475: Desperate Measures

Emma would never have offered to help if Alex hadn't looked so utterly desperate. She had intended to walk away, but Alex’s rapid response caught her off guard. "Please, take me to the hospital, but we need to go through the back door. If people see us, they'll start talking. Besides, someone is after me today. The back door might help us avoid some trouble." Emma paused, shocked by Alex's plea. After a moment’s hesitation, she took a tentative step forward. Alex’s earlier behavior had unsettled her greatly; what if he lost control again? Emma couldn’t risk it. "Are you sure you can walk?" Emma asked, concern evident in her voice. "You look like you're about to collapse." Alex, pale and visibly weak, nodded. "I can make it. Just give me a hand, please." Cautiously, Emma approached, ready to retreat if necessary. "Alright, but no funny business. I'm helping you because it's the right thing to do. Let's go. We'll figure the rest out later." As Emma helped Alex to his feet, she deci