The confrontation in the hospital lobby was not a private affair. Dr. Vane had waited until the shift change, ensuring a full audience of nurses and interns. He stepped into Felix’s path, his voice carrying with calculated authority.
"The facts are simple, Director," Vane said, turning his back on Felix to address Dr. Aris. "Felix was the only one on duty in this sector last night. He was the one obsessed with the Sterling file. If that body isn’t found, our hospital’s image—and our accreditation—is ruined. It’s on his head."
Felix felt the heat of a dozen stares. "I didn't move that body, Vane. You were in my office last night. You saw me working!"
"I saw you acting erratic, Felix," Vane countered, his eyes glinting with malice.
Director Aris didn't look up from his watch. "Felix, I don't care about the 'how' right now. I care about the 'where.' You have exactly twenty-four hours to find Mr. Sterling. If you fail, you will lose your medical license and face criminal charges for the desecration of a corpse. Get to work."
Desperate and feeling the walls close in, Felix retreated to the morgue. He knew he was being framed, but he needed proof. He began to examine the room with the precision of a surgeon, looking for anything out of place. While leaning against a heavy industrial shelf to catch his breath, he felt it—a sharp, icy draft hitting the back of his neck.
"There's no ventilation on this wall," he whispered.
With a grunt of effort, he shoved the metal shelving aside. The screech of steel on tile echoed in the empty room, revealing a rusted, iron-heavy door. It shouldn't have been there. It led to Ward 13—the "Old Wing"—a section of St. Jude’s that had been sealed and forgotten after a catastrophic fire twenty years ago.
Felix grabbed a heavy flashlight and pulled the handle. The hinges groaned like a dying animal, and as the door swung open, the smell of ancient soot and damp rot filled his lungs. He stepped over the threshold, leaving the modern world behind for a tomb of ash.
(θ‿θ)(◕ᴗ◕✿)(ʘᴗʘ✿)(人 •͈ᴗ•͈)(人 •͈ᴗ•͈)(☆▽☆)(≧▽≦)( ╹▽╹ )(☆▽☆)( ╹▽╹ )(☆▽☆)( ╹▽╹ )(☆▽☆)(≧▽≦)(☆▽☆)(≧▽≦)(☆▽☆)(ㆁωㆁ)( ╹▽╹ )( ╹▽╹ )<(￣︶￣)>ಡ ͜ ʖ ಡ<(￣︶￣)>ಡ ͜ ʖ ಡ<(￣︶￣)>ಡ ͜ ʖ ಡ<(￣︶￣)>(☆▽☆)ಡ ͜ ʖ ಡ( ╹▽╹ )(☆▽☆)( ╹▽╹ )(☆▽☆)(☆▽☆)( ╹▽╹ )( ╹▽╹ )(☆▽☆)
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