REBIRTH : Chasing The Limelight

Chapter 171: Frostiebun, can you still move?

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The heavy rain blurred everything around Elara, cold water hitting her face again and again as she ran. Her soaked shoes kept slipping on the wet road making every step difficult.

The gown she had worn for the performance at the bar was completely drenched now. The cloth stuck tightly to her legs uncomfortably, slowing her down quiet a lot.

Behind them, loud footsteps splashed against the flooded road together with angry shouts.

"Come back here! We promise not to break your bones too much!"

"The singer is slower because of that dress, grab her first!"

Just twenty minutes ago, they had carelessly entered a cab after leaving the bar. At first, everything had looked alright. But the moment the driver pressed on the accelerator and drove past the usual route, the night had turned into a nightmare.

They had only managed to escape when the car slowed down near the side of an empty road. But the driver and the other men that had been waiting at that area had chased after them immediately.

Now there was nowhere to hide.

"Are you okay?" the girl beside her panted fearfully through the rain. She was only a temporary backup dancer. Someone who should never have been dragged into this mess.

"I’m fine," Elara lied, breathing hard as her foot slipped again.

The footsteps behind them were getting closer and closer. Her dress was also making it impossible to run properly. At this rate, both of them would soon get caught.

Elara suddenly let go of the girl’s hand. "Keep running. Don’t let me delay you." she muttered quickly while the girl froze, staring at her through the rain with obvious hesitation. Then finally, she turned around and ran ahead.

Elara forced herself to keep moving despite her shaking legs. But the men behind her were already catching up.

Then suddenly, a sharp scream rang out in the air.

Elara froze instantly.

Ahead of her, the girl’s body jerked violently before collapsing into a small puddle at the roadside. A broken electric cable nearby sparked brightly inside the rainwater.

For one horrifying second, Elara could only stare at the scene in front of her. Then a rough hand suddenly grabbed her shoulder from behind.

"Elara?"

The scene vanished and the freezing rain disappeared.

Elara blinked suddenly, the warm apartment slowly coming back into focus. Her fingers tightened unconsciously around the cup in her hands.

"Hey! Are you still with me?" Ziva asked again, her brows raising in amusement as she waved her hand in front of her. "I’ve been calling you for ages. You still haven’t answered my question."

Elara lowered her gaze quietly, trying to calm the strange tightness in her chest. Even now, she could still feel the weight of that soaked dress dragging against her skin.

"When we were running..." she said softly before looking back at Ziva, "I saw the wire spark near the puddle."

Ziva frowned immediately at her explanation.

"I just knew stepping there would electrocute us." Elara added calmly.

The confusion on Ziva’s face increased. "How did you even notice that?" she asked in disbelief. "It was completely dark. Rain was falling like crazy and we were literally running for our lives."

She stared at her with narrowed eyes. "I didn’t even notice the puddle itself. So how did you see the spark?"

Elara gave a deep sigh, staring at Ziva with a stern expression. "When your life is on the line Ziva, your brain processes things faster. Just let it go."

Before Ziva could open her mouth again to protest, the door suddenly clicked open. Carris walked in calmly with a shopping bag in his hand. But just as he stepped inside, another figure entered immediately behind him.

It was Tonio.

The moment he fully entered the apartment, his eyes scanned the room before stopping on Elara sitting on the couch with her leg heavily bandaged.

The color drained from his face instantly. Then his expression darkened dangerously. Without saying a word, he suddenly turned around and started heading back toward the door.

"Hey hold on. Where exactly do you think you’re going now?" Carris grunted, quickly grabbing his shoulder to stop him.

"Let go of me," Tonio snapped coldly. "I’m going to find those people and dissect them limb by limb until they start regretting ever being born in this world."

Carris lifted a brow in amusement as he yanked him back inside by his jacket. "Stop overreacting and close the door already. I told you the police are handling everything."

"So true?" Ziva muttered under her breath, her brows lifting mockingly. "Coming from someone who almost turned a man’s face into mashed potatoes."

"Overreacting," Tonio repeated while slapping Carris’ hand away. He turned around sharply. "Look at Frostiebun. She’s already bandaged up because of those bastards and you’re here telling me to calm down."

He breathed out harshly before muttering a curse under his breath. "Fuck. Why did I even leave the venue yesterday? I should’ve stayed there until she finished everything."

"I’m telling you to be realistic you dramatic psycho," Carris snapped back, his temper rising. "Where exactly are you planning to go now? Do you even know where those men are? Just sit down already."

"Don’t tell me what to do you blue haired freak," Tonio snarled, poking a finger hard against Carris’ chest. "If I want to tear the whole of Aurelia apart to find whoever arranged this, I will. Try stopping me again and see what happens."

Carris didn’t even blink. He stepped closer until they were almost chest to chest. "One more comment about my hair and I’ll make sure you’re the one needing bandages next."

Elara raised a brow while watching the two of them. The corner of her lips lifted a little as she took another sip from the now cold water in her hand.

"You both look ridiculous," she muttered with a scoff. "And besides, our first aid kit only has enough bandages for my leg and Ziva’s bruised head. We don’t have extra wraps for cracked skulls."

Tonio snorted before finally pushing past Carris. "If anyone’s skull is getting cracked here, it should be his."

Carris only scoffed quietly as he walked further into the apartment and placed the shopping bags on the table.

Tonio had already crouched beside Elara near the couch. His eyes immediately dropped to her leg.

"Frostiebun, can you still move it or is it already paralyzed?" he asked in a tragic voice. "Be honest. Did the doctor say the bone shattered completely? Just tell me now if you won’t be able to walk in a straight line anymore."

"The only thing getting shattered here is your skull if you don’t shut up," Ziva snapped angrily. "Her bones are alright. Her ankle is just sprained."

Carris gave another small scoff as he leaned against the table.

"Got some snacks," he muttered casually...