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Rise Of The Phoenix: Dylan’s Rebirth 39
39The older salesman, a man in his late fifties with silver hair slicked back and a thin mustache, strode over with an air of barely contained annoyance. His polished shoes clicked against the marble floor, his every movement exuding an authority he thought Dylan should fear.“Sir,” he began, his tone patronizing, “perhaps I can direct you to something… more within your range?”Dylan turned slowly, his smirk deepening. “And what exactly do you think my ‘range’ is?”The older man didn’t miss a beat. “Something more… practical,” he said smoothly, his gaze flicking dismissively over Dylan’s leather jacket and jeans. “This suit is handcrafted, made from exclusive Italian wool, and tailored for a very particular clientele.”Dylan let out a low chuckle, shaking his head. “So, let me get this straight—you’re saying I don’t fit into that ‘particular clientele’?”The younger salesman shifted uncomfortably, looking between Dylan and his superior. The two women near the display exchanged amused
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40Dylan ran his fingers over the fabric of a sleek black suit, feeling the weight of Gregory’s irritation lingering in the air. Simon, the younger salesman, trailed behind him, looking like a man stuck between duty and self-preservation.Dylan smirked. “You don’t have to keep following me, you know.”Simon hesitated. “I… I was told by Mr. Gregory to assist you.”Dylan turned, leveling him with a cool look. “And I just told you that you don’t have to. You take orders from customers too, right?”Simon shifted on his feet, glancing toward where Gregory had disappeared. “Technically… yes.”“Great. Then do yourself a favor and go.” Dylan gave him a lazy grin. “I can pick a damn suit without a babysitter.”Simon chewed on the inside of his cheek, torn. Gregory had been clear, but Dylan was a customer. And if there was one thing Simon valued more than his job, it was not getting caught in unnecessary crossfire.Reluctantly, he gave a small nod. “Alright. If you need anything, I’ll be at the
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41Dylan schooled his features before opening the door, stepping out with deliberate calm. His eyes flicked between the two guards—one broad and stiff, the other wiry but just as rigid.“Gentlemen,” he greeted, slipping his hands into his pockets. “What’s the problem?”The first guard, the burly one, squared his shoulders. “We need to check your pockets, sir.”Dylan let out a slow, amused whistle. “Wow. No hello? No ‘how’s your shopping experience?’ Straight to accusations?”The younger guard narrowed his eyes. “A staff member saw you hiding something in your jacket.”Dylan tilted his head slightly, pretending to be deep in thought. “Did they now?” He looked over his shoulder toward where Gregory had conveniently positioned himself near the register, pretending to be busy but obviously watching. “Let me guess… was it him?”Neither guard answered. Their silence was answer enough.Dylan sighed. “Okay. I see what’s happening here.” He spread his arms slightly, making a slow turn. “If you
Rise Of The Phoenix: Dylan’s Rebirth 42
42Dylan’s jaw tightened, his entire body bristling with barely contained fury. He looked from Gregory to the guards, then back again, his voice cold but cutting as he spoke.“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Dylan said, his tone low and dangerous.Gregory’s smile faltered just slightly, but he quickly recovered. “Do you really want to escalate this? You’re making a scene over nothing.”“Over nothing?” Dylan’s eyes narrowed. “I’m not the one who’s making a scene here. Your buddy Gregory”—he spat the name out like venom—“is the one who’s orchestrated this whole thing.”Gregory’s expression hardened, his gaze flicking to the guards. “Enough talk. Do your job.”The older guard, still uneasy, stepped toward Dylan. “Come on, sir, let’s go. Don’t make this harder on yourself.”Dylan shot a glance at the younger guard, who was practically vibrating with impatience. “You’ve got to be kidding me. You’re actually going to touch me?”The younger guard’s eyes flashed. “That’s it. You’re coming with
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43But Dylan wasn’t about to step back. He pushed forward, his eyes narrowed. “You’re doing it all wrong!” he shouted, his voice cutting through the tension. “You’re giving her the wrong treatment! You’re going to kill her!”The doctor shot a venomous look at him, snapping, “You’re the one who’s causing damage here! Just stay out of the way!”Dylan ignored him, crouching again as he muttered under his breath. His hands trembled slightly as he began applying pressure to the woman’s chest, using a traditional healing technique that involved manipulating the body’s energy flow. He wasn’t doing it properly by modern medical standards—he was working from instinct, pressing in ways that helped align the body’s natural rhythms.But it was clear to the doctor and bystanders that Dylan was failing to stabilize the woman. His movements were erratic, the healing slow and not precise enough to address her deteriorating condition.“You’re just making it worse!” the doctor barked again, stepping in
Rise Of The Phoenix: Dylan’s Rebirth 44
44Panic spread like wildfire. The murmurs in the crowd turned into frantic shouts, people stumbling back, some pressing against the walls as the woman’s body thrashed uncontrollably.“She’s dying!” a voice shrieked.“Somebody do something!” another cried.Dylan didn’t waste a second. He gripped the woman’s arm tightly, his mind racing. The poison had accelerated. The sedative had weakened her body’s ability to fight, allowing the toxin to spread unhindered. If he didn’t act now, she wouldn’t survive the next minute.Gregory let out a loud scoff, shaking his head. “Look at this mess. The great ‘doctor’ can’t even handle a single patient. What a joke.” His words were laced with mockery, but his eyes betrayed a flicker of unease.“Shut up, Gregory,” Dylan snapped, his voice sharp as a blade. “This isn’t some damn game.”“Oh, but it is,” Gregory countered, crossing his arms with an arrogant smirk. “And you’re losing.”Dylan ignored him, turning sharply to the doctor, his expression like
Rise Of The Phoenix: Dylan’s Rebirth 45
45Dylan turned sharply to the assistant, his voice unwavering. “Bring me a clean knife and a small glass bottle. Now.”The assistant hesitated, his eyes darting nervously toward the doctor. “I—should I?”The doctor, still reeling from how rapidly the woman’s condition had deteriorated under his care—and just as quickly stabilized under Dylan’s—clenched his jaw. His pride screamed at him to refuse, but the proof was undeniable.“Do it,” he ground out, his voice tight with humiliation.Gasps rippled through the crowd at his reluctant admission. The same doctor who had barked orders with absolute confidence was now deferring to the man he had called an amateur.The assistant scrambled away, returning moments later with the requested items. The tension in the room was suffocating, the onlookers frozen in stunned anticipation.Gregory scoffed, crossing his arms. “Oh, so now you’re playing butcher? What next? Gonna do a rain dance too? Maybe chant a magic spell while you’re at it?”A few p
Rise Of The Phoenix: Dylan’s Rebirth 46
46Once outside, Dylan took a deep breath, the weight of the boutique’s gaze still heavy on him. His heart raced—not from fear, but from the surge of adrenaline still coursing through him. He wasn’t surprised by what had happened, but the way the crowd had reacted still left him unsettled.Behind him, the door of the boutique creaked open, and murmurs trickled out.“Did you see that? Did he really just do that?” one voice whispered, barely audible in the cool night air.“I—I thought she was gone, I swear it,” another voice added, shaken. “One minute, she’s convulsing, and the next… just like that… she’s awake.”“That man… he’s no amateur,” a third voice said, filled with awe. “That was deliberate. He knew what he was doing.”Dylan’s hands clenched at his sides as the voices continued.Inside the boutique, the doctor could still be heard, his voice rising in frustration. “You don’t understand! That—what he did—it wasn’t science. It was—”“It was something,” someone interjected sharply.
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52Dylan barely had time to process the man’s words when another voice cut through the tension, sharp and mocking.“Who the hell are you?” The voice dripped with disdain, coming from the far side of the room, near the open window.Dylan turned, startled. A woman stood there, leaning against the frame with an air of superiority. She was tall, dressed in a sleek black dress that contrasted sharply with the soft pink surroundings. Her arms were crossed, and her lips were twisted into an amused smirk, as though the entire situation was some kind of joke to her.“Well?” she pressed, her voice tinged with arrogance. “Who are you to be in here, looking at my daughter like that?”Dylan’s heart pounded in his chest. “I—I don’t know who she is, but I—”“Don’t lie!” the woman snapped, her eyes narrowing as she stepped further into the room. “You’re just some outsider, right? One of Olivia’s random guests? Or did you finally figure out the ‘family secret’ and decide to stick around?”Dylan could
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51 “Alright,” he finally said, his voice steady but laced with uncertainty. “I’ll follow you. But you owe me an explanation.” Olivia’s face softened in relief, and for a brief moment, he could see the vulnerability in her eyes. “Thank you,” she whispered, squeezing his arm before turning toward the hallway. As they walked down the corridor, Carmen stood frozen in place, her face pale with anxiety. She didn’t move as Olivia and Dylan disappeared from view, but the worry in her eyes lingered long after they had passed. Dylan glanced over at Olivia as she led him down the hall, the mansion’s grandeur feeling almost oppressive now, as though the walls were closing in around them. The distant sound of footsteps echoed through the silent house. They reached a set of stairs leading to the upper floor, and Olivia’s pace quickened. Dylan’s steps slowed as he noticed the way she was moving—quick, yet careful, like someone who had done this many times before. “Olivia,” he began, his voice
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50 Olivia’s voice cut through his thoughts, softer now. “It’s okay, Carmen. You can tell them I’ll be there soon.” She turned to Dylan, trying to lighten the mood. “Sorry about this. Family stuff. You know how it goes.” But Dylan didn’t feel reassured. Instead, he felt the sharp tug of suspicion. He’d seen people act a certain way when they were hiding something, and Olivia’s behavior, her way of avoiding his gaze, was one of those signs. Dylan stood there, his frown deepening as he watched Olivia carefully. She was clearly avoiding his gaze, her eyes darting to the floor, her fingers nervously twisting the hem of her sleeve. Something was definitely off, and the unease in his chest was growing by the second. He took a step closer, lowering his voice. “Olivia, what’s going on? You’re not telling me something.” She hesitated, biting her lip and glancing up at him briefly before looking away again. “I… I didn’t exactly invite you here just to thank you,” she said softly, her voice
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49A few minutes later, they arrived at a large, wrought-iron gate. The gate was imposing—tall and intricately designed, the kind of thing you’d expect to see in a place that had been standing for decades, if not centuries. Olivia slowed the car, pressing a button on the dashboard to open the gate. It creaked open slowly, revealing a long, tree-lined driveway leading up to a massive mansion in the distance.Dylan’s eyes widened just slightly, though he tried to keep his expression neutral. The house in front of him was magnificent. It was a sprawling two-story estate, with gleaming stone and large windows that reflected the evening sky. It looked like something out of a dream—or a movie. He could feel the weight of the place, a kind of quiet opulence that commanded attention.As they pulled up in front of the house, Olivia parked the car and turned to him. “Welcome to my home,” she said softly, her voice almost reverent as she looked up at the mansion. “I know it’s a lot. But… it’s wh
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48Dylan blinked, caught off guard by her request. The way she spoke, her voice so earnest and pleading, made it difficult to dismiss. But his first instinct was still to pull away, to avoid whatever this was, because he wasn’t sure what it meant.She was cute, sure, but that didn’t mean he had to complicate things.“What kind of thanks is this?” he thought, unsure of whether he was more confused or intrigued by the idea. Still, the thought of just slipping away quietly tugged at him. He didn’t owe her anything more than the help he’d already given. And yet, looking at her—at Olivia—he couldn’t deny the pull he felt toward her. The dimples, the warmth in her smile, the sincerity in her eyes. She wasn’t just offering a thank you; there was something more in her invitation.“Alright,” he said after a long pause, his voice low, though still hesitant. “I’ll come. But I don’t know what else I can do other than just show up and listen. I’m not one for grand gestures.”Olivia’s face lit up w
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47Dylan froze, his hand already on the car door. He turned slowly, half expecting it to be one of the lingering skeptics, trying to further dissect his actions.The woman was rushing toward him now, her eyes wide with gratitude but still filled with confusion. Her steps faltered slightly, but she pushed through, her voice clear and urgent. “Please—thank you. For what you did. I… I need to know why you helped me.”Dylan stood still, his gaze meeting hers. For a moment, the time seemed to still, the chaos of earlier falling away as he looked into her eyes—eyes that held a mixture of disbelief, relief, and something else.He could hear her breathing unevenly, still recovering from the ordeal, but she stood firm.“Don’t thank me,” he said, his voice surprisingly soft for all the anger that still burned in him. “I didn’t do it for your gratitude. I just did what needed to be done.”The woman’s brows furrowed in confusion. “But… Gregory said—he said you were a fraud. That you were just pla
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46Once outside, Dylan took a deep breath, the weight of the boutique’s gaze still heavy on him. His heart raced—not from fear, but from the surge of adrenaline still coursing through him. He wasn’t surprised by what had happened, but the way the crowd had reacted still left him unsettled.Behind him, the door of the boutique creaked open, and murmurs trickled out.“Did you see that? Did he really just do that?” one voice whispered, barely audible in the cool night air.“I—I thought she was gone, I swear it,” another voice added, shaken. “One minute, she’s convulsing, and the next… just like that… she’s awake.”“That man… he’s no amateur,” a third voice said, filled with awe. “That was deliberate. He knew what he was doing.”Dylan’s hands clenched at his sides as the voices continued.Inside the boutique, the doctor could still be heard, his voice rising in frustration. “You don’t understand! That—what he did—it wasn’t science. It was—”“It was something,” someone interjected sharply.
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45Dylan turned sharply to the assistant, his voice unwavering. “Bring me a clean knife and a small glass bottle. Now.”The assistant hesitated, his eyes darting nervously toward the doctor. “I—should I?”The doctor, still reeling from how rapidly the woman’s condition had deteriorated under his care—and just as quickly stabilized under Dylan’s—clenched his jaw. His pride screamed at him to refuse, but the proof was undeniable.“Do it,” he ground out, his voice tight with humiliation.Gasps rippled through the crowd at his reluctant admission. The same doctor who had barked orders with absolute confidence was now deferring to the man he had called an amateur.The assistant scrambled away, returning moments later with the requested items. The tension in the room was suffocating, the onlookers frozen in stunned anticipation.Gregory scoffed, crossing his arms. “Oh, so now you’re playing butcher? What next? Gonna do a rain dance too? Maybe chant a magic spell while you’re at it?”A few p
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44Panic spread like wildfire. The murmurs in the crowd turned into frantic shouts, people stumbling back, some pressing against the walls as the woman’s body thrashed uncontrollably.“She’s dying!” a voice shrieked.“Somebody do something!” another cried.Dylan didn’t waste a second. He gripped the woman’s arm tightly, his mind racing. The poison had accelerated. The sedative had weakened her body’s ability to fight, allowing the toxin to spread unhindered. If he didn’t act now, she wouldn’t survive the next minute.Gregory let out a loud scoff, shaking his head. “Look at this mess. The great ‘doctor’ can’t even handle a single patient. What a joke.” His words were laced with mockery, but his eyes betrayed a flicker of unease.“Shut up, Gregory,” Dylan snapped, his voice sharp as a blade. “This isn’t some damn game.”“Oh, but it is,” Gregory countered, crossing his arms with an arrogant smirk. “And you’re losing.”Dylan ignored him, turning sharply to the doctor, his expression like
