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, still leaning heavily on Calvin, glanced back over her shoulder, her voice trembling as she asked, "Calvin, do you think they’re still following us?"Calvin, his breath still ragged from the effort of using his powers, scanned the crowd around them. The bustling city streets were a far cry from the ominous silence of the forest, but his nerves were still on edge. His eyes darted from face to face, searching for any sign of their pursuers.“I don’t know,” Calvin admitted, his voice low and tense. “They might be blending in, waiting for the right moment. We can’t let our guard down.”Lizzie bit her lip, the fear in her chest tightening. “What do we do now?” she whispered, her voice barely audible over the noise of the city. She could still feel the ghostly presence of their pursuers, even though they were out of sight.Calvin tightened his grip on her, his mind racing. “We need to get off the streets. Find somewhere to hide, at least for a little while. Somewhere crowded, where
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
Calvin's eyes darted across the street, scanning the busy road for a taxi. The bustling nightlife around them offered some cover, but every second they spent out in the open felt like an eternity. His heart raced, pounding in his chest as he spotted a taxi cruising slowly down the road. Without hesitation, he stepped forward, raising his arm to flag it down.The taxi pulled up to the curb, its brakes squealing slightly as it came to a stop. Calvin hurriedly opened the door, gesturing for Lizzie to get in first. “Come on, Lizzie. Quick,” he urged, his voice low but urgent.Lizzie slid into the back seat, her hands trembling as she clutched the edge of the seat. Calvin followed right behind, slamming the door shut with a little too much force. He leaned forward toward the driver, his voice tense but controlled. “Take us to 1129 Crescent Street. It’s a clinic. And please, drive fast.”The taxi driver, a middle-aged man with graying hair and tired eyes, glanced at them through the rearvie
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 first light of dawn filtered through the blinds, casting a soft glow across the clinic's interior, Calvin stirred from his uneasy sleep. He sat up abruptly when he heard the unmistakable sound of a key turning in the front door lock. His heart raced as the tension of the night before surged back to the forefront of his mind. For a brief moment, panic gripped him—had their enemies found them already?He quickly stood up, careful not to disturb Lizzie, who was still resting on the cot. But just as he moved toward the door, it swung open, and to his immense relief, it was not an intruder but Tina, his trusted employee. She stepped into the clinic, her expression one of mild surprise when she saw Calvin already inside."Dr. Hudson?" Tina said, her eyebrows raised in curiosity. "I wasn’t expecting you to be here so early. Did you stay the night?"Calvin let out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding and smiled at Tina. "Good morning, Tina. Yeah, I had some things to take care of
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
As the day wore on, the clinic remained a whirlwind of activity. Calvin, Tina, Lizzie, and the rest of the staff worked seamlessly together, tending to the endless stream of patients. Despite the busy atmosphere, Calvin couldn’t help but feel a growing unease. Something was off.Between examining patients and reviewing charts, Calvin’s sharp eyes began to pick up on small details. A few men had been lingering around the waiting area for too long. They seemed out of place among the sick and injured. While most patients were anxious or impatient, these men appeared unusually calm, their gazes sweeping across the clinic as if they were taking everything in.Calvin’s instincts kicked in, a cold knot forming in his stomach. He made sure not to let his concern show as he moved through the clinic, but his mind was racing. Could these be Han Xin’s men? He had hoped they wouldn’t find them so soon, but perhaps it was inevitable. Trying to push down the rising tension, Calvin focused on finishi