Lizzie’s foot snagged on something hard, and before she could catch herself, she tumbled forward. The ground rushed up to meet her, and she landed with a sharp thud, a cry of pain escaping her lips. A jagged stone had twisted her ankle, and agony shot up her leg, forcing her to clutch at the injured limb. The darkness around them seemed to close in, the distant city lights now feeling impossibly far away.“Calvin!” Lizzie gasped, her voice strained and filled with fear. She tried to push herself up, but her ankle buckled under her weight, sending fresh waves of pain coursing through her. Her breath came in shallow, panicked bursts as she realized she couldn’t stand on her own.Calvin heard her cry and immediately skidded to a halt, his heart lurching in his chest. He spun around, eyes widening as he saw Lizzie crumpled on the ground. “Lizzie!” he called out, fear and concern lacing his voice. Without a second thought, he dashed back to her side, dropping to his knees beside her.“Lizz

Lizzie walked closely beside Calvin, her heart pounding with every step. Her eyes flickered nervously from one person to the next, scanning the faces in the crowd as if any one of them could be a threat. The city’s nightlife buzzed around them—bright neon lights reflecting off the wet pavement, groups of friends laughing and chatting, couples strolling arm in arm. It all seemed so normal, so oblivious to the danger that Calvin and Lizzie were wrapped in. The contrast was jarring, and it made Lizzie’s unease grow stronger.She couldn’t shake the feeling that eyes were following them, that somewhere in the mass of people, their pursuers were lurking, waiting for the right moment to strike. Her hand brushed against Calvin’s arm, seeking comfort in his presence."Calvin," Lizzie whispered, her voice barely audible over the hum of the city. She leaned closer to him, her breath warm against his ear. "Do you think we’re safe now? Are we finally out of their reach?"Calvin’s gaze swept over t

As the taxi pulled up to the clinic, the headlights washed over the building’s modest facade, casting long shadows across the sidewalk. The clinic stood in a quiet part of town, its large windows darkened, and the sign above the entrance barely visible in the dim light. Calvin quickly paid the driver and helped Lizzie out of the taxi. She winced slightly as she put weight on her still-sore ankle, but Calvin’s earlier healing had done its job—she could walk, albeit carefully.The night air was cool, and the silence of the deserted street pressed in around them, amplifying their every movement. Calvin scanned the area one last time before guiding Lizzie to the clinic’s front door. His fingers fumbled slightly as he unlocked it, his nerves still on edge from the chase. Once inside, he closed the door behind them and quickly turned the lock, the soft click of the mechanism sounding unnaturally loud in the stillness.Lizzie looked around the darkened clinic, her breath coming out in shallo

As the sun climbed higher into the sky, casting golden rays through the clinic’s windows, the hum of life outside grew steadily louder. Calvin stood by the large front window, rubbing his temples to push away the last vestiges of fatigue. He hadn’t slept much, and the events of the past few days still weighed heavily on him. But when he glanced outside, his tiredness was momentarily replaced by disbelief.A line of people stretched far down the street, their faces filled with a mix of hope and impatience. Families with children, elderly couples, and individuals of all ages were eagerly waiting for their turn. The sight was overwhelming—Calvin had anticipated a modest crowd, but nothing like this.Tina, standing by the front door with her hands full of paperwork, followed his gaze. Her eyes widened as she took in the scene. “Dr. Hudson, look at that line! I didn’t think we’d have such a crowd. The phones have been ringing off the hook since early this morning.”Calvin nodded, still try

Calvin had just started examining the next patient when a soft knock came at the door. He looked up, surprised, and saw Tina standing in the doorway, her face a mix of professionalism and subtle concern."Dr. Hudson, I'm sorry to interrupt, but there are some people from the health department here to see you. They said it's urgent," she said quietly, glancing nervously at the patient in the room.Calvin's heart skipped a beat. The health department? His thoughts immediately flashed to the possibility that something had gone wrong with the reopening. He nodded to Tina and turned to his patient, a middle-aged woman with a persistent cough.“I’m terribly sorry for the delay. I’ll be right back with you in just a moment,” Calvin said gently, offering an apologetic smile. The patient nodded, though concern clouded her eyes.As Calvin stepped out of the room, he was greeted by the sight of two men waiting just outside the office. One of them was tall, with a stern expression and a neatly pr