As per Adrien's instruction, his aide left the door shut behind, walking out of the room.
He took off the hindrance of a helm and threw it on the ground. Clenching his fingers, Adrien glanced down at the instrument that was curled in his hand and shifted his gaze back at the unconscious figure, still whimpering in pain.
He gripped the instrument in his hand and inched forward.
"Alicia," he called out softly as he brushed off the hair that was hovering over her bruised forehead and heard the faint hum of hers. But her eyes were still closed with frown lines mered on her forehead. "Take in a deep breath, dear," he whispered.
"P-please let go of me..." He heard her plead in her half-conscious state. "Take all that you want from me. P-please, don't hurt me..." Alicia kept pleading, as she could still feel her whole body ache with the wounds that were caused by the witch.
Adrien observed her body stiffen at the touch of his, and he clenched his teeth.
"I won't hurt you," he said, as he saw her trying to open her eyes, the rim of it reddened with all the tears that she had been suppressing from falling. "The strap around your neck has to be taken off. Just lie on your side and take a deep breath and hold it."
Alicia could neither see through her blurry vision nor recognize who the voice belonged to. But she knew she could trust the man who was speaking to her. She just took in a deep breath and held it as per his words, and waited for one pain to be relieved.
As Adrien saw the little space formed in between the choker and the girl's skin, he inserted the stapler-like thing under the choker clasping it in between the instrument, and pressed it tight, waiting for the iron to melt.
Alicia could not hold her breath. Her back was stinging too, making it unbearable. She made a sound through her throat, trying to indicate she could no longer hold it back with her eyes so wide as if she had seen a ghost.
Adrien glance up at her with a daring look as he said, "Don't even think of it. Or you'll forever regret it."
'A little more, Alice! A little more and then you'll be free,' she convinced herself.
"Stay still."
Alicia turned stiff at his cold order. The melting smell of iron filled the room.
With a sound in the air, Adrien held his grip tight as he glanced at the girl who staring at her side, with her pale face.
Alicia who was still looking at nothing in particular felt the burning gaze from the man she was yet to see, and then she felt something which had her off guard. A warm hand circled her neck and another on the back of her head. She felt her head being lifted carefully before she no more felt the choker around her neck.
Adrien carefully removed the choker of her neck with his bare hands, making sure the iron belt would not touch her skin, and sensed her body relax slightly.
"Let go of your breath, Elfie."
Though the choker was no longer there, she could still feel as if her neck was being strangled by the choker. She tried to sit upright but was held down by the man.
"Your wounds need to be treated. Just lie on your front," he said.
"No, no. It's fine. I'm okay." Her voice came broken, with a soar throat and she coughed thrice spouting blood on the already stained sheets, her lips were trembling as she refused to let him do anything. She could already feel the man staring at her, and she felt weary of her surroundings.
"Where am I?" She questioned, trying to get a glimpse of her surrounding with all the memories that came surging into her mind. From her mysterious power revealing to the escape from the clutches of the witch, and from nearly getting caught by the guards to the sudden appearance of a guard who had helped her for some unknown reason which she feared.
She blinked her eyes and raised her hand to rub off her unclear vision but winced at the sting in her palm. She pulled it back down and rubbed her eyes with the other hand under the strong gaze of the man who was sitting on the same bed but was not in her eye line to get a glimpse of him. As her eyes weren't blurry anymore, she darted, taking in the unknown room they were in, a lavish setting room with all the extravagant pieces of furniture that reached her eyes.
"There's nothing to worry about. You're in safe hands, now," said Adrien as he leaned toward the bedside table giving a view of his face to Alicia who was curious about who her savior was.
His sharp and familiar features had her gasp out loud with her eyes widened as she shrunk back resulting in her back coming in contact with the bed's sheet.
"AH!"
Adrien clicked his tongue giving a side glance at Alicia.
"Do you not know to follow a simple instruction?"
"Sir Adrien!" she exclaimed with real shock. "How come you're here and how did you..."
"Shhh..." The slender index finger of the cop on her pale lips stopped her from saying any more.
"Another word and I'll throw you out of this room," he threatened her in his bone-chilling voice. The whole room was silenced for the next few minutes.
Adrien opened the small wooden box and took out a pair of silver scissors. "Grip your teeth," he said.
Alicia didn't know what the reason was for but she did as she was told.
'RIP!!!'
Her eyes widened at the sound of the ripping cloth that came from behind in the pin-drop silent room where she was able to hear her own breathing. Panicked, she sat up despite the pain that was exuded by the wounds.
"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING!?!"