The cold, metallic light of the hospital lamp bathed the room where Eli was lying. Lying on her bed, she struggled against the stabbing pain in her ribs, each breath a cruel reminder of the shock she had suffered. Beside her, Alicia and Julia couldn't take their eyes off her, watching over her with almost maternal attention.

"How are you feeling?" asked Alicia, gently stroking Eli's hand.

"Like an elephant stepped on me," Eli replied with a smirk, trying to play down the pain with a touch of humour.

Julia, her eyes misty, wiped away a recalcitrant tear. "We'll stay here as long as it takes, Eli. You're not alone."

Meanwhile, at Eli's house, the police inspection continued. Leon had joined Tom on the terrace, and the tension between them was palpable.

"Tom, we've got to find this guy before he claims any more victims," Leon said in a deep voice, his hands shaking with rage.

"I'm on it, Leon. But we need more details. The slightest clue can help us," Tom replied, his eyes riveted on the detectives searching the area.

Just then, a young policeman approached them. "Mr Thompson, we found a trace of blood on one of the broken windows. The sample will be sent to the lab for DNA analysis."

"It's a start," Leon murmured, a faint hope rising within him. "Thank you, officer."

At the hospital, a doctor entered Eli's room with a benevolent smile. "Miss Thompson, your results are in. You have a few cracked ribs, but no fractures. However, you'll need to keep a close eye on the concussion."

Eli nodded weakly. "Thank you, Doctor."

Just then Page entered the room. "So, you want to keep me company?"

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Eli, with a smirk, replied, "I was too afraid you'd die of boredom."

Page smiled and hugged Eli.

"Ouch," Eli exclaimed.

"Oh, I'm sorry."

"Don't worry about it, Page. She's a princess, she's fragile," Julia joked.

Alicia, Julia and Page burst out laughing.

"Hey, I'm here!" exclaimed Eli, falsely indignant.

Page settled herself comfortably in a chair. "If you're going to stay awake, you might as well be comfortable."

"You've taken my chair..." gasped Alicia, "I'll have to get another."

On her way out, she was almost hit by Lj, who came running up, his face marked by worry.

"Easy, Lj, I don't want to join the other two," Alicia joked.

Breathless, Lj muttered a sorry before entering the room.

"LJ!" cried Eli.

"Little sister, how are you feeling?" asked Lj, his voice full of concern.

"I'm fine, I'll survive."

"If I find who did this to you, he's dead..." replied Lj, clenching his fists.

"No, you'll knock him out, but nothing more, big brother. You're not like him. Promise me that."

"LJ..." began Eli.

"No. You promise me. End of story."

All eyes turned to Lj. Julia and Page exchanged knowing smiles. Eli, usually discreet, was sometimes surprisingly determined, and no one in her entourage, even though it was made up of strong personalities, was able to contradict her when she took this uncompromising stance. It was this facet of her personality that had earned her the nickname "Ice Princess".

Lj knew it. With a sigh, he gave in. He placed a kiss on Eli's cheek and left the room, promising to go and see their father.

Outside, he leaned against a wall, his mind in turmoil.

Alicia returned with a chair. Seeing Lj's expression, she burst out laughing. "I recognise that face. You've just been put in her place by Eli, haven't you?"

"My little sister can be slightly stubborn from time to time..."

"Slightly?"

"Yes, slightly," Lj replied with a small smile.

"What happened?" asked Alicia.

Lj told her.

"If you break that promise, Junior, I don't know how Eli will react. But it sure won't be pretty."

"I know... But I can't let it go."

Alicia shrugged. "I understand..." Then she entered the room with the chair.