Chapter 22

ARIA's perspective

I heard the door open a few minutes after Neon was gone, I shrank back thinking he was the one who came back but it was Silas. He came in holding a box, I curled up beside the bed, and when he reached out to touch me I moved away.

“I’m not gonna hurt, Aria. I brought some ointment.” He lifted the box and dropped it gently in front of me. His eyes fell on the purplish mark around my arm, where Neon had held me. I saw his jaw jutting.

“Can I...?” He tried to touch my arm, and I nodded.

He didn’t have that scary look Neon had when he left the room.

His fingers carefully brushed against the spot, and he rubbed some ointment on it.

“You might want to roll up your shirt, I could use this too before the doctor comes here, it might help relieve the pains.” He muttered and glanced up at me.

“Lay on the bed.”

He helped me to my feet, his hands on my shoulders. I lay on the bed without his help, and rolled my shirt up a little, revealing my ribs to him.

I heard him grunt and m