The emergency lights flicker—FLICK… FLICK…—casting the room in harsh, uneven shadows. The monitor's pulse—BEEP… BEEP…—feels like a countdown, each beat faster than the last.
I hover over Serafin, brushing damp hair from his forehead. "Stay with me. Don't even think about leaving me."
His fingers twitch weakly—CLENCH—and I press my palm over them. "Good… that's it… just breathe… stay with me."
The medic adjusts the IV—HISS—and whispers nervously, "His vitals are unstable. One wrong move—"
"I know!" I snap. "I've been here for every move, every second! Nothing happens without me noticing!"
The tactical officer shifts—STEP… STEP…—arms crossed, face tight. "Your presence is a liability. Emotion could destabilize him further."
I glare. "Emotion is the only thing keeping him alive right now!"
Serafin groans—GROAN—weakly lifting his hand. "Cao… here…"
"I'm here," I whisper fiercely. "Always. Don't you dare leave me now."
The doctor steps forward—CLICK—his gaze sweeping over the monitors. "He's critical. Any additional stress, and he could collapse again."
I tighten my grip. "Then we minimize stress my way, not by your detached protocols. I'm not leaving him."
Footsteps echo from the corridor—STEP… STEP… STEP…—purposeful, deliberate. The tactical officer stiffens.
I press closer to Serafin. "Someone's coming. But I'm not letting them take him. Not today."
The medic hisses—HISS—checking the oxygen line. "We should prepare for a transfer—"
"No," I snap. "Not until he's stable enough. Not until I say."
Serafin murmurs—rasping—"Cao… danger…"
"I know," I whisper, brushing his hair from his forehead. "I feel it too. But you stay with me. I've got you."
The monitor beeps faster—BEEP… BEEP… BEEP…—and my stomach tightens.
A sudden RATTLE at the door makes my head snap toward it. Shadows twist across the wall as the handle jiggles—RATTLE… RATTLE….
"Who's there?" the tactical officer demands.
No answer. Only silence. And then a faint whisper of movement—SHUFFLE…—from beyond the door.
I grip Serafin's hand tighter. "Stay down. Don't move."
The doctor mutters, "This is highly irregular… someone shouldn't be here—"
Before he can finish, a metallic CLANG echoes from the hall, followed by another—CLANG… CLANG…—like someone is forcing their way closer.
"Get down!" I hiss, pressing my body over Serafin's, shielding him.
The door rattles again—RATTLE… RATTLE…—then silence.
Footsteps return—STEP… STEP… STEP…—slower now, deliberate. The shadow of the intruder stretches into the red glow from the emergency lights.
Serafin whispers faintly—rasping—"Cao… fight…"
"I am," I growl. "I'm fighting for both of us."
The tactical officer signals to the medics. "Stand ready. Contain if necessary."
I press my forehead against Serafin's temple. "Stay with me. No matter what comes through that door… stay with me."
The monitor beeps—BEEP… BEEP… BEEP…—each pulse louder, sharper, echoing like a warning.
A shadow moves past the doorway—SHUFFLE…—and the temperature in the room drops. Every nerve in my body screams danger.
I whisper in Serafin's ear, "Whatever happens… I won't leave you. Not now. Not ever."
The intruder pauses just beyond the door—THUMP… THUMP…—then disappears from sight, leaving a tense, suffocating silence.
The doctor exhales slowly. "That was… unexpected."
"I don't need 'unexpected,'" I snap, gripping Serafin's hand tighter. "I need him alive. And I'll make sure he stays that way."
Footsteps retreat—STEP… STEP…—but the echo lingers. The rattling continues faintly—RATTLE…—as if the facility itself is warning us.
I press my hand to Serafin's chest, feeling his pulse. "Stay with me… don't even think about leaving me now…"
The monitor continues its steady beat—BEEP… BEEP…—but I know calm is only temporary.
Because whatever just passed the door… isn't gone.
And it's only a matter of time before it returns.
To be continued...