The originally bright sky turned gloomy as evening fell. A faded grayish tone shrouded the whole place.
Inside, a frail looking figure was lying on the hospital bed. Lips parched, face pallid, with no color of blood and eyes squeezed shut - transformed into a lifeless porcelain doll.
The desolate white walls added to the harrowing atmosphere.
Empty and disquieting.
There was no sound, except for the faint even breathing.
After what seemed like an eternity had passed, light entered into the blurry pair of eyes as they slowly fluttered open. Like a lethargic butterfly lifting it's wings for the first time ever.
Adjusting to the brightly lit room, with her unfocused and glum eyes Sera tried to identify her surroundings. Her hand was injured, and wrapped in a white bandage. She could feel a sharp twinge as her eyebrows knit together, biting her lower lip.
Having no memory of what had occurred earlier in the day, Sera's brows furrowed in confusion.
Trying to recall, Sera felt a throbbing in her dizzy head.
Perched vigilantly on the beige couch, a dark silhouette kept his weather eyes on Sera's movements.
Her fuzzy state of mind, her cluelessness, her frightful eyes, slight wincing and her eventual listless state as Sera gave up. Staring vacantly at the white ceilings above, lost in thought.
"You're awake?.."
Jolting awake, Sera turned to her side when a low vibrato reverberated breaking her chain of thoughts.
A hypnotic face laced with noticeable sternness entered Sera's vision making her heart pound.
Spellbound. Sera gazed into the steely gray irises that were like bottomless pits, sucking her soul.
An incredulous expression was plastered across Sera's face after she forced herself to snap out of the magnetic gaze pulling her.
Sera's hoarse sounding voice came out of her mouth followed by a couple of coughs. Her throat dry and burning.
"Huh?! How.."
Before Sera could recover from her fit of coughs, a cup of warm water with a straw was in front of her. She was momentarily shocked before accepting the cup with the uninjured hand and taking a sip. Her head lowered, eyes misty.
Placing the cup on the cabinet beside the bed, Lucifer held Sera's gaze, his own hiding a mix of complicated emotions. His original warm expression replaced with an indifferent front.
Sighing inwardly, Lucifer's rigid body and face relaxed. He closed his eyes when Sera averted her own, trying to get ahold of his raging emotions.
After a beat, Sera raised her head to meet Lucifer's complex gaze when his low voice reached her. It wasn't his usual gentle tone, filled with warmth.
"Ethan, he brought you here.. I heard you were lying unconscious on the floor inside the storage space of your gallery"
Lucifer's words were like a heavy blow to Sera. She couldn't perceive the situation that was being described as her mind went blank. She could cry at any instant, it was that painful as her head was buzzing and ringing nonstop.
"I.. I don't remember anything"
When Lucifer saw Sera's state, he felt quite disheartened as well as disappointed with himself. Her shaky pupils and trembling voice, the shocked expression of hers was like a pang in his chest. His initial cold expression faltered.
The man clenched his fists until his nails dug the flesh of his palms, trying really very hard to control his emotions. Lucifer felt his mind was nothing but a distorted mess at the moment.
Why?
Why was he so angry?
Is it because he was blinded by the flames of vengeance?
Is it because ROSE was involved, in one way or another?
Is it because Mia Chung was brought into the picture?
Or is it because it involves Sera this time?
Is he doubtful of Sera?
Is it really the seeds of doubt and uncertainty acting up?
Or is it because Sera had been struggling alone, and suffering that his heart aches for her?
What was it that triggered Lucifer?
The man had no clue at all.
At this point of time Lucifer was just like an infant, completely ignorant of the realities of the world, lost on the streets crying for it's mother. He was struggling on the inside, having a silent war within himself.
Staring down at Sera's pale face as she sat quietly on the bed, looking like a deer caught in between headlights, Lucifer gave up.
The large palm landed on Sera's head almost startling her, the familiar warmth and gentle voice giving her the much needed sense of security.
"It's okay.. Don't put strain on your mind. Rest for a while.."
Reveling in the tender touch, Sera closed her eyes and sighed in relief. She couldn't help but feel uneasy in her heart after waking up to find the man so unusual.
It would be an understatement to say that Sera was nervous when gazing into Lucifer's ice cold gray orbs. She was beyond nervous.
"What's the time? It's dark.."
"It's already past 9.."
Gripped by the jumpy emotions that she was feeling Sera's eyes bulged out, she tried to say something but nothing came out. It was evident that she was worried about something.
Sensing Sera's discomfort and obvious tension, Lucifer expounded. She gradually calmed down.
"Dont worry. Your parents, they're outside in the waiting lounge. Ethan is with them, your friend too.."
When Sera heard Lucifer's statement, she was overwhelmed with a strange feeling of fullness and emptiness, all at the same time.
It was something so unprecedented to Sera, that she was petrified.
Unable to explain herself, Sera called out to the man standing across her. The only strength she could find was from Lucifer. Her large doe eyes were clouded with hot tears, she choked on her voice.
"Lucifer, I.."
A twinge of pain, a tug in his heart was what made Lucifer act on his feet. Before he could register the situation, his body acted on itself and his arms found Sera's petite self.
The man had no idea why Sera was so affected, he was perplexed. This was probably the first time she was behaving like this, crestfallen and struck by a larger grief. It was baffling.
Lucifer had never seen Sera in a state this awful.
Trying to alleviate whatever affliction Sera was going through, Lucifer had engulfed her small frame as she sobbed quietly. His large hand patting her shivering back consolingly.
Lucifer coaxingly breathed into Sera's ears in hushed tones.
"It's alright.. I'm here, I'm here"
Completely obscure in Lucifer's arms, Sera uttered in a muffled voice.
"Thank you.."
Applying force, Lucifer tightly embraced Sera as the conversation with Ethan Lee crossed through his mind. His gray eyes flashed with a faint light.