136 Nightmare come alive...contd.

"He ran through that room," he shouted at the Police who broke in and were the first to enter.

They ran toward the direction he was pointing towards.

Crawling, he reached Jia Li and realised that she had lost consciousness.

Wei rushed towards them, his eyes trying to make sense of the nightmare that surrounded him. He quickly took off his jacket and put it around Jia Li's bloodied, near naked body.

"Save her, she has bled profusely," Tang spoke through bloodied teeth, even as Ethan tried to help him get up and untie his bonds.

"Leave me, just concentrate on her," he growled.

A horrified looking Mei Zhen absorbed the scene as paramedics brushed past her towards Tang and Jia Li.

"The cut was deep but didn't nick any vein or artery. There is blood loss but she should recover soon. She fainted because of shock, more than anything else. With some rest, she would recover in no time. Apart from a scar, there shouldn't be anything to worry about," the doctor finally addressed the two men who had been pestering her ever since she had walked in to check the patient.

"I suggest that you go and receive the medical attention now, unless you want me to take care of you along with Jia Li," Wei told Tang, strongly but not too unkindly.

It had been an hour since they had come to the hospital. Fu was still absconding, but they had discovered his rental car which had been parked nearby. A couple of big cans of gasoline had been found in the car's boot, which gave them a clue about his further plan. It could have been a lot worse had the police not arrived at the scene, when they did.

Someone from the police had already recorded Tang's statement. Mei Zhen and Chu wore identical expressions, a mixture of guilt and disbelief when they got to know this.

"Wei is right. You heard the doctor. Jia Li is fine now. Can you please get yourself examined now," Chu pleaded with her brother.

"I want to see her first," he said obstinately.

The doctor shook her head and said firmly, "you need to get your cuts and wounds cleaned up before I let you enter another patient's room. Anyways, we have given her a sedative. She won't wake up till tomorrow morning."

Mei Zhen came up to Tang and looked at him with hurt in her eyes, "are you so obsessed with her that your own pain doesn't even register in your head? And even if it doesn't, can you not see the torture Chu and I are going through because of you? Do we not matter at all?"

Tang gave an impatient huff and walked into the doctor's cabin.

Ethan put his hand on Wei's shoulder, "are you alright? I can't begin to imagine the fear you would have felt when Jia Li's call came."

Wei gave him a grateful smile, "I am just immensely relieved that she is not hurt. Those fifteen minutes have reduced my lifespan by at least ten years. I don't think I can afford to let anything like this re-occur ever. I had discovered my feelings for her months ago but the depth of those feelings hit me hard TODAY. With Fu still in the wind, I am taking Jia Li back to Shanghai with me and am not going to let her out of my sight for even a second."

Ethan patted his shoulder and left him standing outside Jia Li's room. Wei entered her semi-darkened room quietly and stood there, just looking at her. Her rhythmic breathing brought him comfort but he nearly cried looking at the thick bandage wrapped around her chest.

"I promise to never leave your side ever again, even if it means fighting the world, including you. You are too precious and you are mine," he whispered.

Pulling a chair close to her bed, he took her hand and placed a moist kiss on the inside of her palm. He covered that hand with both of his own and sat, gazing at her pale features.

Tang sat brooding on the hospital bed, his mind still unsettled. He wanted to stay next to Jia Li, to be able to reassure himself that she is alive and breathing. He couldn't get the image of her white lips and the bright red splatter of her blood all around, out of his head. Had it not been for the help on time, he would have lost her tonight!

"Are you dizzy? Does it hurt a lot?" Mei Zhen's concerned voice startled him.

He looked at her and shook his head.

"Then why was your face all scrunched up right now?" she asked.

"I guess my head is still stuck there. Thank you for not informing my parents about this yet. I want to tell them myself when we go back," he said gratefully.