Chapter 31 - The Needle’s Whisper
Daniel did not hesitate.
He threw his entire body weight against the heavy wooden door, splintering the frame as he crashed into the intensive care unit.
The glass syringe flew from Arthur’s gloved hand, shattering against the polished tile floor.
A pungent chemical stench immediately filled the room as the clear, oily liquid hissed into the sterile air.
"Step away from my wife!" Daniel roared, lunging across the bed and seizing his uncle by the lapels of his white coat.
Arthur did not flinch.
Instead, a chilling, practiced smile spread across the older man's weathered face.
"Always so emotional, Daniel," Arthur whispered, his voice calm and melodic. "Just like your foolish father before you."
Daniel slammed his uncle backward against the wall, rattling the medical monitors.
Emily gasped awake from the violent commotion, her monitors beeping erratically into the quiet room.
"Daniel?" she choked out, her voice trembling and dry.
"Don't move, sweetheart," Daniel said through gritted teeth, pinning Arthur’s neck with his forearm. "Security is on the way."
Arthur let out a soft, mocking chuckle, completely unfazed by the chokehold.
"You think Marcus is still breathing?" Arthur murmured, his eyes glittering under the harsh fluorescent lights. "You think you own this hospital, boy?"
Before Daniel could process the threat, Arthur drove a hidden stun weapon directly into Daniel’s ribcage.
A blinding surge of fifty thousand volts ripped through Daniel’s chest, dropping him instantly to his knees.
The room spun violently as Daniel gasped for oxygen, his muscles locking in agony.
Arthur calmly straightened his collar, stepping over Daniel’s trembling frame toward Emily.
"You were never supposed to survive the altar, little girl," Arthur whispered, reaching into his pocket for a second vial.
Footsteps thundered down the hallway as armed sirens began wailing throughout the hospital wing.
Arthur paused, glanced toward the approaching chaos, and offered Daniel a wicked tilt of his head.
May you like
"Consider this a temporary reprieve, nephew," Arthur said, turning swiftly toward the emergency fire exit.
Daniel dragged himself across the floor, clutching Emily’s trembling hand as Arthur disappeared into the darkness.
