THE ALGORITHM OF FEAR

5~THE LAB TECH

"Ivaan," she cried, her voice breaking. "It's inside me. I can't stop it. Please... don't let me hurt you." He held her tightly, his own tears streaming down his face. "I won't leave you, Eve. We'll figure this out. I promise." As she sobbed, he realized that whatever was happening to her wasn't just psychological it was something darker, something that defied logic. And he knew they couldn't face it alone. He needed to find someone who could help. Before it was too late.

Ivaan carefully guided Eve into his car, her sobs gradually subsiding into shaky breaths. He kept glancing at her as he drove, ensuring she was safe and calm. The adrenaline that had coursed through him earlier was fading, replaced by a deep concern for the woman he cared about.

They reached his apartment just past midnight. The city was quiet, the streets empty as he parked the car and helped Eve inside. Once they were in, he locked the door and turned to her. She sat on the couch, her arms wrapped tightly around herself, staring blankly at the floor. "Eve," he said softly, sitting beside her. "You're safe here. No one's going to hurt you."

She looked up at him, her eyes red and swollen. "Ivaan... I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me. It's like I wasn't in control." He placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "You don't have to apologize. Whatever this is, we'll figure it out. Together." She nodded weakly, her lips trembling. "I don't deserve your kindness after what I did."

"Yes, you do," he said firmly. "You're not alone in this, Eve. I'm not going anywhere." The sincerity in his voice seemed to ease her guilt slightly, and she managed a faint smile. "I'll make some tea," he said, standing up. "You need to relax."

Eve watched him disappear into the kitchen, the rhythmic sound of boiling water and clinking cups breaking the silence. She exhaled deeply, trying to shake off the lingering fear. When Ivaan returned, he handed her a steaming cup of chamomile tea and sat down beside her. They sipped in silence for a while, the warmth of the tea soothing their nerves. "Do you remember when we went hiking last spring?" Ivaan asked suddenly, breaking the quiet. Eve blinked and looked at him. "Yeah. You insisted we climb to the top of that ridiculous hill, and I was ready to push you off halfway up." He chuckled, the sound lightening the tension in the room. "You loved the view, though. Admit it." She smiled, a genuine one this time. "It was worth it, I guess."

They spent the next couple of hours reminiscing about happier times, sharing stories and jokes that slowly pushed the night's horrors into the background. By the time dawn broke, a soft golden light streaming through the windows, Eve had fallen asleep on the couch, her head resting against Ivaan's shoulder. He watched her for a moment, his heart aching at the sight of her finally at peace. Gently, he shifted her onto the couch and draped a blanket over her. Exhausted but determined, he sat nearby, keeping watch. Whatever darkness had taken hold of Eve, he was resolved to help her face it. For now, though, they had a moment of calm. And Ivaan was grateful for that.

As the golden morning sunlight filtered into the room, Ivaan woke up to the sound of soft humming coming from the kitchen. He blinked, groggy but pleasantly surprised to see Eve moving about, her expression more relaxed than it had been in days. She was brewing coffee, dressed in one of Ivaan's oversized shirts, which hung loosely on her frame. Her hair was tied up messily, and for a moment, she looked like her old self again.

"Morning," he said, sitting up on the couch.

Eve turned to him with a small smile. "Morning. I hope you don't mind I raided your kitchen. Figured I owe you some coffee after everything last night."

He chuckled. "You owe me more than coffee, but I'll take it." She handed him a steaming mug and sat beside him, her gaze drifting to the window where the morning light cast soft patterns on the floor. "Ivaan," she began, her voice softer now, "thank you for staying with me. I don't know what I'd have done without you."