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 with this place. He approached the counter desk, the cool air of the hospital wrapping around him like a vice. The nurse on duty—a young woman with sharp eyes—barely acknowledged him. Her cold stare pierced through him as he grabbed a pen to complete the paperwork. He swallowed. “I’m sorry for earlier,” he murmured. “I was just… worried.” The nurse didn’t respond. Instead, her fingers drummed the desk in a slow, deliberate rhythm. The sound echoed in his ears, oddly methodical, as if she were signaling someone. A sharp ring from the phone cut through the tension. She picked it up without breaking eye contact. “Yes,” she said into the receiver, her voice suddenly devoid of hostility. “Understood.” She set the phone down gently, then turned back to him with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Mr. Walker,” she said sweetly, “a nurse will be with you shortly.” Walker felt the hairs on the back of his neck rise. The abrupt shift in her demeanor rattled him. Had he imagined the hostility from before? Or was she playing a role, adjusting her behavior to whoever was watching? He turned toward Elizabeth’s room. The curtains were drawn, and the machines hummed steadily, filling the space with an eerie sense of normalcy. But it was too normal. Too pristine. Then, something caught his eye. In the reflection of a stainless-steel medical cabinet, he saw a man—a hospital staff member—walk into his wife’s room. But when he turned around, the room was empty. His breath hitched. He saw someone enter. He was sure of it. He approached the door cautiously, pushing it open just enough to peek inside. The only thing out of place was a small, black object resting on the edge of the counter. A pen. It wasn’t there before. Walker picked it up, running his thumb along the cold surface. Engraved along the side was something that made his blood run cold: E-H 401. Elizabeth was in Room 401. He slipped the pen into his pocket. He didn’t know what it meant, but he was sure of one thing—someone had been here, and they wanted him to know it. As he sank into a waiting area chair, Walker’s mind churned. He glanced around at the other patients. The anxious husband pacing back and forth. The elderly man flipping absently through a magazine. The woman cradling a newborn, her face blank. But something was off. The man had been pacing for too long, his steps never faltering. The old man hadn’t turned a page in five minutes. And the woman… the baby in her arms didn’t move. Walker’s throat tightened. It was as if they were planted there, playing their roles, existing just enough to blend in. A door creaked open, breaking his thoughts. “Mr. Walker?” A soft voice called. He turned to see a different nurse approaching. Unlike the others, she radiated warmth. “I’m here to discuss your wife’s treatment plan.” Walker stood, relieved and wary at once. He followed her down a quiet hallway and into a small consultation room. The moment the door shut behind them, her expression shifted. The warmth drained from her face, replaced by something else—urgency. “You need to listen to me,” she whispered, glancing toward the door as if making sure they weren’t being watched. “Your wife is stable, but you need to be careful.” Walker’s heart pounded. “What do you mean?” “You asked too many questions,” she said. “Dr. Graham doesn’t like that.” “I just want to move my wife to another hospital,” Walker said. The nurse’s jaw tensed. “That’s not going to be easy. And if they find out you’re planning it—” She cut herself off, inhaling sharply. Walker leaned forward. “What is this place?” She hesitated. Then, in a voice so quiet it was barely audible, she said: “Not what it seems.” A chill spread through him. The nurse exhaled, composing herself. She grabbed a blank prescription pad, scribbled something quickly, and folded it before handing it to him. “Act normal,” she instructed. “Read this when you’re alone.” Before he could say another word, she stood and opened the door, her professional mask back in place. “Your wife is receiving excellent care,” she said aloud, her voice warm again. “We’ll monitor her closely.” Walker took the note and slipped it into his pocket, his mind spinning. He walked out, his world now teetering on the edge of something far more sinister than he ever imagined. And he had the sinking feeling that he had just crossed a line he couldn’t step back from.Related Chapters
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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,
The shadow in the hospital Echoes of Deceit
Outside the control room, the two officers stepped away from Walker, leaving him leaning weakly against the wall. The sheriff lit a cigarette, exhaling slowly, his brows furrowed in thought.“You buying his story?” the younger cop asked quietly, glancing back at Walker, who was slumped against the wall, staring blankly ahead.The sheriff took another drag, his eyes narrowing. “I don’t know yet,” he muttered, his tone heavy with doubt. “Something doesn’t add up, but…” He trailed off, watching Walker out of the corner of his eye.The younger officer folded his arms, lowering his voice. “Look at him. He’s a mess, but that doesn’t mean he’s telling the truth. That footage didn’t show any Elizabeth, and the nurses… they seem nervous, yeah, but they’re sticking to their story.”The sheriff tapped ash onto the floor, his eyes fixed on the hospital corridor. “Exactly. They’re nervous. Too nervous. Like they’re hiding something.” He turned to his partner, his expression grim. “But what if he r
The shadow in the hospital Through the Eyes of Lies
Footsteps echoed down the hallway. A young man in his forties walked in.The tension in the air thickened as Dr. Graham walked into the room, his confident strides and calm demeanor radiating professionalism. His sharp gray beard glistened under the fluorescent lights, and his eyes flickered briefly to the gathered nurses whispering at the corner. His expression darkened for just a second—just enough to catch the nurses’ attention but not the officers'.The nurses exchanged panicked glances and immediately dispersed, each of them retreating to separate tasks. Walker noticed their sudden movement and felt a flicker of hope. Did Dr. Graham suspect them too?Dr. Graham stretched out a firm hand to the sheriff. “Good day, officers,” he said with a warm smile. “I was informed that you wanted to see me. I’m Dr. Graham.”The sheriff shook his hand firmly. “Yes, Doctor. We’re trying to make sense of some things here.”Dr. Graham’s eyes settled on Walker, his expression softening. “And you mus
The shadow in the hospital The Last Thread of Sanity
Walker’s mind was a foggy battlefield, the fragments of his memory flashing like broken film reels. He gripped his head, trying to piece together what he knew. He remembered the accident—the screech of tires, the collapsing bridge, and Elizabeth’s scream as she called out, “Watch out for the bridge!”“Officer,” Walker said, his voice trembling. “My wife and I… we had an accident.”The sheriff, already irritated from their wasted time at the hospital, turned to him with a scowl. “What accident? What are you talking about now?”Walker’s memories flickered again, his voice trembling as he pointed toward the direction of the bridge. “Close to the bridge. At the end of the road.”The sheriff folded his arms, exchanging an exasperated glance with his younger partner. “This is ridiculous. We just spent hours chasing ghosts at the hospital, and now you’re telling us there’s an accident?”The younger cop smirked, leaning against the patrol car. “What next? UFOs?”Walker fumbled in his pocket a
The shadow in the hospital Beneath the White Coat
Walker slipped into the white overcoat, the fabric cool against his skin. It fit snugly—almost too perfectly—but as he glanced at himself in the reflection of a nearby window, he could see how the coat transformed him. For a brief moment, he looked the part of a doctor. But his heart hammered in his chest.Will they notice? Will they see through me?He adjusted the coat again, pulling the collar higher to obscure more of his face. His mind raced with doubts. If anyone caught him impersonating a doctor, it would all be over. The consequences would be dire—not just for him, but for Elizabeth.He took a step into the corridor, his breathing shallow. The first nurse appeared just ahead, pushing a cart laden with medical supplies. Walker’s stomach churned as she drew closer, her eyes casually scanning the hallway. His mind screamed at him to turn back, to avoid her.But running would draw attention.Just act normal. Keep moving.He lowered his head slightly, gripping the clipboard he had t
Latest Chapter
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
Oscar’s Pursuit
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