The Doctor's Reckoning

Chapter 2: Awakening

Darkness enveloped Joaquin, but the silence was broken by a resonant, ancient voice echoing in his mind.

“Descendant,” it said, calm yet commanding. 

“I am the ancestor of your family, and I have chosen you to inherit my legacy. The abilities I have mastered—medical expertise, martial arts, and more—are now yours. But heed my warning: use these gifts to uphold justice. Stray from the righteous path, and calamity will befall you.”

Joaquin tried to speak, but the words wouldn’t come. He could only listen as the voice continued.

“The gold ring you carry is my vessel. It holds the essence of my power. From now on, it is bound to your soul.”

Suddenly, the ring appeared in his vision, glowing with an intense golden light. It transformed into the shape of a phoenix, its wings spreading wide before soaring toward him. 

Joaquin gasped as it pierced his chest, a burst of warmth flooding his body.

The voice faded, leaving only silence.

When Joaquin opened his eyes, he was on the cold bathroom floor, but something was different. He sat up, flexing his fingers, which had been shattered moments ago. 

“What happened?”

They were healed, the pain gone as if it had never existed. His skin looked healthier, and he felt an unfamiliar surge of strength coursing through him.

He staggered to his feet, his mind racing.

“Was it all real?”

But as he thought, flashes of new knowledge filled his head—medical techniques he’d never learned, martial arts stances he’d never practiced, and a clarity of thought that felt almost superhuman.

The sound of his phone buzzing snapped him back to reality. He pulled it from his pocket, seeing Serena’s name on the screen.

“Get back to the hospital. Now,” she said coldly before ending the call without waiting for a response.

Joaquin sighed. 

Serena Del Mar, the head of surgery, was known for her unyielding demeanor and high standards. She had earned the nickname “Ice Queen” among the staff, and even Joaquin, who admired her, knew she was difficult to please.

Still, her sudden demand unsettled him. Something wasn’t right.

Joaquin walked through the corridors, he noticed the disapproving stares from nurses and colleagues. They whispered as he passed, their disdain evident. 

His stomach churned. He had no idea what he had done to deserve this treatment, but the looks cut deep.

When he arrived at Serena’s office, she didn’t waste time.

“Sit,” she ordered, her voice sharp as ice.

Joaquin obeyed, feeling the weight of her gaze.

“Do you know why you’re here?” she asked.

“No,” Joaquin replied, his voice steady despite the unease growing in his chest.

Serena placed a folder on her desk and slid it toward him. “These are medical records,” she said. “They match your word for word, yet Dr. Alvarez claims they’re his. And Dr. Brown has backed his testimony.”

The accusation hit Joaquin like a blow. “That’s impossible!” he said quickly. “I wrote those records myself. Mikyla can confirm it!”

Serena’s eyes narrowed. “She already has. But not in your favor.”

Joaquin’s breath caught. Mikyla had betrayed him again, this time to protect Andrew.

“How can she do this to me?!” he whispered. 

“Effective immediately,” Serena continued, her tone unyielding, “you are demoted to the role of an orderly. You are forbidden from treating patients until this matter is resolved.”

The words hung in the air, suffocating him. “But I didn’t—”

“I’ve made my decision,” Serena cut him off. “This hospital has no room for misconduct, intentional or otherwise.”

Her coldness left no room for argument. Joaquin stood, his fists clenched and left without another word.

As he walked through the corridors, anger boiled beneath his calm exterior, causing newfound strength to ripple through him.  

Andrew and Mikyla had framed him, taking everything he had worked for. 

“I’ll make you both pay!” he muttered, his voice low but filled with resolve.