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Alice knew exactly how Cailen felt when the doctor read her test results a loud. The very same situation occurred, except with her in his place earlier that day. She wanted to sit up from the bed and wrap her arms around him, to let him know that this wasn't something she was keeping from him intentionally. Sitting up to attempt it, a slight tugging sensation on her arm reminded her that she still had a needle hooked up to her, pumping some sort of liquid into her veins.

"How long? How long have you known?"

If there had been anything left standing in the wreckage of Alice's life, it was shattered with that question. When she had posed the very same one to Adam, she didn't realize just how much of a sting came with it. Right now Cailen was probably assuming that Alice had known for a while, but just elected not to bother mentioning it, which couldn't be farther from the truth. Her head began to pound and she wished that there was some way to disappear from the entire situation, but she knew that Cailen both wanted, and deserved an answer. "I found out today... that's what Adam wanted to tell me earlier," Alice began despite the sick feeling creeping up in her stomach. Of course, she had to keep going. Despite the fact that surely, Cailen had already deducted everything for himself - he needed to hear everything from her. "He was the one that I got it from... but he didn't know until today either. I... I didn't want you to find out like this. I wanted to be able to tell you myself. I thought maybe it wouldn't even come back positive."

Alice fell silent once again as a nurse made her way into the hospital room so that she could check the IV that was placed in Alice's arm. Everything seemed to be fine and someone must have given the orders for it to be taken out. The nurse explained that the doctor would be back shortly to speak with her and then she could be discharged. Alice acknowledged the nurse's statement with a nod. Get you started on the 'cocktail' and then send you on my way. This is just wonderful. He'll never stay with you now. Never. You ******** up Alice. You really ******** up this time. Alice slammed her eyes shut, hoping that somehow it would stop her inner voice from reprimanding her again for the mistakes she had made. Stop it, just stop it! STOP IT!

Barely listening when the doctor explained her new-found diagnosis, Alice couldn't keep her mind focused on any particular thought for more than a few seconds. In just one day, everything had been ruined; everyone seemed to have just fallen apart. One day. That was all it took to shatter everything they had all taken for granted for all of these years. He's going to leave you. You'd better say something because if he leaves he isn't coming back. I know I messed up but... we've been together for so long.... Do you think that matters? You slept with another man. You lied. You got drunk. You're infected now. If he's still clean, do you think he'll even want to -touch- you ever again? I know you're right. I know! He doesn't deserve this.

After the doctor was finished, Alice was permitted to leave the hospital and go home, provided she followed up with her primary care physician, which she intended on doing anyway. She got up from the hospital bed and placed one shaky foot on the ground after another. After she was able to maintain her balance, she reached out again for Cailen's hand so that she could lead him out of the room.

"I love you... I want you to know that. After everything I've done... I can understand if you can't say the same for me, but... despite everything, I still love you. I always will," as Alice spoke, she noticed that up ahead two individuals that looked very much like Skylar and Jack were leaving another hospital room. She started to walk in their direction, not letting go of Cailen's hand, for fear that the second she loosened her grip, he would let go. Not just of her hand, but from their relationship as well. If the individuals were Skylar and Jack, they were trucking down the hallway in the opposite direction quite quickly as if they couldn't get out of the hospital quick enough. It was hard to keep up with their pace, and eventually, Alice felt the need to stop to catch her breath. Perfect timing for you to own up to everything.

"Well... I know I owe you an explanation. So here it goes," she took a deep breath and continued, "I shouldn't have slept with Adam... I was just so upset. I know that doesn't excuse my behavior. It just seemed like we're always fighting the same fight. Your gambling... it... it really gets to me. Then today... today it put Bella's life on the line and I wasn't sure if I could let that go. That's why I've been spending so much time with Adam. Well... that and I couldn't drive myself to Indulgence, and I couldn't ask you." Alice stopped. She wasn't intending on bringing that up with Cailen, since she obviously wasn't going to be taking the job, but now that it was out, she figured that she may as well explain that as well. "The owner of the strip club approached me at the casino when I was with you a while back, offered me a job. Of course, I didn't take it. But then when Bella went missing and you needed money, I thought that it might be the only way. You should know that I didn't end up taking it. That's where I went before I can't remember anything. I was going to talk to the owner about it, but... well, I'm not too sure I even did considering where I woke up."

Alice was explaining many things, but she knew that there was still one more question on Cailen's mind. Cailen must have concluded by now the feelings that Adam had for her, after all, he had heard the tail end of the conversation that she and Adam had. What he didn't know, was Alice's feelings on the matter. Alice wasn't even sure at the moment that she knew her own feelings on the matter. Earlier she had been so certain that Adam was the one she wanted, but now that she was standing here with Cailen, she didn't know anything anymore. Once again she started up walking with a quickened pace until finally, she could see Skylar and Jack. As she approached them, she felt a buzzing in her pocket. A text message from an unknown number.

I know where Bella is.
If you want her back, meet me at the hospital's side entrance.
Come alone or don't bother coming at all.

Alice wondered why she was the one receiving the particular text message when it seemed like something better suited for Cailen to receive. He was the one, after all, that owed the money. Maybe the text wasn't from Tony, but rather someone else who had information. Alice had noticed that in passing the waiting room, she hadn't seen Adam there anymore. Perhaps had had some sort of plan? Maybe he used a different cell phone so that she wouldn't know it was him? Alice wasn't sure, but she knew that if she passed up this opportunity to potentially get Bella back that she wasn't going to be able to forgive herself. She knew it was dangerous to go alone, but if she brought anyone with her, whoever the person was, was not going to give her any information. She had to do this.

"Cailen... that was my dad. I called him earlier to come get me. I'm just going home to rest for a bit," Alice felt horrible for lying to him again, with their relationship in such a fragile place but it had to be done, for Bella's sake. She leaned in and planted a quick kiss on his lips. "I will call you later. Let me know how Skylar and Jack and holding up. I love you. Don't ever think that I don't love you."

With that, Alice scurried off in the direction that the mysterious texter had requested they meet. Upon arrival at the hospital's side entrance, Alice saw nothing out of the ordinary and it did not appear as if anyone was there waiting for her. Great... now someone's messing with me. She thought just before a vehicle with tinted windows pulled up beside her. Alice had hardly even heard the vehicle show up. The window to the passenger's side door rolled down, revealing a very familiar driver - Alexis.

"You have no reason to trust me... but I know more than you think. Just get in, okay?" Alexis spoke.

Alice wasn't sure if she could even begin to believe the one that had essentially ruined her life by infecting Adam with HIV, and then having the audacity to reveal it the way she had. Of course, she knew who she was and she knew who Bella was, perhaps more importantly. Alice had to trust that this woman had information that she wanted. Reluctantly, she opened the door to the passenger's seat and hopped inside of the car. "Where's Bella?" Alice immediately questioned once Alexis locked the doors and began to drive off at a quickened pace.

Alexis remained silent, so Alice repeated her question, starting to wonder if this had been a good idea. There was just something about the woman that set off Alice's radar, regardless if she knew something about Bella or not. "You're going to help me," Alexis finally spoke as she pulled the car over to the side of the road. Alice looked out the window and saw that they were in a relatively secluded area. Oh, peachy. First the HIV and now she's taking me somewhere to kill me faster? Alice wanted to question just exactly how she was going to help Alexis, but was not given the opportunity to do so. Alexis reached into her purse and pulled out what looked like a scarf that smelled strongly of alcohol and held it against Alice's nose and mouth until all she saw was black.

Promptly after reading Tony's text, confirming exactly what she had wanted to know, a smile crept up on her face. Looking down at her watch, she actually couldn't believe what time it was. It had been a long day indeed, but she had no idea that it was already 9:00 p.m. That meant that they had only a mere three hours to provide the money before Alice was murdered, and Alexis knew that as soon as she took out Alice, she would be going straight after Bella. Not for monetary reasons, however.

From: Alexis
To: Tony
Message: Sounds good.
Looks like they have three hours
Or she's dead.

Almost as soon as the text message was sent, Alexis was interrupted by the sound of Alice coughing. At first she tried to ignore it, but it didn't stop. Cough after cough after cough. It was like she was trying to cough up one of her lungs. "Would you knock that off?" Alexis snapped. If Alice weren't so terrified she would have ever so nicely informed Alexis that coughing wasn't something that one actually had a whole lot of control over.

Alexis walked out of the room long enough to obtain a glass of water; not to be courteous, but to hopefully stop the infernal coughing noise. She made her way over to Alice and cut off one of the cable ties attaching her to the chair so that she could grasp the cup, being sure to leave everything else restrained. Alice took a few sips, and after a moment or two her coughing subsided. She wasn't feeling any better, physical or mentally, but at least she wasn't coughing anymore. Finally...

Once Alice was finished with the water, Alexis retrieved the cup from Alice's hand and turned away for a mere second in order that she set it down on the table behind. She was about to turn around the re-do the tie on Alice's wrist, when she heard the sound of her own ringing, which she had left just outside of the room. Without giving Alice much that at that moment, she walked out to retrieve it. This was Alice's change, possibly her only one, she needed to act quickly. With the one free hand that she had, she picked up the pocket knife that Alexis had used to undo the first tie and proceeded to cut off the rest of them, releasing her from the car. Alice's next plan was to sneak up behind Alexis and hit her over the head with something hard to knock her out, allowing herself to escape.

It was not long before Alexis returned and she was not happy with what had just happened. If she hadn't set the gun down moments earlier to obtain Alice a glass of water, she would have just shot her in the face. "Don't try anything stupid, b***h. I will kill you."

[time skip. Fight scene will be in Alice's post]

Alexis looked over Alice's body and laughed, thinking to herself that it was stupid for the girl to have tried to escape. She pulled out Alice's cell phone and the page that Tony had, including all of the names of the people associated with Cailen, and by associating, Alice. She was going to send out a mass text.

From: Alice
To: Adam, Cailen, Skylar, Jack
Message: Little Miss Alice shouldn't have fought me.
Now she's dead.
Better get to Bella before I do.