Johnathan Kells shifted restlessly, growing more irritated by the second. He felt like he was being interrogated, and it was quickly wearing on his nerves. With clenched teeth, he yanked the machines from his body and stood up, his voice laced with frustration. “Where’s Jarvis Grave? I need to speak to him, because I’m not going to sit here and be harassed by… someone like you. A self-proclaimed healer who thinks waving needles makes him God.” Unfazed, Leon let out a low chuckle. “Those words are coming from a place of fear, and that’s why you can't admit it. Jarvis isn't gonna help you here, so I suggest you to tell me the source of why you've been a dead man walking.” Johnathan shook his head violently. “I’m not telling you anything because there’s nothing to tell! I’m not some ‘dead man walking.’ Whatever you saw after examining me… maybe the equipment you used is just malfunctioning. Maybe it’s a fluke.” Leon couldn’t suppress another chuckle, clearly amused. “I don’t need

Leon stood still, eyes fixed on Johnathan’s body lying lifeless on the floor of the clinic ward. His mind was spinning. His brain tried to piece together what just happened, but it was like grasping smoke. ‘Something killed him…’ the thought echoed through Leon’s mind like a slow tolling bell. He watched as Johnathan’s skin lost every bit of color, his features hollowing unnaturally fast. His body stiffened, rigor mortis setting in much too quickly. It looked like he’d been dead for months, not minutes. Just then, the door slammed open and Jarvis and Dante stepped in, both stopping short at the sight in front of them. “Oh my God!” Dante gasped, his voice laced with disbelief and horror. “He’s dead! He’s…” His words stumbled as his eyes locked onto the body. “Damn, he’s…” he trailed off, unable to finish the sentence. Whatever he was about to say got caught in his throat. “He was a dead man walking,” Leon said flatly, his eyes still locked on the corpse. His mind was elsewhere, tu

Ethan’s eyes widened in pure disbelief at the figure that stepped through the entrance.Diane.She walked in slowly, calmly, her heels echoing against the metal floor. There was a faint smile on her lips, one that didn’t quite reach her eyes.“Well,” she said smoothly, “surprise to see me, Ethan?”Ethan’s expression twisted into rage. Even with the gag still in place, the hatred in his eyes was unmistakable.Diane tilted her head and sighed dramatically, clearly unimpressed by the fury in his stare. She walked over to him, crouched slightly, and began to untie the cloth from around his mouth.The second it dropped, Ethan spat out his words like venom. “You bitch!” he barked, eyes blazing with fury.Diane didn’t flinch. In fact, she just scoffed.“Relax, Ethan,” she said coolly. “I brought you here for a reason.”Ethan yanked against the ropes binding him, his face flushed with fury. “And what kind of stupid reason involves kidnapping me and tying me up?!” he shouted. “I swear, when I

He took a step closer, towering over her as he continued, “Now think about this, if I decided to report this little stunt to the police, I could easily make these men back me up. Imagine the headlines: daughter of a known criminal caught committing a felony. Your father’s reputation is already in the gutter. Add yours to it, and you’ll be finished. You’ll be lucky if you can ever show your face in public again.”Tears welled up in Diane’s eyes, and she shook her head desperately, her entire body trembling. “Please… I just wanted to know the truth about Dana’s death!” she cried out, her voice breaking under the weight of her fear.Ethan smirked cruelly, folding his arms again. “Dana’s death? That was over a year ago. Why are you digging up something that should stay buried and rotten?” he said, his tone dripping with condescension. “Face it, Diane. You set a trap and ended up falling into it yourself. That’s so stupid.”Diane’s face crumpled as her fear turned into full-blown sobs. Her