The Essence Of The Darkness
Episode 52: Selecting

It was still very early, but the atmosphere of Akram's apartment was different than usual. Her room, where Elana was laid, is now open to nurses brought in by Nathan's doctor.

These nurses have first-class medical skills and are tasked with treating and monitoring Elana's condition closely. They have all had the experience to deal with patients with hypothermia before, so that later if Elana's condition worsens, Elana is already in the hands of the right experts who are able to save her life.

All that night, Akram never left Elana. He really didn't want Elana out of his sight. Akram was always on guard near Elana, watching the woman vigilantly, worried that suddenly Elana's condition turned critical and he realized it too late.

Akram once read that the climbers who died of hypothermia while trying to conquer the rugged Mount Everest, largely unaware of what befell them, simply felt exhausted and wanted to take a short nap, but the angel of death has deceived them, making them not wake up forever.

I didn't want it to happen to Elana. Truly, he was afraid that Elana, who was currently asleep, did not open her eyes again.

After handing Elana over to the nurse, Akram took the time to take a bath, he finished his bath quickly and shaved in the sink in a slight hurry. After he finished, he placed his knife in the container, washed himself and looked into the mirror. Trying to neutralize the anxiety that stifled his chest.

The warm water vapor still filled the room and caused the mirror to fog so that Akram had to rub his palm on the mirror to see the reflection of his face more clearly.

There were dark circles under his eyes because Akram almost could not be said to have slept all night. Because, every time he was about to sleep deeper, Akram would rush up in surprise, then hasten to check the signs of life in Elana's body, he said, afraid that he was off guard and missed the precarious condition of the woman at crucial moments.

Akram watched the patch in the corner of his eye and frowned looking at it. Tears almost became a new experience for him. I don't know when since the last time he felt it, Akram has forgotten.

Now, even Akram himself cannot define his feelings.

With fatigue Akram again bent his body and washed his face, hoping to get rid of all the thoughts that were filling along with the swirl of water and disappeared in the sink. Unfortunately, what was weighing him down was not that simple, it was too heavy to get rid of.

Elana....

Akram's fingers clenched while his eyes flashed with anger.

If Xavier wants to make Akram suffer, then this time he has succeeded. Akram has lost. Completely lost...

***

***

The atmosphere on the first floor of his apartment was also quite crowded, containing Elios and his employees with various computers and advanced technological equipment installed there. Most are trying to track down Xavier's biological weapons factory, while others are trying to hack into Xavier's entire line of communication and get as much information out of it as possible.

Footsteps were heard passing by down there, however, everyone seemed to have managed to keep from creating a disturbing commotion. They spoke to each other half-whispered in a low voice, knowing that up here was a patient who needed calm and rest to maintain his condition.

Akram had just stepped out of the bathroom when Elios and Nathan appeared in the doorway. Nathan quickly requests that the nurses in Elana's room come out, leaving only the three of them alone in the room, with Elana still asleep on the bed.

With a respectful and careful attitude, Elios showed the phone in his hand to Akram.

"Mr Akram, Mr. Xavier's employee contacted you. He said that his boss wants to talk to you in person over the phone,"

Akram raised an eyebrow, as if surprised by the latest development.

"So fast?" akram's voice was filled with unbelief. He didn't expect Xavier to call so soon after last night's incident.

Akram thinks that Xavier intends to torment Akram, enjoying the heartbreak of Akram seeing the state of Elana that is declining by the day, then on the sixth day when despair reaches its peak, Xavier will contact Akram and offer negotiations with a high bid value. Because, when it comes to the point of despair, of course Akram will accept everything offered to him even though it harms him. That would be very beneficial for Xavier.

That's the typical pattern of Xavier in the past. For years of exhausting Akram had to deal with Xavier's madness, so he felt he had become too knowledgeable about the man's work. Xavier is a psychopath, who enjoys torturing and giving death in the most painful way to his victims. Xavier seemed to enjoy the pain of others so much that it became opium to him.

Especially the pain and suffering of Akram. The two things seemed to be medicine for Xavier so he always tried to hurt Akram to his satisfaction.

But why has it changed now? What forced Xavier to rush him?

"Say to Xavier's men. I was willing to talk, "Aram decided to quickly aim so that he could immediately resolve his curiosity

Elios nodded, giving an answer to his interlocutor who seemed to be still waiting. Before long, Elios' expression changed when he heard a different voice from across the street and he rushed to hand the phone over to Akram.

"Xavier," Akram only said one word to show his introduction to the interlocutor. All his hatred and anger that overflowed, he held it with all his might. He knew that he had to be calm in this negotiation. If Xavier could sniff a single speck of sparks out of control on him, the psychopathic man would instantly provoke relentlessly, only to make Akram explode in anger and invincibility.

"Acram" Xavier's voice said across the street. Surprisingly, his tone was so gentle, it did not sound provocative and was full of sly smiles as usual.

Could this be Xavier's new method of confusing his opponents? Akram has no answer to his question, but he decides to keep quiet and wait for Xavier to make his point.

"How's Lana doing?" ask Xavier directly.

Akram frowned. His expression turned dark. "Why do you feel the need to ask? Aren't you the one who knows best what the effects of poison are on the human body? You've injected that poison with no conscience into Elana's body that doesn't know anything. You must know that you've been in excruciating pain all night, haven't you?" Akram let out his growl while grinding his teeth. "Now what are your plans, Xavier? Why are you calling so early? Are you looking forward to satisfying yourself and celebrating your victory?"

Silence stretched between them as Xavier fell silent and did not speak at all.

Akram waited until he ran out of patience, just as he was about to open his mouth, Xavier suddenly spoke from across the street.

"I'd like to talk to Nathan's doctor first. I know he must be there, right?"

Xavier's words that instead diverted the conversation and did not respond to Akram's questions made Akram's anger start to ignite.

"You're calling to negotiate with me. What does this have to do with Dr Nathan? It's better not to convolute, just say what you want as payment for the antidote and we can talk about a fair exchange."

"I need to talk to Nathan's doctor first to make sure of everything before negotiating with you" Xavier's voice remained calm, unaffected by Akram's emotions and anger. "Lana is quite important as a major part of our negotiations. You, like me, certainly want him to be fine until our negotiations reach an agreement, right? I have to talk to Nathan's doctor to make sure his handling method for Elana's current condition is in accordance with the treatment that should be done with the poison in his body." Xavier was heard taking a deep breath across there. "Now, please give this phone to Dr. Nathan. Let me talk to him first."

Akram was stunned as he tried to digest Xavier's words. But, he must have also realized the truth of Xavier's words. Angrily pressed the loudspeaker function on the phone, then without a word, handed the phone to Nathan who seemed confused to accept it.

***

***

"Xavier," Nathan greeted in a flat voice.

As Akram's childhood friend, of course Nathan knows Xavier well enough and his impact on Akram's life, even before he became a doctor who handles Akram.

In the past, Nathan was also not separated from Xavier's target. Once the man learns that Nathan is Akram's best friend and wants to become his personal doctor, Xavier uses all sorts of means to pull Nathan over to his side. The offer given by Xavier is certainly quite tempting with the certainty of a brilliant career in medicine. Nathan was unshakable. He remains by Akram's side, not only for the sake of his job as a doctor, but also for the sake of friendship.

Nathan frowned. Come to think of it, once Nathan pointed out firmly that he was not interested in Xavier's offer, the man immediately stepped back and did not force anymore.

Then...did Xavier just kill and destroy the people who accepted his offer and betrayed Akram?

The question in Nathan's mind did not get an answer because Xavier's voice was immediately heard across there.

"How's Lana doing?" Xavier asks the same question he asked Akram. But since he was now dealing with professional medical personnel, Xavier knew that he would get professional answers as well.

"Elana's condition is stable" Nathan replied quickly. "I've done a whole method of treating hypothermia to prevent the poison you injected into Elana's body from getting worse and being fatal...."

***

In his magnificent house with strict escorts and full of his men standing guard out there, Xavier sits on a private bed in his room and listens to Nathan's doctor's answer.

There's no one else in this room. Therefore, no one saw how Xavier closed his eyes and took a deep breath a sign of great relief when Nathan replied across the street saying that Elana's condition was stable.

That girl is fine....

Xavier uttered the sentence repeatedly to calm himself, while his ears kept listening intently to the medical explanation spelled out by Nathan's doctor on the other side regarding the method of handling he had done for Elana.

"You've done the right thing." Xavier stopped his sentence to listen to Nathan's doctor's question. His head then shook involuntarily. "No. Lana's condition won't be any worse than this. He will remain stable for the next six days. There was no need to do a blood-warming method using a hemodialysis machine or use a catheter to insert warm fluid into his lungs and abdominal cavity," Xavier frowned in horror when imagining the method was done on Elana. "The poison worked slowly for the first six days and would deteriorate by the seventh day. On the seventh day, the body temperature will drop dramatically and will not be able to be raised again, if the victim does not immediately get an antidote infusion, he said, the poison will kill the victim within hours of acute hypothermia."

"Are you planning on negotiating with Akram before the seventh day? I didn't think you didn't have integrity, Xavier. Injecting biological weapons poison on the ignorant civilians." Nathan's voice sounded reproachful, not covered up across the street.

Xavier's expression hardened. "I'm doing it for my own purposes" give Akram his phone, I'm ready to negotiate with him."

Nathan took a breath, and the man spoke. "Tell me here. We're installing loudspeaker mode."

"good. Because I want you and Akram to hear what I'm about to say" Xavier mentioned his adoptive brother's name to show him who he was talking to. "The antidote for Lana, should be put in a little bit by a little using a special infusion that regulated its flow. If excessive will be fatal and if too little, will not give impact at all. The infusion is given once every three days for four times. After that, then the poison is completely rinsed clean from the body,"

Xavier thinned his lips, holding a smile full of irony on his lips. "It should be like that. Giving one ampoule infusion for one meeting, takes up to twenty hours. I told you that, didn't I? The infusion flow must be done with a special method with a special tool as well. And that device is in my house. So, if you want the antidote to get into Lana's body immediately, then, you'll have to hand Lana over to me to be given that antidote for twenty hours at four infusions every three days."

"Do you think I'm so crazy and stupid that you're willing to give up Elana under the watchful eye of a lunatic like you?" Akram rebuked with anger, frustration clearly reflected in his voice.

Xavier grinned. "The decision is in your hands, Akram. Remember, I'm the only one who has an antidote for that poison. These six days Lana will remain stable even though she still endures the pain and suffering from the hypothermia that strikes her. But after that, you could lose the life of your favorite woman. If you continue to hold on to your arrogance, are you ready to accept the consequences?"

"You think I can't take Elana abroad, or to my best lab to find an antidote? You think you're the only one who can make the antidote?" Akram interrupted again, this time his voice growled full of threats.

Xavier chuckles. "You're just bluffing, Akram. I know it. The poison I injected into Lana, it took me years, was full of failures and hard work so that it could finally be perfectly concocted into the poison that it is today. If you were to invent the antidote, even your best scientist would take years to map out the chemical makeup of the poison, then it takes even longer to compose an antidote with the most appropriate composition to neutralize the poison and it is still at risk of deadly failure." Xavier kept the phone away from his ear. "Now, it's up to you, whether you choose Elana's salvation or whether you choose your pride, you bear all the consequences." Xavier's eyes seemed sharp as he continued. "There's no need to install a tracker or try to hack the security perimeter of my house, Akram. I will stay in my house and wait. You can call me at this number if you've made up your mind."

Xavier did not wait for a response from his interlocutor. He immediately cut off the phone at that moment.

***

***

"Akram" Nathan said without hesitation. "You should consider Xavier's offer. Even though we have difficulty accepting it. But that's the only way."

Akram's eyes widened, his expression turning dark.

"You think I should accept Xavier's offer? What if when I handed Elana over to her, instead of injecting her antidote, she poisoned her again? What if he forced his will when Elana was weak? What if he paid people to hurt Elana like he did in the past to Anastasia?" I clenched my hands in frustration. "With Xavier's track record of always destroying everything I love, how could I possibly believe that he would actually provide an antidote for Elana instead of killing her?"

Both Nathan and Elios, who had been in the room, froze, and were running out of words. They found no answer to Akram's demanding questions.

But isn't this a gamble? Xavier makes them have to risk Elana's life in making a decision. And they were in a desperate position, having no other choice but to accept Xavier's dangerous offer.

Nathan refrains from revealing that his instincts tell him that Xavier really sounds sincere about wanting to save Elana. The relief implied in Xavier's voice after hearing Elana's stable condition was not something to be contrived about.

However, if Xavier cares about Elana's condition, why would he inject the dangerous poison into Elana? What is the real purpose?

The question makes sense too. If Xavier has an obsession with destroying everything Akram likes, why did he offer the antidote serum this time without any additional requests? What is the advantage of all this for Xavier? And what is the guarantee to them that Elana will not be destroyed by Xavier?

"I and Elios can be a guarantee for Elana's safety" Nathan finally said, trying to provide a reasonable way out. "We can negotiate that when Elana goes through the infusion process to drain the antidote, we should both be there to accompany her and make sure the whole procedure done to Elana is safe for her," Nathan turned to Elios who nodded his head in agreement.

Akram was stunned, for a moment seemed to be weighing, but still seemed to have difficulty making a decision.

Then, suddenly there was a movement from the direction of the bed, making everything turn simultaneously in the same direction.

"Acram?" it was Elana's voice, sounding weakly calling.

They all turned to the machine that monitored Elana's life sign. After scanning what was displayed there, Nathan immediately nodded his head slightly to signal that Elana's condition was stable

Akram heaved a sigh of relief, his expression looking grim.

"I will rethink and make a decision as soon as possible, you can leave" he said later.

***

***

"Acram? Elana calls back just as Akram sneaks into the blanket on the bed and hugs Elana to her chest, being careful and avoiding Elana's hand that is connected to the infusion hose.

"I'm here, Elana." said Akram quickly before Elana called again.

Elana sighed, without being filled with relief when she found the heat of Akram's body nearby, and she coiled ever tighter, attaching her body to Akram's warm calming body.

Akram's moving hand rubbed behind Elana's head, stroking her hair gently.

"Are you going to sleep again?" whispered Akram raau.

Elana closed her eyes, smiling at Akram's chest.

"Maybe. I'm so sleepy and you feel good" he sighed slowly.

Akram raised next to his eyebrows, realizing that Elana might still be half conscious.

"Enak? Whatchu mean?" ask Akram intentionally.

"Enak to be hugged," slowly Elana's hand coiled around Akram's back and hugged him firmly, something Elana had never done before. "Your body is hard as a board but warm and pleasant" continued Elana honestly.

"Oh yeah?" Akram grinned. "I'm happy because my body suits your taste," she replied ironically, half holding back a smile.

Elana chuckled slowly, the woman's mind as if it were in the clouds, making her speak as if she were still in dreamland.

Suddenly Elana's hand moved to touch Akram's shirt buttons and twirled it around in passing, making Akram gasp in surprise.

"What are you doing, Elana?" Akram gripped Elana's hand and kept her away from her chest. The man hissed his sentence from tightly clenched teeth. Lying this close with Elana, Akram's logic knew that he had to hold back because Elana was sick. However, his body seemed to have a mind of its own so that Akram had to fight with all his might to divert his mind from his desire to touch the woman.

Now Elana is even seductive - even in her semi-conscious state - making Akram feel the agonizing pain that runs through her mercilessly.

Doesn't Elana know that she's suffered enough psychically and physically right now? Why does this woman seem to want to add more torture for him?

Elana looked up her head, looking bashfully at Akram with a misty look. The woman must have sensed that Akram was very passionate about her.

"You hold back... You usually never hold back... Why?"

Akram's molars hardened even more as the man growled his words.

"You're sick. I can't possibly take advantage of you,"

Elana frowned. "But when you were in the hospital a long time ago, you ...." Elana does not continue but they equally know that Elana refers to the events in the hospital when Akram imposes his will on Elana. In fact, at that time he did so by tying Elana's hand on the hospital bed.

Akram's cheeks flushed red as he remembered, the man let out a long sigh.

"I was angry at that time" he slowly growled. "Because you rejected me outright."

"Now you're not angry?" Elana stared at Akram with her big eyes that were innocent without sin.

Acram knuckle crimped resisting flavor. For some reason it felt easier to face the fierce Elana and challenge her than to face Elana who acted like a child who looked at her like a plain kitten was asking to be invited to play by her employer.

"I'm not angry with you, I'm worried about you half to death, girl," Akram exhaled an annoyed breath, then grabbed Elana's lips and kissed her. "Be nice and help me, Elana," Akram stuck his nose to Elana's nose. "I want you to rest and fight to survive. Your condition must be stable, not only for your own sake, but also for my sake," Akram closed his eyes, trying to expel the bad thoughts that lay before him. "Don't you dare give up and die. Because I'll lose my sanity if you die" he groaned with worry.

***

***

Long after, when Elana had fallen asleep again, Akram shifted his body slowly and went down from the bed.

He stood for some time while his eyes were fixed on Elana, looking at the pale-looking woman losing her hue on her face, with a weak breath aided by the moist air oxygen hose on her nose.

Elana's condition is stable for now, according to what Xavier said. But on the seventh day...

Akram rubbed his face tired. He knew he had to make a decision.

Among the death sentences that have been handed down, compared to the suspicious offer of salvation from the evil-hearted creatures that have a lot of cunning in his soul?

***