The shadow in the hospital

Vanishing point

He turned on his heels and walked out, keeping his pace steady. He wouldn’t give them the satisfaction of seeing his fear.

But outside, his hands shook. His mind reeled.

They had erased Elizabeth.

He waited outside for an hour, pacing near the hospital entrance. His mind raced with possibilities.

They had seen him. That much was certain. If he stormed back in, they would stop him before he even got close.

No, he had to be careful.

He took a deep breath and walked back inside.

The air smelled sterile—too clean, as if it were covering something rotten.

Walker’s pulse thundered in his ears as he crept through the hallway, his steps calculated, his shoulders hunched to blend into the background. He kept his face down, pretending to study his shoes, but his eyes flicked up now and then, scanning the nurses behind the counter. Their chatter continued, oblivious to him—or so he hoped.

He moved with precision, waiting for the perfect moment. The counter was lined with stacks of folders and a glowing monitor. He stole a glance at the screen, but the angle was too sharp to see anything useful. No sudden movements. No missteps. He had to reach the female ward unnoticed.

With a deep breath, Walker slid past the counter and into the dimly lit corridor. The air felt heavier with each step, the oppressive silence amplifying the sound of his own breathing. The ward was just ahead—so close, yet it felt like miles away. His fingers curled into fists as he reached for the curtain.

He hesitated.

Memories of Elizabeth lying there the last time flooded his mind. Her serene face, her faint but steady breathing—it had given him hope. She’s there, he told himself, clinging desperately to the thought. His hand trembled as he pulled the curtain back, the metallic rings scraping softly against the rail.

And there, under the sheets, was a figure.

Walker froze, his breath catching in his throat. Relief washed over him like a tidal wave, almost buckling his knees. His heart pounded wildly in his chest.

“She’s here,” he whispered to himself.

A smile broke through the tension on his face as his eyes filled with tears. He felt a lump rise in his throat, one of pure joy and gratitude.

“Elizabeth...” he whispered, his voice shaky.

The figure lay still, the blanket pulled up to the shoulders. The dim lighting made it difficult to see her features, but the shape beneath the sheets seemed familiar. For a moment, everything else faded. His fear, his doubt—it all dissolved into the overwhelming relief of seeing her again.

“Lizzy... it’s me,” he murmured, his voice tender. “I’m here.”

The figure didn’t move. She didn’t stir or open her eyes to look at him.

Walker stepped closer, his joy faltering slightly as confusion crept in. Why isn’t she responding? Maybe she’s just deeply asleep, he reasoned. He bent closer, his fingers trembling as they reached out to touch her shoulder.

“Hey, Lizzy... I was so worried about you,” he whispered. “Wake up, darling. It’s me.”

The patient didn’t react.

His brow furrowed, and his heart sank a little. Something wasn’t right.

Walker’s hand lingered on her shoulder, the fabric of the sheet cool beneath his fingers. Slowly, he peeled it back just enough to see her face.

What he saw made his blood run cold.

It wasn’t Elizabeth.

The woman beneath the sheets had sunken cheeks and dull, unfamiliar features. Her hair was shorter and darker, her complexion different. Walker blinked, his mind scrambling to process what he was seeing.

“No,” he muttered, shaking his head. His hands trembled as he pulled the sheet further down to see more of her. The shape of her body—the broader shoulders, the unfamiliar hands—it wasn’t her.

The patient stirred slightly, her eyes fluttering open. She blinked at him in confusion. “Who... who are you?” she asked, her voice weak and groggy.

Walker staggered back, his chest heaving as shock and disbelief coursed through him.

“I... I’m sorry... I thought...” His voice cracked. He turned away, pressing a hand to his mouth as he fought back tears. His knees felt weak, his mind spinning.

Where is she?

The walls seemed to close in around him. The realization hit him like a freight train—Elizabeth was gone. Someone had switched her with this woman, and now he had no idea where she was.

He clenched his fists, his breathing ragged. A cold dread crawled up his spine as the pieces began to fall into place.

They’ve taken her.

Walker’s head turned sharply, his eyes darting around the room as if he might spot a clue, a trace of her presence. But there was nothing—no sign of his wife. Only an empty space where she should have been.

And now, he realized, they knew he was looking for her.

Walker staggered back, his mind in turmoil as the patient’s startled cry shattered the silence.

“Who are you? What do you want?” the woman on the bed screamed, clutching the sheets tightly to her chest.

The door burst open, and a nurse rushed in, her face contorted in panic. “What’s going on here?” she demanded.

Walker turned sharply toward her, his face twisted with fury. “Where is Elizabeth?” he roared, his voice echoing through the ward. “Where is my wife? What have you done with her?”

The nurse, flustered, took a step back and shouted, “Call security! Now!”

Walker’s desperation boiled over. He lunged forward, grabbing the nurse by her throat. “Tell me where my wife is!” he bellowed, shaking her slightly. “Where have you taken her?”

The nurse choked, her hands clawing at his grip as she gasped for air. The commotion drew two burly security guards who stormed into the room, their red shirts tucked into black trousers that accentuated their hulking frames. Their muscles rippled with every movement, their faces cold and merciless.

“Let her go!” one of them barked, his voice deep and commanding.

Walker’s grip didn’t loosen. His eyes, wild with desperation, darted between the nurse and the guards. “Not until I see my wife!”

One of the guards stepped forward and grabbed Walker’s arm, his grip like a vice. The other pried Walker’s fingers from the nurse’s throat. With a sudden, forceful pull, they freed her, sending Walker stumbling backward.

“You don’t want to do this,” the guard growled, his tone a mixture of warning and menace.

But Walker wasn’t backing down. He lunged at them, fists swinging, his anger blinding him to the futility of his actions. The guards dodged easily, their movements practiced and efficient.

“Get him out of here!” the nurse yelled, coughing and rubbing her neck.

The guards moved in, grabbing Walker by his arms. He thrashed against their hold, his fury giving him surprising strength. “Where is Elizabeth?” he yelled, his voice cracking with anguish. “Where is she?!”

One guard muttered under his breath as they struggled to restrain him. “This guy’s got some fight in him.”

“Yeah,” the other grunted. “Too bad he’s no match for us.”

Walker twisted violently, managing to free one arm, and swung wildly at the guard on his left. The punch landed, but it was like hitting a brick wall. The guard barely flinched, his lips curling into a smirk.

“Big mistake,” he said darkly.

With a swift, brutal motion, the guard landed a heavy punch on Walker’s cheekbone. The impact sent him reeling, pain radiating down his jaw. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth as he staggered, his vision blurring.

The second guard didn’t wait. He delivered a blow to Walker’s stomach, doubling him over, then a knee to his face that sent him crashing to the floor.

“Stay down, boy,” the first guard growled.

But Walker refused. He pushed himself up, his body trembling, his face bloodied and swollen. “Elizabeth...” he muttered, his voice barely audible.

The guards exchanged a glance, then one of them delivered a final, devastating punch to his lower jaw. Walker collapsed, his body limp, his head hitting the cold floor with a sickening thud.

The guards stood over him, breathing heavily. “That’ll teach him,” one muttered, wiping his hands on his trousers.

“Hey, if I see you here again,” the other added, his voice a low, menacing growl, “I’ll crush you with my little finger. Understand?”

Walker didn’t respond. Blood pooled beneath him, his body twitching slightly as he fought to stay conscious.

The guards left him there, stepping over his battered form without a second glance.

As the world spun around him, Walker pressed a trembling hand to the ground, forcing himself upright. His vision swam, and every breath was agony, but he refused to stay down.

“Elizabeth...” he whispered hoarsely. “I won’t give up. No one will harm you. I promise...”

He stumbled toward the hospital entrance, each step a monumental effort. His body screamed in protest, but his mind was focused on one thing: finding his wife.

Out on the main road, Walker paused, his bloodied face turned toward the hospital. His resolve hardened, the pain sharpening his determination.

“I’ll come back for you, my love,” he muttered through clenched teeth. “This isn’t over.”