After carefully examining Malice, Mipha takes a moment to gather her thoughts before relaying her diagnosis to us. She steps away from the bed, giving Malice some privacy even though she's still asleep.

"It's evident that Malice has been through a lot," Mipha begins, her expression reflecting concern. "Her body shows signs of prolonged substance abuse and malnutrition, which has left her in a weakened state. Her skin is pale and dehydrated, and there are needle marks and bruises on her arms."

I listen attentively, my emotions a conflicting mix of concern and frustration. It's like trying to help a stray dog, after it snapped and bit your your hand when you offered it food. I still can't believe she actually stabbed me. 

"We don't have all the resources of a hospital here. I advise you to seek professional medical attention," Mipha concludes.

I know Mipha is right about Malice's condition and it's clear that she needs help, but I can't help but worry about what might happen if we take her to a hospital.

"Seeking professional help is always the wise choice to make," I nod, then I step closer to Mipha and lower my volume as if Malice could hear us. "But what if that wasn't an option? Could we help her from home? Without having to take her to the hospital?"

"Her body is in withdrawal from the drugs, and the effects could worsen without proper care." Mipha frowns, sensing that this is not what I wanted to hear. "I know you want to help her, Zelda, but she needs more than we can provide here."

"Are you sure there isn't anything we can do?"

"Zelda," Link cuts in. "Let's just take her to a hospital."

I turn to Link, my heart conflicted. "Remember what she said when you were holding her back? She was scared that somebody paid us and that we'll turn her in or something."

"She's probably running from the cops," Link suggests.

"I don't think that's it... I think she ran away from Ganon."

"Good for her," Link responds. "But why is she living on the streets?"

"You don't understand. Ganon's house is where she used to live," I reveal.

There's so much I want to tell them—about the lock on her door, the fear in her eyes and the terrifying sound of Ganondorf's voice when he stepped into the room while I was hiding in the closet—but I hold back, unsure of how Link would react to finding out I broke into that house while he was in a coma. He already eyes me suspiciously.

"How do you know that?" He asks me.

"She once told me that she didn't feel safe at home when I asked about her bruises," I say and turn my attention to Mipha before Link can ask more questions. "Taking Malice to a hospital could put her in danger. If Ganon is looking for her, being in a hospital would make her an easy target."

"Ganon is in prison," Link says.

"But what if he's not?" I counter.

Mipha looks concerned, understanding the gravity of the situation. "I see your point, Zelda, but we need to consider her health and safety as well. Without proper medical care, her condition could worsen."

"I know. But there has to be another way. We can't risk her getting arrested or worse."

Mipha takes a moment to think. "Perhaps we could find a way to support her recovery from here."

The glimmer of hope in Mipha's words lifts my spirits slightly. "Really? You'd help us?"

"No way," Link steps in. "We're not dragging Mipha into this! Especially if Ganon is out of prison and looking for Malice, we'd only be putting everyone at risk by keeping Malice here!"

I ignore him. I can't let fear dictate my choices any more. Malice needs help and I will not turn my back on her. "We will keep her here, and I'll take care of her," I assert, making the decision myself. "Cado will keep intruders out while we take care of her. Mipha doesn't have to be part of it. I just need to know how to take care of Malice properly, that's all. And we can find out if Ganon has been released from Prison. Everything will work out."

Mipha glances briefly at Link, as if seeking his approval, before returning her gaze to me. "I can try my best to help. But I am not a doctor yet, and my knowledge is limited."

"Thank you for being willing to help," I say, now looking at Link for his answer. Even though my mind is made up, I want him to be on my side and understand where I'm coming from. If we turn our backs on Malice, she might not make it...

But Link doesn't see it that way. He is clearly not on board with this. His arms are crossed and his eyes reflect his clear annoyance with the situation. "It's too risky," he says.

"Link–"

"It's not safe, Zelda!" His voice is assertive and a little desperate. "For once, stop treating your life like it's less important than everybody else's!"

"I have to stop?" I question his logic. "You're one who should stop placing my life on a pedestal above everyone else!"

Mipha remains uncomfortably quiet, trying not to stare at us while we bicker.

"My life is not any more or less important than any other life," I tell him, pointing at myself. "I want to help Malice, just like I would help anyone else in that situation. We can't abandon her, especially if she's running from danger."

Link knows that I won't back down on this, and I can see him struggling to reconcile his protectiveness with the desire to support me.

"Let's work together to keep her safe," I say.

"I can gather some supplies and take care of her wounds," Mipha offers, eager to leave so Link and I can sort this out. "Keep a close eye on her in the meantime, and..." Her eyes briefly skip to Link, who's shaking his head at Mipha with an angry expression. Despite feeling guilty for disregarding Link's plea, she continues on, "Keep her hydrated."

The moment Mipha leaves, he shares his concerns with me. "I thought we were supposed to be a team."

"We are, Link." I understand his perspective even if it seems confrontational. My intentions are not to oppose him but rather to ensure Malice's well-being is not overlooked. "I know this is going to be difficult and maybe dangerous as well, but I can't do it without you by my side. I value your opinion. If you genuinely believe it's better to take Malice to the hospital or the police and distance ourselves from her, I respect your judgment. I want us to face this together, as a united front."

Link studies me for a moment, his eyes softening. "You're so stubborn," he says and sighs as he pulls out his phone. "She's only staying if it's safe. I'll call the prison to ask aboutGanon. If he's still locked up, she can stay. If he's on the loose, then we gotta find a different place for her. Okay?"

I smile, knowing that Link and I will get through this. I don't stop him when he walks into my bedroom to make the phone call.

While Mipha and Link go on their quest, I do my part and monitor Malice closely, waiting for her to wake up. 

I keep my distance, sitting closer to the door than to the bed. I left the door wide open in case I have to escape from her again, and I also removed all sharp objects in reach. It's just a waiting game now.

...

Mipha returns before Link does. I wonder what's taking him so long, but for now I'm glad that Mipha is back with some supplies. She places the plastic bag on the nightstand and guides me through her thought process.

"We have to keep her hydrated and nourished," Mipha retrieves a large bottle of water from the bag along with multivitamin supplements. "Her body has likely been deprived of essential nutrients for quite some time. We should also closely monitor her vital signs, especially her heart rate and blood pressure."

"Is there a risk to withdrawal?" I ask, curiously looking at all the things she brought with her. She takes out a digital thermometer and a small blood pressure monitor.

Mipha nods. "Yes, considering the severity of her drug use. Withdrawal can be challenging and even dangerous, so we need to be prepared to support her through this process. It's essential to keep a close eye on any symptoms she may experience."

Mipha reveals a white bottle of pain relievers and a yellow bottle with a tag that reads Methadone. Finally, she hands me a bunch of medical supplies that I recognize from the first aid kit in my room: antiseptic wipes, bandages, gauze pads...

"Mipha..." I pause, taking in the sight. "You really don't have to be part of this. I just... I didn't know who else to call."

"It's okay, Zelda. I'm glad you called me. I will show you how to clean the needle marks and bruises."  

"You're so cool," I say without much thought. 

She smiles vaguely. "By cleaning her skin, we can address any infections or wounds she might have." 

I feel like I'm in medical school, getting lectured by Professor Mipha. I listen as attentively as I do in class. 

"In addition to the physical aspects, we should consider Malice's emotional well-being," I say.

Substance abuse must take a great toll on one's mental health, and Malice might need someone to talk to and provide emotional support. Not that she would ever want to open up to me, but maybe she can appreciate the thought.

"Say, Mipha..." I get up to get a closer look at Malice and the supplies that surround her. "Where'd you get all of this?" I pick up the Methadone pills. "Is this over-the-counter?"

She's focused on cleaning Malice's arms, but she calmly responds. "It's not. However, it is effective in managing intense pain and addressing opioid addiction."

I won't ask any further. Maybe I'd pester for answers if it were Link I was talking to, but Mipha and I are allowed to have secrets from each other. If she has a way to get prescription drugs without a prescription, then that's a secret she is allowed to have. As long as she keeps my secret of having Malice stay at my house, I'll keep her secrets.

When she's done with Malice, she turns to me, taking my arm into her gentle touch. "Let me take a look at your wounds now."

"Oh, it's nothing..."

"Zelda, please," she calmly says, her yellow eyes looking up at me with so much compassion and care that it's impossible to decline. "You don't want to risk an infection. I doubt the blade that cut you was sanitized."

While Mipha cleans the cuts on my arms, I try to come up with a lie for Father. Maybe I can tell him I went biking and had an accident. Or I could say I tried to do a flip into the pool and hit the edge. There's no way he'd believe that.

I can cover up my arms and legs, but my face? I will have to come up with something believable for that one. Maybe a friend's cat scratched my face. I will keep a bandaid on my face until the cut has healed and hopefully he won't ask too many questions. I could even say it happened in Japan and there would be no way for him to investigate the truth.

Mipha finishes patching up my arms before turning her attention to my leg. Her gentle touch is in stark contrast to the pain I feel, both physically and emotionally. As she carefully removes the bandage, her expert eyes inspect the wound thoroughly.

"You got lucky," Mipha says, and I almost want to scoff at her choice of words.

"I don't feel lucky."

"Your incision is quite deep," she observes in a composed tone. "By less than an inch, the blade missed a major vein. Given the severity, I highly recommend stitches to facilitate tissue repair and proper healing."

"And how does any of this make me lucky?"

"Zelda," she meets my eyes, calm and collected. "This could have been fatal."

I gulp, pushing away the chilling thought, and instead, I focus on the gratitude I feel for having Mipha by our side. Her unwavering support and selflessness in times of crisis are truly remarkable. She didn't ask many questions, she just stepped up to help like she always does. I can't help but admire her, and I know anyone who gets to know her would feel the same way.

My thoughts shift to Revali and the conversation we had last night. Almost had.

"So," I attempt small talk while she takes care of my leg. "How are things with you and Revali?"

Her eyes stay focused on her work, but the subtle blush on her cheeks betrays her emotions. "We're happy," she responds, though something in her reaction tells me there might be more to the story. I don't want to pry, but I want her to know that I'm here for her if she ever needs someone to talk to.

"Today it's been 101 days," I try to lighten the mood with a playful joke.

A soft smile tugs at her lips, but she doesn't laugh along. "Yes."

I wish she'd open up to me and talk about what's going on. Maybe I could help. "You guys make a great couple."

"Thank you, Zelda. So do you and Link..."

This is heading in the wrong direction. I steer the conversation away from relationships, away from Link, and ask about how to care for Malice once she wakes up. Mipha shares her insights, noting that it might take time for Malice to recover.

Link's POV

The prison staff guy is starting to sound annoyed. I don't blame him, I've been asking the same question just with different wording and he's giving me the same answer, with pretty much the same wording. 

"I'm sorry, sir, but we cannot disclose any information about our inmates due to privacy regulations."

Yeah yeah I know. Thanks for repetitively telling me.

I take a deep breath and hide my frustration. "I get that. Protocols and all. But this is important. Ganon is dangerous, and I need to know if he's still in custody."

The man remains firm, "We cannot provide that information."

Yup, same answer. Let's try a different question for a different answer. "Can you at least tell me when Ganon's next parole hearing is so I know if there's a possibility of his release."

"I'm sorry, but we cannot disclose parole hearing dates either. It's confidential."

I clench my jaw. "I'm not asking for the press. Lives are at stake here. If Ganon is free, he's a threat to my friends and family." I try to play the guilt card. "Please help me out here. Ganon has threatened my... Wife and daughter." Maybe this guy is a dad and will sympathize with me. "I just need to know that my family is safe from Ganon."

But his answer stays the same. "I understand your concern, sir, but I still cannot disclose any details."

I'm hitting a brick wall here. Stay calm. "Please, I've met Ganon. He has sworn to come back to hurt my family. I can't let that happen."

"I'm sorry, sir, but there's nothing I can do," he replies, ready to hang up on me. "If you are concerned for your family's safety, you can file a request for a restraining order through the appropriate legal channels."

When has a restraining order ever stopped a killer from killing? I lean my forehead against the window glass and sigh. This guy is such a pain in the ass. "Fine. Can you transfer me to someone who may be able to authorize access to the information I'm looking for? I promise I won't misuse it."

There's a pause on the other end, and I hope it's my breakthrough. But, no, he denies my request AGAIN.

"I'm sorry, sir, but only authorized personnel can access such information."

I hang up, tired of hearing the same old line. His boss probably sat him down and told him to only say that one line over and over if somebody calls. Or maybe Ganondorf paid them all to hide information about his son.

Zelda's hand on my shoulder makes me jump! I didn't hear her coming in at all.

"Where's Mipha?" I ask her.

"She left. She's done more than enough. I don't want to get her involved too much because she's a health professional and there is a real patient with drug use and–"

"I get it. I don't want her to get in trouble for this either. Let's keep her out of it moving forward."

Zelda nods and takes a deep breath, calming herself. "Well?" she asks, her voice tense. "How did the call go?"

"Welp, after being on hold for like 30 minutes, they wouldn't tell me anything," I say, not even trying to hide my annoyance with that staff member.

"We'll find another way to get the information. We can't leave anything to chance when it comes to Ganon."

I rub my neck and sigh in defeat. "Are you really sure you want to do this? Not only is Ganon a threat but so is Malice. I mean... Look at yourself. She cut you all over your body and if I hadn't woken up..." I don't even want to finish that thought.

She steps closer and places her hands on my cheeks. "I love how caring and protective you are. I've always admired that about you, Link. It's something I look up to and strive to be more of. But I'm not the only one who needs your care and protection now..."

I'm not saying she's wrong but I don't think she understands the danger of keeping Malice here. I swear, her stubbornness and big heart will be the death of us all...

"Alright," I say, walking to the nightstand to grab the keys for my bike. "If this is what you want, then I'll make sure we're safe." I leave my phone with her so she can call for help if she needs to. "Don't let Malice out of your sight. And keep Cado close-by while I'm gone."

"Wait, where are you going?"

"The prison," I say. "I'm hoping I can get a clear answer from them there. Or see for myself if Ganon is there."

"Oh." Her eyes widen. "I'll go with you."

"No," my answer is firm but reasonable. "You have to watch Malice. Do not let her out of your sight, Zelda. Promise me you'll call 911 if something happens."

She's hesitant to make that promise but she agrees with a nod. I wish her promise would give me some kind of comfort but I leave the house praying that nothing will happen to her while I'm gone.