2025-02-07 00:35:38The air was cool, but dark clouds hung low, warning of a storm. The first raindrops hit the windshield, then came the downpour. Walker switched on the wipers, gripping the wheel as the road blurred beneath the hammering rain.
Nothing could ruin this day. He and his wife, Elizabeth, were finally heading to Paris for their honeymoon. “This is going to be the best day of my life,” Elizabeth said, reaching over to stroke his beard before pressing a soft kiss on his cheek. “Oh yeah?” he grinned, keeping his eyes on the road. “I’ve never been to Paris,” she murmured, staring out the window with a dreamy smile. “Neither have I,” he admitted, glancing at her. “I can’t wait to see the Eiffel Tower. It’s so beautiful in pictures.” Walker raised an eyebrow. “Seen it with some ex-boyfriend?” She laughed, swatting his arm. “No! My friend from Romania went on a business trip and sent me pictures.” “Uh-huh,” he teased, reaching over to nudge her. “Bet he’s handsome.” Elizabeth rolled her eyes but couldn’t hide her smile. “You’re impossible.” Walker chuckled, his hand brushing her shoulder. “Keep your eyes on the road!” she scolded playfully. “You know I can’t resist—” Her laughter died. Her eyes widened. “Walker! The bridge—it’s broken!” His stomach dropped. He looked up—too late. The bridge ahead was gone. Only jagged remnants remained. He stomped the brakes. The tires screeched. The car spun, skidding across the slick road. For a heartbeat, they were weightless. Then— Impact. Metal crunched. The world turned upside down. Silence. Walker gasped awake, the sting in his leg sharp, but the pain in his chest sharper. He turned—Elizabeth. She was still. Her eyes closed. “Elizabeth?” His voice cracked. He struggled, shattered the window with his elbow, then crawled out and limped to her side. “Baby, wake up.” His trembling hands cupped her face, feeling for breath. She was alive—but barely. A bruise bloomed across her forehead. “Help! Someone help us!” Walker shouted into the empty night, but the rain swallowed his cries. He turned to the bridge, his stomach twisting. They had stopped mere feet from the edge. One more second… Desperation took over. He stumbled toward the riverbank, filled a bottle, and rushed back. Gently, he poured water over her face. “Come on, Lizzy, wake up. Please.” She stirred. A weak groan. His heart soared. “Elizabeth?” He held her close, relief flooding through him. Then—she coughed violently. Blood spewed from her mouth. Walker flinched. His pulse roared in his ears. “No, no, no,” he muttered, lowering her gently. He sprinted to the car, snatched her purse, found her handkerchief, and pressed it to her lips. Blood seeped through instantly. He pressed harder. It wouldn’t stop. Panic surged. His hands shook. His mind raced. Santander Maternity Hospital—2 kilometers away. Walker swallowed hard. Their flight was in thirty minutes. Instead, they were stranded in the cold rain, drowning in misfortune. With a grunt, he scooped Elizabeth into his arms. The rain drenched them both as he staggered forward. Every step felt heavier. His arms ached. His body screamed for rest, but he refused to stop. Elizabeth’s breathing slowed. Her skin turned cold. His chest tightened. “Honey, I won’t lose you,” he whispered, but she didn’t answer. His breath hitched. “What have I done?” Elizabeth’s beautiful eyes—the ones that once sparkled with laughter—were fading. “No. No, no, no—Elizabeth! Not now!” His voice broke, a raw cry against the storm. Walker had seen death before. He had faced worse situations. But never had he felt this helpless. Tears burned his eyes as he hoisted her up again, ignoring the pain slicing through his shoulder. The rain had stopped, but the cold still clung to him like a second skin. The road stretched ahead, empty, silent, suffocating. Then—something moved. A rustle in the bushes. Shadows shifting. Watching. Walker’s breath hitched. "Keep it together," he muttered, voice hoarse. Elizabeth’s head lolled against him, her lips tinged blue. “Say something, Lizzy. Anything,” he begged. “Don’t you dare leave me like this.” No response. His pulse pounded in his ears. Then—through the darkness, a flickering light. His heart leaped. Hope. Or something else?
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The shadow in the hospital Strange
"Hold on, Lizzy. I see it! We’re gonna make it!” Walker’s voice wavered, but he forced confidence into it. His legs trembled beneath Elizabeth’s weight, his breath ragged. The light ahead belonged to an old hospital—if it could still be called that. The building loomed in the darkness, its walls cracked and worn, windows shattered like forgotten memories. Peeling paint curled from the surface like dead skin. But Walker didn’t care. Help was inside. It had to be. He stumbled forward, nearly collapsing against the rusted barbed wire fence surrounding the hospital. His strength was gone, his arms numb, but he held on—held onto her. “Help! Somebody, please!” he screamed, his voice raw. Silence. Rain dripped from the eaves, the only sound in the empty night. Then— A faint groan. Walker’s heart lurched. He almost dropped Elizabeth in shock. It was the first sound she’d made in over an hour. “Lizzy?” His grip tightened. “Did you hear me? We’re here, baby! Stay with me!” No respon
The shadow in the hospital Something is wrong
Walker stood in the long line, shifting his weight from one leg to the other. Every breath he took felt heavier. His bruises throbbed, his limbs ached, and his mind was on the verge of shutting down. But he couldn’t afford to rest. His eyes darted around, scanning the nurses moving between counters. The place felt too quiet. Too controlled. He clenched his fists, trying to stay focused. He needed a patient card for Elizabeth—nothing else mattered. Then, just as it was almost his turn, a nurse in white scrubs walked briskly to the counter. She leaned in and whispered something to the nurse handing out cards. She glanced at him. Walker’s stomach twisted. The counter nurse nodded, and without hesitation, she waved him forward. “Sir, please come here,” she called out. Walker hesitated. Why was he being pulled out of line? He glanced behind him. The other people waiting exchanged murmurs, their eyes narrowing in quiet disapproval. “Don’t worry about them,” the nurse said, her voic
The shadow in the hospital The Doctor
Walker sat by Elizabeth’s side, gripping her hand as if letting go would shatter her completely. Her fingers trembled weakly in his grasp. Her lips parted, but her voice barely emerged. "They… they’re hiding… something…" Walker stiffened. "What?" he whispered, leaning in. "Lizzy, what are you talking about?" Her breath was shallow, her gaze unfocused yet terrified. Dr. Graham adjusted one of the machines, his movements precise—too precise. Walker’s eyes snapped to him. "What is she talking about?" Dr. Graham smiled, but it felt… wrong. Too measured. Rehearsed. "She’s disoriented," he said smoothly. "Not uncommon after severe blood loss." Walker’s grip tightened on Elizabeth’s hand. She wasn’t just delirious. She was afraid. Dr. Graham’s voice cut through his thoughts. "Your wife is unstable, but we’re doing everything we can." Then why did it feel like a bad dream? Nothing added up. "Stress can make things seem worse than they are," Dr. Graham continued, his tone too sooth
The shadow in the hospital Things not normal
Two days ago, he was a husband excited for the future. Now, he was a man trapped in a hospital filled with secrets. “Take this form and fill the rest of it,” Dr. Graham said, handing him a clipboard. “And sign here first.” Walker hesitated before taking the pen. The way Dr. Graham’s gaze lingered on him sent an uneasy chill down his spine. Something about the doctor’s demeanor felt too controlled—like he was carefully curating his every word and movement. Walker scrawled his signature. “Once you’re done, submit it to the nurse at the counter,” Dr. Graham added before storming off toward his office without another word. Walker’s gut twisted as he watched him disappear through a restricted door marked AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY. For a fleeting moment, the door remained slightly ajar, revealing a dimly lit hallway beyond. Walker swore he saw someone—a shadowy figure standing just out of sight. But before he could process it, the door clicked shut. Something was definitely wrong wit
The shadow in the hospital Spying
Walker was in a trance. The world around him blurred, fading into something nightmarish. He stood frozen, watching in horror as Dr. Graham, the esteemed surgeon, cut into his wife’s belly. The scalpel gleamed under the surgical light, slicing through skin with eerie precision. Then—something unnatural happened. The doctor reached inside and pulled out a grotesque, pulsing mass, slipping it into a small, black box. Walker tried to scream. Tried to move. But he was locked behind a door, the small 15 by 15 centimeter window his only view into this twisted reality. He pounded on the glass, his breath fogging it up, but no one turned. No one heard him. The air reeked of antiseptic, but underneath, something foul seeped in—a scent he couldn’t name, something rotting beneath the surface of this hospital. Then— the vision shattered. Walker gasped, jolting awake, drenched in sweat. His pulse pounded against his skull like a hammer. It was just a trance. A nightmare. But it felt too real.
The shadow in the hospital Erased Lives, Hidden Truths
Walker wasn’t surprised by the shift in their demeanor.They had seen him.And now, they would do everything in their power to silence him.A nurse—one he didn’t recognize—stood at the counter, her gaze cold and detached."Sir, may I know who you are?"The question sent a chill through him. They were pretending he didn’t exist.He forced a smile, though his nerves were unraveling. “I’ve been here since last night. This is my card. But…why are you asking?”She barely looked at it. “Sir, if you don’t adhere to hospital policy, I suggest you leave.”Walker gritted his teeth. “You should know me. I brought in a woman last night. My wife—Elizabeth.”For the first time, her expression shifted. A slight furrow of her brow. Then, as if catching herself, she straightened and dismissed him."Next in line."A woman pushed past him, stepping up to the counter. Her features were unsettling—deeply sunken eyes, heavy lids nearly concealing her pupils. She had the look of someone who had seen too muc
The shadow in the hospital Vanishing point
He turned on his heels and walked out, keeping his pace steady. He wouldn’t give them the satisfaction of seeing his fear. But outside, his hands shook. His mind reeled. They had erased Elizabeth. He waited outside for an hour, pacing near the hospital entrance. His mind raced with possibilities. They had seen him. That much was certain. If he stormed back in, they would stop him before he even got close. No, he had to be careful. He took a deep breath and walked back inside. The air smelled sterile—too clean, as if it were covering something rotten. Walker’s pulse thundered in his ears as he crept through the hallway, his steps calculated, his shoulders hunched to blend into the background. He kept his face down, pretending to study his shoes, but his eyes flicked up now and then, scanning the nurses behind the counter. Their chatter continued, oblivious to him—or so he hoped. He moved with precision, waiting for the perfect moment. The counter was lined with stacks of folde
The shadow in the hospital Whispers of Deception
Siren lights painted the dim road as the wailing sound of a police van grew louder, rushing toward the hospital. Walker, battered and staggering aimlessly, barely registered the approaching vehicle. Blood trickled from his swollen lips, and his vision blurred with each step.The van screeched to a halt just ahead of him. The cops inside had spotted him, his bruised face and disoriented demeanor impossible to ignore.“Pull over,” one of them said sharply, his eyes narrowing as he studied Walker’s battered frame.The door swung open, and two officers stepped out. Their boots crunched against the gravel as they approached him cautiously.“Hey, sir!” the older officer called out, his hand resting on his holstered weapon. “Are you okay? What happened to you?”Walker barely lifted his head. The pain in his cheek and jaw made it difficult to move, let alone speak. His lips quivered as he tried to form words.“Hoshitu,” he mumbled, the sound garbled and weak.The officers exchanged a glance,
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A deal below the belt
The wind howled through the dense thicket, rustling the overgrown shrubs that concealed the entrance to Jett’s hideout. He moved swiftly through the darkness, his breath steady despite the chaos raging inside his mind. The meeting had gone south. He had signed a deal with the Crocs—one he had no choice but to accept. They had set him free after his capture, but at a cost. Now, he was bound to a contract that turned his skills against the very people he once sought to protect. He had never been a saint, but at least he had wielded his knowledge on his own terms. Now, his will was no longer his own.He reached the mouth of the cave, crouching behind a thick trunk, scanning the surroundings. He never entered without ensuring he wasn’t followed. The Crocs had him in their grip, and he knew better than to underestimate their reach. The cave was well hidden, deep in the forest where few dared to venture. Wild vines snaked over its rocky exterior, masking the entrance like nature’s own fortr
Impromptu Visit
The blaring horn of a truck shattered the quiet of the hidden apartment complex, sending a ripple of tension through Walker’s chest. His grip on the bottle he was holding tightened instinctively. His hidden apartment was not the kind of place where people paid casual visits. He stood, moving toward the window, and peered out through the blinds.Svet.The old truck driver climbed down from his truck, a large box in his hands. A gift. Walker didn’t move at first. He just stood there, watching. There was something about Svet that never sat right with him. He had saved Walker’s wife in a moment of crisis, and for that, Walker was grateful. But ever since then, Svet had been lingering too close, weaving himself into their lives. Walker had been trained to be cautious, and something about the man didn’t add up.The way Svet had pulled rank at the Daad Intercontinental Supermarket had been unsettling. One moment, a manager was embarrassing Walker, the next, Svet had shut her down with a few
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The cab ride home was silent, the only sounds coming from the city as it blurred past the windows. Oscar leaned against the seat, his face pale from the blood loss. His wife, seated beside him, reached for his hand, her grip firm yet trembling. She didn’t say a word, but the worry in her eyes spoke volumes.When they arrived, she helped him out of the car, her movements swift but cautious. His legs nearly buckled beneath him, and he gritted his teeth, pushing through the pain as she supported him toward the house. The Bolt driver waited as she guided Oscar through the door before hurrying back to the car. She had to retrieve the vehicle she had left at the mall to throw off any potential followers. Their movements were calculated, deliberate. They couldn’t afford mistakes.Oscar staggered inside, his breath shallow as he made it to their bedroom. His wife helped him ease onto the bed, carefully positioning him against the pillows. Every inch of his body ached, the pain radiating from
You kept Us Waiting Forever
Walker stepped out of the hospital with Elizabeth by his side, exhaustion clinging to him like a second skin. The air outside was cool, a welcome contrast to the stifling, antiseptic scent of the hospital corridors he had been trapped in for two days. His wife had given birth, but complications had delayed their discharge. The past forty-eight hours had been a blur of worry, sleepless nights, and hushed conversations with doctors.Walker had barely slept, his rest shallow and uneasy—like that of a security dog on duty. One eye closed, the other open, always alert. Elizabeth had pleaded with him to rest."Walker, please. Just three hours. I'll be fine. The nurses are here. The baby is safe."But he had shaken his head, exhaustion heavy in his bones. "I can't, Liz. I need to be here. What if something happens? I won't forgive myself.""And what if you collapse? What good will that do?" she had argued, frustration edging her voice. "I need you strong, not running on fumes."But he had
The reconnection
The car screeched to a halt. Jett barely felt the force of the stop—his body was too battered, too numb to register anything but exhaustion. The doors unlocked with a mechanical click, and one of the men in the front seat turned around, his cold, dead eyes drilling into Jett’s.“Get out.”Jett didn’t need to be told twice. He pushed the door open, dragging himself onto the pavement, his legs wobbling beneath him. He felt the weight of eyes on his back as he staggered forward, nearly falling but catching himself at the last moment. The car didn’t linger. It roared off into the night, leaving behind nothing but the acrid smell of burning rubber.He forced himself toward his apartment, each step a reminder of what he had just survived. His ribs jutted out beneath his torn shirt—he hadn't eaten real food in days. His body was an empty shell, but his mind… his mind was a storm.Jett fumbled with the key, his fingers trembling as he jammed it into the lock. The door creaked open, and he all
The Reckoning at Daad Intercontinental Supermarket
Walker stepped out of the supermarket, his arms laden with the items he had picked up for his wife in the hospital. The revolving glass doors whispered shut behind him as the cool evening breeze brushed against his face. He still couldn't wrap his head around the turn of events—one moment, he was just another customer; the next, he was humiliated, then compensated, and now, walking away with unpaid-for goods. It didn’t sit right with him, but Svet had insisted.Just as he exhaled, trying to clear his thoughts, he heard hurried footsteps behind him. A feeling of unease crept up his spine. Someone was following him.He stopped and turned.There she was.The same woman who had falsely accused him earlier, standing a short distance away, hands trembling, rubbing them together in a nervous plea. Her lips quivered, and tears streamed down her face.Walker’s expression darkened. His fingers clenched around the grocery bag."You again?" His voice was cold, edged with suspicion. "If you’re her
Final Wreck for his courage
The entire police department was in chaos.A cop had been beaten, humiliated, and left for dead in the middle of the street. The video was everywhere—circulating online, played repeatedly on news channels, dissected frame by frame by both law enforcement and the public. The image of Officer Oscar struggling, then collapsing, played like a stain on the department’s reputation.A prisoner had escaped, not just slipping through their fingers but taking a patrol car and making a mockery of them. It was a slap to the face.Inside the precinct, tempers flared.“We have checkpoints all over the city, CCTV surveillance, and an entire force dedicated to tracking this guy down!” Ramirez slammed a file onto the desk. “And yet, nothing?!”Another officer, jaws clenched, shook his head. “He’s like a damn ghost. We traced the patrol car—found it abandoned near an uncompleted building. No fingerprints, no leads, nothing.”The NYPD’s higher-ups were livid. The escapee’s face was everywhere, plastered
Looks like you owe this man an apology
The security office was dimly lit, the air thick with the scent of coffee and stale authority. Walker sat in the interrogation room, his wrists still stinging from the tight handcuffs. His jaw clenched as he watched the security officers whisper among themselves, throwing him the occasional glance like he was some street rat caught in the wrong place.Outside, in the loading bay of Daad Intercontinental Supermarket, a massive steel door groaned open—the supplier's entrance, a passage reserved for trucks delivering goods straight from the seaport and airport. Svet had just finished his delivery.He stepped down from his truck, stretching his back with a groan before heading toward the security department to finalize his clearance. He wasn’t in a hurry. His work here was done, and all that remained was getting the final stamp on his delivery papers before driving off.Whistling softly, he knocked once on the security office door, then pushed it open.Inside, he slid in casually, humming
No One Is Coming For You
Jett jerked awake to the sharp sting of ice-cold water slamming against his face. His body convulsed from the shock, lungs seizing as the freezing liquid soaked into his torn clothes. The world was a blur—shadows moving, voices laughing, his breath coming in ragged gasps.Then, the fist came.A brutal strike to the ribs. Then another. Jett groaned, head lolling forward, but the pain snapped him awake. His wrists burned from the ropes cutting into them, his legs bound so tight he could barely feel them anymore.A boot slammed into his gut.He would’ve doubled over, but the ropes held him upright."That woke him up," one of the guards sneered, rolling his shoulders. The red scarf around his neck was stained with dried blood—maybe his, maybe someone else’s. Didn’t matter. These men didn’t care.Jett spat blood onto the floor.The laughter around him was casual, like they were playing cards instead of torturing a man. He could barely lift his head, but he caught glimpses—rifles slung lazi
