Chapter 224:
Caden, clutching Alicia tightly, tumbled down the slope. His focus remained solely on her safety, neglecting his own. His head struck a rock, rendering him unconscious. Finally, they came to a stop. Alicia opened her eyes, dimly perceiving the distant lights of a house. A flicker of hope ignited within her; she clung to Caden, gasping for breath as she cried, “Caden… Caden…”
He remained unresponsive. Alicia struggled to maintain composure, taking a deep breath before checking his pulse and assessing his wounds. Blood stained the back of his neck. Quickly, she tore strips from her clothing to bandage the wound and stanch the bleeding. Her energy dwindled rapidly, the air both freezing and pitch-black. Uncertain if she could endure until Caden regained consciousness, she called his name again. Ignorance of the extent of his injuries fueled her panic. Fear gripped her, tears welling in her eyes. “Caden…” she whispered weakly, “Please… please wake up.” She carefully examined his face, ensuring he could breathe, wiping mud from his mouth and nose. Then, she felt a slight movement beneath her eyelids—a subtle, brief flicker that offered a fragile glimmer of hope.
Recognizing the urgency, she pushed herself to her feet. With immense effort, she hoisted Caden onto her back and began moving towards the light. Exhausted, the weight pressing down, Alicia stumbled, barely managing to stand before tripping and falling hard. She lacked the strength to scream, only able to open her mouth in a silent cry of pain. Undeterred, she continued, pulling Caden along, inching forward. She lost track of how many times she fell, how piercing the cold, how intense the pain. Gradually, the cold numbed her bones; her eyelids grew heavy, threatening to close. With her last reserves of strength, she collapsed to her knees. As she fell, Caden's face swam into sharper focus. A surge of emotion overwhelmed her, tears flowing freely. “Caden… please don’t die,” she whispered. He lay in a troubled sleep.
In her dream, she felt dazed and aching, confined to a small room. Caden sat before her, unharmed. “Are you awake?” he asked.
“This is hell.”
Alicia was stunned, staring at him in disbelief. “Are we dead?”
“Yes,” Caden replied nonchalantly, his demeanor more akin to a handsome yet ruthless ruler of the underworld than a mere ghost. Alicia felt no fear of death; after all, they were already dead. There was no turning back. She hadn't anticipated, however, that hell would be so unlike her expectations. Her thoughts swirled, and she continued to stare at him, captivated.
“When do we get reincarnated?” he asked, his face impassive. “If you choose to be reincarnated, you won’t remember anything. Are you sure that’s what you want?”
Alicia's gaze darkened. “There's nothing in this life worth holding on to anyway. Keeping my memories seems pointless.”
“Really? Are you willing to forget me?”
Alicia's eyes flickered, a brief moment of shyness passing over her. But, considering their supposed state, she felt no need for such reticence. With newfound boldness, she met his gaze. “No.”
A subtle shift in Caden's expression went unnoticed by Alicia. “What is there about me that you are not willing to forget?” he asked.
Exhausted, Alicia simply spoke what came to mind: “Because you have been kind to me.”
“So?” Caden pressed.
“And… I like you,” she whispered softly.
Caden hesitated. “How much do you like me?”
“A lot. You’re handsome, you’re fit, and you’re exceptionally skilled in bed,” Alicia admitted, unable to restrain herself. “I love sleeping with you. It makes me feel amazing. I love being in your arms. I love the way you fuck me, the way you look at me and kiss me.”
Caden raised an eyebrow at her frankness, reaching out to touch her forehead, checking for a fever. It was clear to him that she wouldn't be so unrestrained unless something was amiss.
Alicia grasped his hand, feeling a surge of alertness. She forced her eyes open, focusing more clearly. Noticing the bandage on his head, she asked, confused, “Aren’t there healers in hell? Why are you still hurt?”
“I just died. I’m not being treated; I’m not considered a priority.”
“Does it hurt?”
“No.”
Resting her cheek on her palm, Alice closed her eyes. “So why does it hurt so much? Am I being punished for my sins?”
Caden chuckled softly. “Do you think you are a sinner?”
“No, but I’ve made a lot of mistakes,” Alicia admitted, her voice breaking.
Caden gently wiped away her tears. Alicia looked at him, her expression vulnerable. “And you?” she asked huskily. “Do you like me?”
“Yes,” Caden replied with a mischievous smile. “Of course, I enjoy fucking you.”
Alice was speechless.