The Devil Of Probability-Chapter 49: Stabilization

The walk to the infirmary was rather quiet. The stairs were by far the hardest part, but other than this, nothing attempted to stop him. With his injuries, Simon was sure to be tired after walking three flights of stairs.

However, this exhaustion exited his body when he caught sight of the infirmary. The closer he walked, the more he could hear the steady sigh from the infirmary’s air filter.

He took note that once he walked closer, the cameras inside the infirmary were already shut off. The problem was: was this a sign of understanding and partnership — or a threat?

Simon clenched his fist, letting out a heavy sigh before walking into the room. As always, the room smelled of chemicals and fresh, heated cloth.

He slowly walked into the room, the automatic doors giving off a soft hum. He did so as quietly as he could, even if the cameras were off.

Simon noticed the smell of coffee, turning to his left, seeing Alina already in her chair.

(Was she waiting for me?)

Alina took one more sip of her coffee before sitting up and walking towards Simon. He was a bit confused, his body even tensing as she touched his shoulder.

"What are you doing. Sit."

Although it was supposed to be a question, the way she said it made it seem like a statement.

"Was that a command or a question, Ms. Korolyova?"

"I said sit. Before I break another rib."

Simon blinked once. She might’ve been more dangerous than he thought. How could she have known that it was his ribs already? He didn’t do anything to give it off, so this only meant one thing.

(Either she can sense it with her Signature, or she knows that I went into Earth Scale Eel Cave. Could she be with Project Icarus?)

Simon followed her to the hospital bed, taking off the shirt of the janitor’s uniform.

"You couldn’t use your phone?"

Simon stared at her blankly. How careless of him! He had already forgotten about this problem. He signaled Alina to get a piece of paper, and she fetched it along with a pen.

"I think my phone has been compromised. I didn’t use it just in case they’re checking my messages."

Simon wrote on the paper before continuing to take off the shirt. After this was done, he threw it to the ground before removing the makeshift bandage.

Upon reading the paper, Alina tapped the pen against the table before replying.

"I understand. Keep it here for the night. I’ll fix it."

"And how do I know I can trust you?"

Alina’s gaze snapped from the paper to Simon’s, and she pinched his stomach. At the same time, she began to write again, her handwriting becoming sloppy and dropping with each letter.

"I’LL FIX IT."

Simon nodded his head, and the pressure left his ribs. Looking into Alina’s eyes, it seemed she was holding something back, something Simon couldn’t seem to understand.

Her gaze suddenly went from threatening to sorrowful, and she stared down at Simon’s wounds for a few moments. He couldn’t tell if this glare was because of his wound or something much deeper.

She held her palm to his ribs, and they slowly but surely pieced themselves together again.

[Stabilization]

A dull silence spread between them. Simon gritted his teeth as he felt his bones reorganizing themselves. He looked up at the ceiling in pain, but didn’t dare to make a sound.

At this point, he felt like a machine that was fed up with its task. Alina withdrew her hand and grabbed an ice pack. At the same time, she picked up Simon’s phone, taking it apart effortlessly.

She did the same with her phone before speaking again.

"Don’t move too much tonight. If you do, your wounds won’t be healed by dawn."

Crimson blood fell from her nose at the words left her mouth, but she didn’t seem to care. Simon wanted to say something, but the look she gave off was clearly a sign for him to keep his mouth closed.

So he did. Although degrading, she was his only accomplice for the time being; he had to stay on good terms with her. If she were to kill someone right in front of him, he’d have to hide the body one way or another.

Alina held the ice pack to Simon’s wound and walked away once he got a hold of it. She searched her desk drawers, taking out pills. After finding them, she put them onto the counter next to the paper before sitting down next to Simon.

"What is my side, Alina?"

"What?"

"You said a while back, you’re on my side. What does that mean?"

"...It means what it said."

Simon, of course, was struck ajar by the vague answer. He could not contemplate what this meant, knowing her answer would likely be the same if he asked again.

(Everyone has their secrets. I guess this is one of them.)

Simon clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth before saying:

"So, does that mean you’re with PI?"

Simon waited for her reaction, sensing her confusion. In this case, this was best for him — this meant she didn’t know which Bedeviled organization was at work yet.

"I’m not. I don’t specifically enjoy any Bedeviled organizations."

What an odd woman.

She wasn’t on the bureau’s side, clearly. If she were, she would end up in jail along with Simon, or worse — eliminated. And with this new information, Simon now knew she wasn’t with Project Icarus either.

This is why Simon chose not to directly say their name. Because as long as she didn’t know, Simon would not have any problems with them intercepting her.

He gazed at her with a cautious, yes, curious stare, and Alina returned it. Neither of them seemed to break this until Alina suddenly murmured:

"Elliot. You said you were investigating him, correct?"

"Yeah."

"He’s been in the Hollow World over the past few months. It seems like he’s searching for something. You’d better kill him soon."

Simon paused for a moment. He stared at her coffee for a few moments, analyzing everything within the room.

"I never told you I planned to kill him."

"Until now. But I know how you think."

"...How did you find out he was in the Hollow World?" 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

Then, Alina copied his expression yet again.

"I guess you’ll only become more suspicious if I don’t tell you. I’ve been watching him as he exits and enters. Be cautious of him."