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 folders and a glowing monitor. He stole a glance at the screen, but the angle was too sharp to see anything useful. No sudden movements. No missteps. He had to reach the female ward unnoticed. With a deep breath, Walker slid past the counter and into the dimly lit corridor. The air felt heavier with each step, the oppressive silence amplifying the sound of his own breathing. The ward was just ahead—so close, yet it felt like miles away. His fingers curled into fists as he reached for the curtain. He hesitated. Memories of Elizabeth lying there the last time flooded his mind. Her serene face, her faint but steady breathing—it had given him hope. She’s there, he told himself, clinging desperately to the thought. His hand trembled as he pulled the curtain back, the metallic rings scraping softly against the rail. And there, under the sheets, was a figure. Walker froze, his breath catching in his throat. Relief washed over him like a tidal wave, almost buckling his knees. His heart pounded wildly in his chest. “She’s here,” he whispered to himself. A smile broke through the tension on his face as his eyes filled with tears. He felt a lump rise in his throat, one of pure joy and gratitude. “Elizabeth...” he whispered, his voice shaky. The figure lay still, the blanket pulled up to the shoulders. The dim lighting made it difficult to see her features, but the shape beneath the sheets seemed familiar. For a moment, everything else faded. His fear, his doubt—it all dissolved into the overwhelming relief of seeing her again. “Lizzy... it’s me,” he murmured, his voice tender. “I’m here.” The figure didn’t move. She didn’t stir or open her eyes to look at him. Walker stepped closer, his joy faltering slightly as confusion crept in. Why isn’t she responding? Maybe she’s just deeply asleep, he reasoned. He bent closer, his fingers trembling as they reached out to touch her shoulder. “Hey, Lizzy... I was so worried about you,” he whispered. “Wake up, darling. It’s me.” The patient didn’t react. His brow furrowed, and his heart sank a little. Something wasn’t right. Walker’s hand lingered on her shoulder, the fabric of the sheet cool beneath his fingers. Slowly, he peeled it back just enough to see her face. What he saw made his blood run cold. It wasn’t Elizabeth. The woman beneath the sheets had sunken cheeks and dull, unfamiliar features. Her hair was shorter and darker, her complexion different. Walker blinked, his mind scrambling to process what he was seeing. “No,” he muttered, shaking his head. His hands trembled as he pulled the sheet further down to see more of her. The shape of her body—the broader shoulders, the unfamiliar hands—it wasn’t her. The patient stirred slightly, her eyes fluttering open. She blinked at him in confusion. “Who... who are you?” she asked, her voice weak and groggy. Walker staggered back, his chest heaving as shock and disbelief coursed through him. “I... I’m sorry... I thought...” His voice cracked. He turned away, pressing a hand to his mouth as he fought back tears. His knees felt weak, his mind spinning. Where is she? The walls seemed to close in around him. The realization hit him like a freight train—Elizabeth was gone. Someone had switched her with this woman, and now he had no idea where she was. He clenched his fists, his breathing ragged. A cold dread crawled up his spine as the pieces began to fall into place. They’ve taken her. Walker’s head turned sharply, his eyes darting around the room as if he might spot a clue, a trace of her presence. But there was nothing—no sign of his wife. Only an empty space where she should have been. And now, he realized, they knew he was looking for her. Walker staggered back, his mind in turmoil as the patient’s startled cry shattered the silence. “Who are you? What do you want?” the woman on the bed screamed, clutching the sheets tightly to her chest. The door burst open, and a nurse rushed in, her face contorted in panic. “What’s going on here?” she demanded. Walker turned sharply toward her, his face twisted with fury. “Where is Elizabeth?” he roared, his voice echoing through the ward. “Where is my wife? What have you done with her?” The nurse, flustered, took a step back and shouted, “Call security! Now!” Walker’s desperation boiled over. He lunged forward, grabbing the nurse by her throat. “Tell me where my wife is!” he bellowed, shaking her slightly. “Where have you taken her?” The nurse choked, her hands clawing at his grip as she gasped for air. The commotion drew two burly security guards who stormed into the room, their red shirts tucked into black trousers that accentuated their hulking frames. Their muscles rippled with every movement, their faces cold and merciless. “Let her go!” one of them barked, his voice deep and commanding. Walker’s grip didn’t loosen. His eyes, wild with desperation, darted between the nurse and the guards. “Not until I see my wife!” One of the guards stepped forward and grabbed Walker’s arm, his grip like a vice. The other pried Walker’s fingers from the nurse’s throat. With a sudden, forceful pull, they freed her, sending Walker stumbling backward. “You don’t want to do this,” the guard growled, his tone a mixture of warning and menace. But Walker wasn’t backing down. He lunged at them, fists swinging, his anger blinding him to the futility of his actions. The guards dodged easily, their movements practiced and efficient. “Get him out of here!” the nurse yelled, coughing and rubbing her neck. The guards moved in, grabbing Walker by his arms. He thrashed against their hold, his fury giving him surprising strength. “Where is Elizabeth?” he yelled, his voice cracking with anguish. “Where is she?!” One guard muttered under his breath as they struggled to restrain him. “This guy’s got some fight in him.” “Yeah,” the other grunted. “Too bad he’s no match for us.” Walker twisted violently, managing to free one arm, and swung wildly at the guard on his left. The punch landed, but it was like hitting a brick wall. The guard barely flinched, his lips curling into a smirk. “Big mistake,” he said darkly. With a swift, brutal motion, the guard landed a heavy punch on Walker’s cheekbone. The impact sent him reeling, pain radiating down his jaw. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth as he staggered, his vision blurring. The second guard didn’t wait. He delivered a blow to Walker’s stomach, doubling him over, then a knee to his face that sent him crashing to the floor. “Stay down, boy,” the first guard growled. But Walker refused. He pushed himself up, his body trembling, his face bloodied and swollen. “Elizabeth...” he muttered, his voice barely audible. The guards exchanged a glance, then one of them delivered a final, devastating punch to his lower jaw. Walker collapsed, his body limp, his head hitting the cold floor with a sickening thud. The guards stood over him, breathing heavily. “That’ll teach him,” one muttered, wiping his hands on his trousers. “Hey, if I see you here again,” the other added, his voice a low, menacing growl, “I’ll crush you with my little finger. Understand?” Walker didn’t respond. Blood pooled beneath him, his body twitching slightly as he fought to stay conscious. The guards left him there, stepping over his battered form without a second glance. As the world spun around him, Walker pressed a trembling hand to the ground, forcing himself upright. His vision swam, and every breath was agony, but he refused to stay down. “Elizabeth...” he whispered hoarsely. “I won’t give up. No one will harm you. I promise...” He stumbled toward the hospital entrance, each step a monumental effort. His body screamed in protest, but his mind was focused on one thing: finding his wife. Out on the main road, Walker paused, his bloodied face turned toward the hospital. His resolve hardened, the pain sharpening his determination. “I’ll come back for you, my love,” he muttered through clenched teeth. “This isn’t over.”Related Chapters
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
The shadow in the hospital The Nurse Who Wasn’t There
After she disappeared down the hallway, Walker emerged from the room like a shadow peeling away from the wall. He moved with deliberate caution, his breaths shallow, his heart pounding a rhythm he couldn’t control. Every step felt like walking a tightrope over a pit he couldn’t see.He knew he wasn’t wanted here. His instincts screamed at him to retreat, but the pull for answers was stronger than fear. Each step was calculated, his body pressed to the cold, sterile walls. He moved past the CCTV camera mounted near the ceiling, timing his pace to the slow sweep of its lens.The nurse turned a corner ahead, her white uniform disappearing as if swallowed by the fluorescent-lit corridor. Walker paused, pressing his back flat against the wall. He craned his neck to peek around the corner. The hallway was silent, stretching into sterile infinity. No footsteps, no rustling—only the faint hum of the overhead lights.She was gone.His pulse quickened. Had she heard him? Did she know he was fol
The shadow in the hospital The Silent Intruder
The control room was eerily quiet, save for the soft hum of the monitors. Two technicians sat hunched over their stations, sipping lukewarm coffee and scrolling through the countless feeds of the hospital's CCTV system. Most screens showed nothing unusual—empty hallways, closed doors, the occasional nurse moving briskly between rooms. But then, one of the technicians stiffened, his eyes narrowing at a particular screen."Hey, check this out," he said, nudging his colleague.“What?”“That guy.” He pointed at the screen, where a man in a white coat was moving through one of the restricted areas. Room 7C.The other technician squinted at the feed. The man’s movements were deliberate, his eyes darting around as though checking for something—or someone. He pressed his back against the wall at intervals, his posture tense, his head jerking quickly to avoid the cameras as he moved.“That’s… odd,” the second technician muttered, leaning closer. “Looks like he’s avoiding the cameras. Why woul
The shadow in the hospital The Silent Chase
The flat, seamless wall stared back at Walker, mocking him in its silence. He had pressed his hands against it, searching for seams, levers, or any sign of a hidden mechanism, but it refused to yield. The smooth surface was as cold and unyielding as stone. His breath came in shallow bursts, his mind racing.He had swiped the stolen premium card multiple times, angling it in every possible way, but nothing happened. No beep, no light, no movement. The wall remained indifferent, refusing him entry."This has to be it," Walker muttered under his breath, his voice taut with frustration. "Why won't it open?"He stepped back, running a hand through his hair as his eyes scanned the room again. There was nothing—no console, no panel, no sign that this was anything more than an ordinary wall. But he knew better. The nurse had vanished into it, disappearing as though the wall had swallowed her whole.The longer he stood there, the more his nerves began to fray. A thought crept into his mind, un
Latest Chapter
Whispers In The Dark
The cold night air bit into Walker’s skin as he pressed his back against the damp alley wall. The streets were alive with flashing lights—red and blue—casting ghostly hues against the rain-slicked pavement. The cops were still hunting him, and so was Dr. Graham. He was a fugitive with nowhere to run, no safe place to hide. Yet, there was no time to stop, no moment to breathe. Elizabeth was out there somewhere, trapped in the nightmare Graham had created, and Walker had no choice but to chase the next lead, even if it led him straight into hell.His phone vibrated in his pocket. Jett.Walker hesitated before answering. Their last conversation had ended when Dr. Graham’s phone rang, forcing him to drop the payphone to answer the unexpected call. Now, Jett was reaching out again.“You still breathing?” Jett’s voice was tense, hushed.“For now,” Walker muttered.“I’ve got something you need to hear. But we don’t have time for small talk. You in or out?”Walker exhaled slowly, glancing tow
The Hunt Tightens
Dr. Graham never wanted so much attention. The shooting in the hospital had already drawn the police, but the journalists made things worse. They swarmed the entrance, shoving microphones in his face, asking relentless questions. He gave them as little information as possible, spinning the story to his advantage.“A psycho,” he told them. “He stormed the hospital, disturbing everyone. He even shot at the security guards.”The reporters pressed for more details. “What does he want?” one of them asked.Dr. Graham hesitated. Accusing Walker of theft was ridiculous—who steals from a hospital? Instead, he painted him as a dangerous lunatic. “Steve Walker is unstable. He’s a threat to everyone.”Inside, the hospital staff moved with precision under Graham’s orders. Nurses scrubbed every inch of the building, ensuring no trace of the chaos remained. The bodies used for organ harvesting were hastily concealed in a secret enclosure. The tiny refrigerated boxes containing stolen organs were hid
The Vanishing Driver
Ramirez clenched his jaw, his grip tightening on the wheel as he pushed the patrol car to its limit. Rain lashed against the windshield, turning the world into a smear of neon and darkness. The wipers struggled to clear the downpour, their rhythmic squeaks the only sound filling the tense silence between him and Oscar."Damn it!" Ramirez slammed his fist against the wheel, his voice raw with anger. "We had him! We had him right there, Oscar!"Oscar exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "He knew something, Ramirez. He knew what was in that box. That's why he ran.""Of course, he knew!" Ramirez snapped, his knuckles white against the wheel. "And now, he's gone because I hesitated for a damn second."Oscar studied Ramirez, noting the tightness in his shoulders, the barely restrained fury in his expression. Ramirez had always been relentless, but tonight, something deeper was driving him—a pain that went beyond the job, something personal."Look, I get it," Oscar said cautiously. "But beatin
A Deal With The Devil
The night air carried a damp chill as Walker pulled the hood of his jacket tighter around his face. His pulse was steady, but his mind was anything but. He had been careful, erasing his tracks, moving like a ghost through the city. But ghosts still left whispers, and he knew someone—somewhere—was listening.A payphone stood at the corner of a near-empty street, a relic of a time when anonymity was still possible. Now, it was his last chance. He exhaled, his breath misting in the cold, and stepped into the booth. The fluorescent light above flickered erratically, buzzing like an insect trapped behind glass. A bad omen. But there was no turning back.He reached into his pocket, fingers closing around the handful of coins he had scavenged. He fed them into the slot, the mechanical chime of each dropping coin feeling heavier than it should. Then, he dialed.Jett.The name itself carried weight. Jett had been a myth among those who operated in the shadows—a hacker so skilled that even the
The Pursuit Begins
Dr. Graham stood frozen in the dimly lit hospital corridor, his fingers twitching at his sides. The air was thick with the sterile scent of antiseptic, but beneath it, something darker lingered—the stench of failure.Walker was gone.The security team stood before him, their expressions shifting between fear and shame. The sound of heavy breathing filled the silence, broken only by the distant blare of a car alarm outside. It was a taunting reminder of the catastrophe that had just unfolded.Graham’s jaw clenched so tightly it ached.One man. One single man. And yet, despite their numbers, their weapons, and the clear instructions he had given, Walker had managed to slip through their fingers.His voice, when it finally came, was dangerously calm. “Tell me… how.”No one spoke.The guard closest to him—a stocky man with a buzz cut and sweat beading on his forehead—finally swallowed hard. “H-He took a car, sir. Your vehicle. We—we tried to stop him, but he was too fast.”Graham’s nostri
The Trap Tightens
The night air was thick with tension, the cold seeping into Walker’s bones as he hunched low behind a row of parked cars. The distant wail of sirens echoed through the hospital lot, their red-and-blue flashes reflecting off the wet asphalt. His breath came in short, controlled bursts, his mind racing through his next move.He had made it out of the stairwell—barely. The chase had pushed him to the brink, his muscles screaming for relief, but there was no time to rest. His pursuers were still inside, combing the building, but it was only a matter of minutes before they realized where he had gone.The hospital’s main entrance was a no-go. Too many cameras. Too many eyes. He had no phone, no identification, and now, thanks to Dr. Graham’s relentless pursuit, likely no allies left in the city.Walker’s eyes darted to a sleek black sedan parked near the emergency entrance. A hospital badge dangled from the rearview mirror. A doctor’s car, most likely. A quick getaway—if he could get inside
Twelve White Nylons
Late in the night on a slick, rain-drenched road, two patrol cars converged on a dark sedan that had already drawn attention for overspeeding. Officer Ramirez and his partner Officer Oscar moved cautiously toward the vehicle, their flashlights cutting swaths of light through the drizzle. The driver, a young man with a nervous twitch in his eyes, appeared tense as he rolled down his window."License and registration, please," Ramirez said, his tone measured but firm. The young man fumbled briefly before producing the documents with a deliberate slowness. As Ramirez examined them, he couldn’t help but notice the driver's furtive glances—almost as if he was guarding a secret.After noting the papers, Ramirez gestured toward the back of the sedan. "We’d like to take a look inside your boot," he explained. The driver’s eyes flickered momentarily, then he replied coolly, "There’s nothing of interest, officer. Just some white nylons—gifts I’m paid to deliver." His voice carried an unsettling
The Hunt
Walker froze mid-step, his body going rigid as he heard the door to the room he had just left creak open behind him. His heart, already hammering against his ribs, seemed to stop for a second before thundering back to life. They had found him.His instincts screamed at him to run, but his mind raced with conflicting thoughts. He turned sharply, his eyes darting to the elevator ahead. Its metallic doors gleamed under the sterile fluorescent lights, a promise of quick escape—but also a potential death trap. The elevator was too slow. Too confined. If they caught him inside, there would be nowhere to hide, nowhere to fight.His gaze snapped to the stairwell door just a few feet away. His breathing hitched. It was an unknown risk, but one he could control—he hoped. He hesitated for a split second, weighing his options as the sound of boots echoed from behind.The decision was made for him when the door he had just exited burst open. A shadow moved in the periphery of his vision, and Walke
The Silent Chase
The flat, seamless wall stared back at Walker, mocking him in its silence. He had pressed his hands against it, searching for seams, levers, or any sign of a hidden mechanism, but it refused to yield. The smooth surface was as cold and unyielding as stone. His breath came in shallow bursts, his mind racing.He had swiped the stolen premium card multiple times, angling it in every possible way, but nothing happened. No beep, no light, no movement. The wall remained indifferent, refusing him entry."This has to be it," Walker muttered under his breath, his voice taut with frustration. "Why won't it open?"He stepped back, running a hand through his hair as his eyes scanned the room again. There was nothing—no console, no panel, no sign that this was anything more than an ordinary wall. But he knew better. The nurse had vanished into it, disappearing as though the wall had swallowed her whole.The longer he stood there, the more his nerves began to fray. A thought crept into his mind, un