The silence snaps.
BANG.
The entire door shudders violently, metal vibrating through the frame — RATTLE-CLANG! My heart slams against my ribs.
"What the hell was that?!" Medic 1 gasps.
The Tactical Officer whirls toward the entrance. "Contact security. Now."
Medic 2 fumbles for the comm unit — CLICK-STATIC. "Medical Wing Seven requesting immediate—"
BANG.
The second impact is worse. The hinges scream — SKREEECH! Dust trickles from the ceiling.
Serafin's monitor spikes — BEEP-BEEP-BEEP-BEEP!
"Damn it!" the Doctor curses. "His heart rate's accelerating!"
I tighten my grip around Serafin's hand. "Serafin. Look at me."
His eyelids flutter weakly. "Cao…"
"I'm here," I whisper, forcing steadiness into my voice. "Focus on me. Just me."
Another violent slam — BANG! — rattles the entire wall.
Medic 2 stumbles backward. "They're trying to break through!"
"No shit!" the Tactical Officer barks, stepping forward.
Serafin's breathing turns ragged — HHH… HHH… His fingers twitch under mine.
"Stay calm," the Doctor orders urgently. "Stress could kill him."
I snap my head toward him. "Then stop stating the obvious and do something useful!"
CRACK.
A thin fracture splits across the reinforced glass panel.
Medic 1 whispers, pale. "That door is rated for tactical lockdown…"
The Tactical Officer's voice drops low. "Which means whoever's out there is using force."
Serafin weakly grips my fingers. "Cao… don't…"
"Don't what?" My voice trembles despite myself.
"Don't… get hurt…"
A sharp laugh escapes me, brittle. "Too late for that."
BANG!
The fracture spreads — SKRRRRK! — veins of damage racing across the glass.
Medic 2 panics. "We need to move him!"
"No!" the Doctor snaps. "He can't be transported in this state!"
The Tactical Officer turns sharply. "Then contain the threat."
I rise slowly from Serafin's side.
Serafin's eyes widen faintly. "Caoimhe…"
"I'm not hiding," I say quietly.
The Tactical Officer stiffens. "Sit back down. That's an order."
I stare at him.
"I don't take orders when it comes to him."
BANG!
The glass panel explodes inward — SHHHTER-CRASH! Shards scatter across the floor like deadly rain.
Medic 1 screams. "OH MY GOD!"
A dark silhouette steps through the fractured doorway.
Heavy boots — STEP… STEP… STEP…
The air changes instantly. Cold. Predatory.
The Tactical Officer draws his weapon — CLICK! "Freeze!"
The figure doesn't stop.
Serafin's monitor spirals — BEEP-BEEP-BEEP-BEEP-BEEP!
"Serafin," I whisper urgently. "Stay with me."
The intruder tilts their head slightly.
Then—
WHOOSH.
The Tactical Officer is slammed sideways — THUD! — crashing into a medical cart.
Medic 2 shrieks. "WHAT THE FUCK?!"
The Doctor stumbles backward. "Security! SECURITY!"
The intruder moves again — impossibly fast — SWOOSH! Medic 1 collapses — SMACK! — unconscious.
I step in front of Serafin's bed.
My entire body trembles, but my feet refuse to move.
"You're not touching him."
The intruder finally stops.
A distorted voice seeps through the mask — cold, mechanical.
"Step aside."
"No."
Serafin struggles weakly behind me — RUSTLE… HHH… "Cao… run…"
"I'm not running from shit," I mutter.
The Tactical Officer groans from the floor. "You… don't understand… move away…"
"I understand perfectly."
The intruder's voice sharpens. "Final warning."
I glare at the masked face. "You picked the wrong damn room."
A tense pause.
Then—
BLINK.
They're suddenly right in front of me.
I barely register the movement.
A gloved hand grips my throat — GRAB!
Air vanishes.
Serafin's voice tears through the room.
"CAOIMHE!!"
I choke, clawing at the intruder's arm. "You… bastard…"
Their grip tightens.
"Emotional attachments," the intruder murmurs, almost amused. "Always a weakness."
Serafin tries to rise — RUSTLE-CLATTER! — ripping wires free.
The Doctor shouts. "Don't move! You'll kill him!"
"I swear to God—" Serafin growls, voice shaking with fury. "If you touch her—"
The intruder turns their masked gaze toward him.
And for the first time…
They hesitate.
"…Interesting."
My lungs burn.
Vision blurs.
Serafin's voice cracks violently.
"LET. HER. GO."
The monitors explode into chaos — BEEEEEEEEEP-BEEP-BEEP!
Something shifts.
Not in the room.
In Serafin.
The air vibrates — HHHMMMMMMMM…
The lights flicker violently — FLICK-FLICK-FLICK!
The intruder stiffens.
"…Impossible."
Serafin's voice no longer sounds weak.
It no longer sounds human.
"Take. Your. Hand. Off. Her."
The floor trembles.
Machines rattle — KRRRRR…
The intruder slowly loosens their grip.
I collapse to my knees — GASP! — dragging in burning air.
But no one moves.
Because Serafin is standing.
Wires dangling.
Eyes glowing with something unnatural.
And the intruder…
Takes a step back.
For the first time.
In fear.
To be continued...