Chapter 7 We Are Even

• Sebastian looked at the young girl on the bed, her body almost entirely swathed in bandages after her wounds had been stitched.
• Fell off a building?
• A fall from a building typically boils down to two possibilities: either it was an act of harm or it was a suicide.
• If it had been a suicide attempt, she certainly wouldn't have been found in the middle of a mountain pass, and she wouldn't have asked me to rush her to the hospital for treatment.
• So, the answer is, of course, the former.
• She was harmed. She seems to be no more than fifteen or sixteen years old, still a student. How did she end up in such a situation?
• Based on her school uniform, she appears to be from Polaris Academy, the most esteemed institution in Jexburgh.
• Back then, she calmly stopped my car, negotiated terms with me, and kept her promise. Her driving skills were so impressive that even world-class racers might not match them.
• Who is she, really? And what exactly has she been through?
• For nearly two decades, it was the first time Sebastian found his curiosity about something swelling beyond his control.
• Annabeth's faint breathing gradually became more discernible throughout the room, but in order for her body to recover more quickly, she remained unconscious.
• However, she was aware that a certain gaze was constantly fixated on her.
• The gaze that was cast upon her was the same as the one she had experienced inside the car, sharp and profound, akin to the eyes of a hawk in the dark night, fixated on its prey. It also carried a sense of scrutiny and curiosity.
• After an indeterminate period of sleep, Annabeth finally opened her eyes. What greeted her was a room that was understated yet brimming with opulence.
• The room was spacious, its entirety bathed in a stark white. She found herself restrained, her hands, head, and legs either bound or suspended. An IV drip was attached to her arm, pumping fluids into her body.
• She furrowed her brows. The medical technology here was terribly outdated. In Mariglade, for someone in her condition, they would simply administer a shot of cell-regeneration serum and she would be back to her peak condition in no time.
• At that moment, there was no one else in the room. She glanced at the needle embedded in her arm, her gaze sharpening.
• Suddenly, the needle pulled itself out from her flesh.
• A surge of euphoria washed over Annabeth. I still have my supernatural abilities!
• During her treatment, she noticed her body's functions recovering at an astonishingly rapid pace. This was not characteristic of her current body but rather reminded her of her previous one. This made her sense that her supernatural abilities had never really disappeared. Her body had probably just been too weak to use them before.
• Having regained her supernatural abilities, Annabeth felt a significant sense of security.
• Based on the host's memories, she had never come across the existence of supernatural abilities in this world.
• However, this didn't mean there was none. Annabeth dared not let her guard down.
• It had been five days since she had been treated here, and she had to return to the Yardley residence. Otherwise, Ninette would undoubtedly spread rumors of her death or disappearance, which would inevitably cause complications if she were to return later.
• She struggled to rise, pulling out all the needles that had been inserted into her body.
• “It seems you really have a death wish.” Suddenly, a chilly voice echoed from the doorway.
• Annabeth lifted her head, only to see a tall and handsome man casually leaning against the door, observing her every move.
• “It's you.” Annabeth's voice was devoid of any inflection. “Thank you for saving my life, but since I helped you win the race, we're even now.”
• Sebastian furrowed his brows. Despite being a girl of merely sixteen or seventeen, she carried herself with the maturity and worldliness of a battle-hardened individual in her forties.
• He had discovered everything about her some time ago. Her uniform alone made it easy to identify her.
• The prestigious Polaris Academy, located in the heart of Jexburgh, was a renowned institution catering exclusively to the children of the city's elite and influential families.
• Annabeth came from a family with a strong military background. She was the granddaughter of Jefferson Yardley, a former general, and the eldest daughter of Zachary Yardley, a current colonel.
• “Even?” He laughed. “I never said we were even.”
• He walked over, his towering figure casting an immediate shadow over her. He noticed the spot where she had pulled out the needle was still oozing tiny beads of blood.
• Annabeth regarded Sebastian calmly and said, “Since we made a deal on the mountain pass, the transaction is settled, regardless of whether the terms were equal. If you expect to gain anything more from me, I'm afraid I can't oblige.”
• She was known for her decisiveness, never one to waver or give her enemies an inch. If Sebastian insisted on pestering her, she wouldn't hesitate to claim her first kill in this world.
• Sebastian's gaze hardened as he stared at Annabeth for a long while. Even though the murderous intent had only flashed by momentarily, he still felt it.
• Suddenly, he found it amusing. “You want to kill me?” His voice was as cold as a blade pressed against the skin.
• Annabeth gave him a casual glance. “I don't mind.”
• The blood she had stained her hands with was far more than countless. The addition of one more was truly insignificant.