The clinic was eerily quiet when Calvin stepped through the front doors. The familiar hum of activity, patients coming and going, the sound of medical equipment in use—it was all absent. Instead, there was only silence, and the lingering scent of stale air. Calvin stood still for a moment, taking it all in. The clinic had been his life’s work, his passion. Seeing it so lifeless now filled him with a mix of emotions—relief that it would soon be operational again, and a deep sadness for everything that had been lost during its closure.After a few minutes, the sound of approaching footsteps caught his attention. The cleaning crew had arrived, five of them in total, carrying their equipment and supplies. Calvin greeted them at the door, giving them a quick tour of the clinic and explaining what needed to be done.“This place has been closed for months,” Calvin said, leading them through the hallways. “I want everything spotless. Every corner, every room, every surface needs to be cleaned

The night had fallen, cloaking the city in a shroud of darkness, but inside Lizzie’s apartment, the oppressive quiet was even more suffocating. She sat by the window, her face illuminated by the dim light of her phone, her eyes glued to the screen. The cold glow cast deep shadows under her eyes, mirroring the growing anxiety that gnawed at her insides. She had tried calling Calvin over and over again, but every call went unanswered, the silence on the other end of the line only amplifying her fears. Each second that ticked by without a response tightened the knot of dread in her chest, like an invisible hand squeezing her heart.Lizzie's fingers tapped nervously against the back of her phone as she stared out into the dark streets below, her mind racing with horrible possibilities. *Where is he? Why isn’t he answering?* The questions circled endlessly in her mind, refusing to let her find even a moment of peace. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something had gone terribly wrong. He

Calvin’s head pounded as his thoughts spiraled into chaos.“What is it? Just tell me what you’re looking for!” Calvin’s voice was strained, desperate. He needed answers—anything that could help him understand what they wanted, why they thought he had some kind of secret.“The fountain of health, Hudson,” the leader growled, stepping further into the light. The harsh glare illuminated his sharp, angular features, casting deep shadows that made him look almost inhuman. His eyes were like ice, cold and unfeeling. “Where is it? You have the key to it. Don’t pretend you don’t.”Calvin’s heart raced as he searched his memories for any trace of the phrase, but nothing made sense. His family had its share of old stories, whispered tales passed down through the generations, but none of them had ever mentioned anything like this. The fountain of health—was it a place, a thing, or something entirely different? He didn’t know, and the frustration gnawed at him like a dull blade.“What are you eve

In a final, desperate attempt to hold onto her bearings, Lizzie collapsed to the ground. Her body crumpled into the dense foliage, her head resting against the cold earth. The pendant, still clutched in her hand, dimmed to a faint glow, its power exhausted. The green light flickered once more before fading completely, leaving Lizzie in the darkness of the underbrush.Her breaths were shallow and uneven, her eyes fluttering closed as unconsciousness overtook her. The forest around her was eerily quiet, the only sound the distant rustling of leaves and the occasional call of nocturnal creatures. Lizzie lay still, hidden from view, her body curled up among the leaves and branches.In her semi-conscious state, she could barely sense the cool breeze against her skin and the dampness of the ground beneath her. The weight of her exhaustion pressed heavily upon her, and she felt as though she were drifting away from the world, leaving behind the last flickers of hope that had guided her.Lizz

Calvin's heart pounded in his chest as he made his way toward the dense foliage that surrounded the area. The night air was cool against his skin, a stark contrast to the adrenaline coursing through his veins. He could hear the rustling of leaves and the distant calls of nocturnal creatures as he ran, his senses heightened in the darkness. The men behind him were relentless, their footsteps pounding against the ground, growing louder with every second. Calvin knew he couldn’t outrun them for long—he needed a plan, and fast.As he darted between the thick trees, the sharp crack of a dart gun echoed through the night. He felt a sharp sting on his back, and for a brief, horrifying moment, panic surged through him. They had hit him with another tranquilizer dart. The familiar sensation of numbness began to spread through his body, but this time, Calvin was prepared.He gritted his teeth and summoned his cultivation power once more, forcing himself to focus desp