I raise an eyebrow.
Back? You guys were already here?
Zeke
We were about to pull in, but that’s irrelevant.
Well, that just proves my point.
I huff and change the order to pick up, then finally respond to my father.
“Thanks, Dad. We appreciate it.” I instinctively look around and catch someone staring back at me in the corner of my eye. By the time I can focus, he’s made his way over to the elevator, but a cold chill runs down my spine, calling out to my inner demons. He may be several yards away, but recognition slaps me in the face. My protectiveness claws at my core, begging to unleash hell.
“What is it, Damien?” Mom asks, but I don’t look away.
“That’s Ian. He left with Satori…”
“Are yousurethat’s him?” Dad steps up beside me and looks in the same direction, standing taller and stronger than before, like I am.
“I’m sure.” Darkness falls over me when he presses the button to call for the lift. I step in that direction, only making it a couple of strides, then freeze. This feels off—too easy. Elevators have cameras, and while Satori is a coward, he would never send someone else to finish his business. What hewoulddo, however, is throw his men into the fire to ensure his own success. He'snot stupid, either, but I'm not falling for his tricks again. “He’s a distraction.”
“Get back to them, I’ve got him,” Dad commands, and I split off before I can watch him act. There are two sets of elevators, and the other is located on the opposite side of the hospital. It'll be quicker if I take the stairs back to them, just like I did when I arrived last night, so I veer in that direction. My steps are long and forceful, attempting to make it to the stairs as quickly as possible without drawing attention. Killing him in a hospital and getting away with it is going to be difficult, so there isn’t any room for error.
The moment I step into the stairwell, I take off sprinting, flying up the stairs as if my feet aren’t actually touching them. It’s hard to tell if it’s me making noise or someone else from the harsh echoes, but as I turn the corner to the first floor, I faintly catch a swipe of navy blue a flight above me, rushing up the steps.
Traitor…
They speak to me. Not to hurt me, not to confuse me, but to guide me. They wouldn’t resurface for just anyone, no matter how angry and scared I am in this moment. This is their way of telling methatis Satori. Instead of working against me, they're now a part of me, guiding me in a way that they can still live inside me without sacrificing my sanity.
A surge of dark energy explodes in my chest and quickly makes its way through my veins, shoving me forward faster, running off of nothing but desperation and focus. Once I approach the next corner, I grip the railing and throw myself over, ignoring the way my stomach flips as I land just a few steps behind him.
“Satori!” My voice echoes through the stairwell, making him halt in place. Pressure builds in my chest as I stare at him. If it wasn’t for the voices, I wouldn’t have thought it was him. His hair is longer and disheveled, like he hasn’t washed it inweeks. He wears navy blue scrubs, which is confusing for me until he finally turns around. Blood trails down the front of the top, like it would if he was bleeding from his head. He seems completely unharmed, though, and by the tight fit, I’d say he ended someone’s life to obtain this cover. A badge dangles from the waistband, but it’s facing inward as to hide the identity. I automatically assume that was his plan to gain access to the Labor and Delivery ward without detection.
When he turns completely, I feel nothing but hatred and anger, and I expect him to feel the same emotions when his eyes meet mine…but I don’t. It’s there, but hidden, as if he’s waiting for the perfect moment to unleash his depravity. There's also disappointment, like he didn’t expect to see me, and that tells me only one thing…
I’m not his target.
Ianwaswatching me, but only because he needed to make sure I was going to be out of the way. If it wasmehe wanted, I would’ve been easy to attack once my parents left. There wouldn’t be a need for this elaborate stunt, or to wear this disguise. He wants access to the L&D ward, but not to come for me…
He's after Ashia.
She’s the one that found the evidence and humiliated him in front of everyone. He could’ve potentially sold the idea that I was insane after my kidnapping, but my wife outed him in the most humiliating way. The men didn't turn to him once I was taken because they had her. Every reason he's now an outcast has to do with my wife, and heknowsit.
His eyes narrow the moment he notices I’ve come to that realization, and then he pushes off, darting further up the stairs with murderous intent. I don’t hesitate to follow, managing to catch up at the next landing. My grip finds the back of his shirtand I pull back forcefully, throwing him into the closest wall to take a swing at him with all of my might.
He raises his hand just in time to block me, and that’s when silver glares against the overhead lights. It moves quickly towards my side, barely leaving me enough time to grab his wrist and twist, sending a loud crack through the empty space. He yelps and I throw my head forward, knocking his head back harshly enough to silence him. I swing again, making contact with his jaw, only to be met with a hit of his own. White explodes behind my vision, and then darkness. A swift breeze blows over my neck just before a blast of pain smacks me in the back and shoots down my spine.
I snap my eyes open and drive my elbow down on Satori’s shoulder when he tries to ram me into the wall another time. Then I shove him away and into the opposite wall and reset my stance. He smiles wickedly at me as he wipes the blood from his bottom lip, and then he points his knife at me, despite his now-disfigured wrist.
“Why won’t you die?!” He jabs the knife in my direction, but I square up anyway, despite his advantage. “You’re like a fucking cockroach!”
“I’ll definitely outlive you, mother fucker.”
He lashes out with the knife, aiming for my chest, but I dodge from underneath and rise just as I wrap an arm around his torso. I force him back into the wall in the same way as he did me, when I'm pushed backward, almost thrown. My grip remains firm, bringing him with me, and then we drop, tumbling down the stairs harshly enough to rattle my brain. Everything around us spins and twists, pulsing with every hit of the steps until we smack on the next landing. Pain continues to shoot down my spine, but I fight through it and continue my assault.
We roll again as I force myself on top of him, and all of the anger I've built up comes out in forceful hits. My fist bashes hisface over and over again, not withholding an ounce of strength. Heat flushes me and builds with every punch, then I'm shoved back again when he thrusts his foot into my chest. I use my momentum and roll over my shoulder, bringing me back to my hands and feet.
He lunges the moment he rights himself and I kick out, snapping his knee in two and sending another loud crack through the stairwell. I wrap my arm around his neck before he can scream too loudly, plant my foot on the back of his leg, and pull up, stretching him until he grunts. His arms claw upward at me, but as I squeeze tighter, he sucks in a final breath.
