. Ainsley didn't realize that Sinclair had leaned down closer to him as if hiding him in the best friend's shadow. "Listen to me… whatever this was… I'll take care of it one way or another. Just… stay still and let me protect you."

Within those gray ones, Ainsley thought he would see a turbulent storm. However, there was only a coal-skied paradise.