The hospital lights flickered faintly as Emilia returned to her office, her mind still swirling with everything Lestrade had said. The idea that Lucian was deliberately manipulating her, pulling her into some kind of twisted web, was unsettling, to say the least. But it wasn’t just fear that was gnawing at her—it was curiosity. What did he want from her, and why her, specifically?
She sat down at her desk, flipping open Lucian’s file. His medical history was sparse, no real clues to his past other than the brutal injuries he had sustained. There were no records of prior hospital visits, no mention of any family, no hint of a life outside of his alleged criminal activities. It was as if Lucian Dvorak had appeared out of nowhere.
Her phone buzzed, pulling her out of her thoughts. She glanced at the screen—Inspector Lestrade.
Reluctantly, Emilia answered. “Inspector.”
“Dr. Navarro, I’ve just received some updates on Lucian Dvorak’s case,” Lestrade said, her voice direct as always. “We need to talk, and it can’t wait.”
“Now? I’m still at the hospital,” Emilia replied, rubbing her temple. “Can this wait until tomorrow?”
“Unfortunately, no.” Lestrade’s tone was flat, leaving no room for debate. “There’s something you need to know—something important.”
Emilia let out a small sigh, realizing she didn’t have much of a choice. “Fine. I’ll meet you in the staff break room in ten minutes.”
She hung up and stood, gathering her thoughts. Whatever Lestrade had to say, it wouldn’t be good. But Emilia was already in too deep to walk away now.
In the dimly lit break room, Emilia paced the floor, her nerves on edge. Lestrade entered a few moments later, her coat still damp from the light drizzle outside. She didn’t bother with pleasantries, cutting straight to the point.
“Lucian’s history is more complex than we thought,” Lestrade said, dropping a thick file onto the table. “I had some of my people dig deeper into his background. Turns out, there’s more to him than just a string of crimes.”
Emilia raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”
Lestrade flipped open the file, revealing a series of grainy photos and police reports. “Lucian Dvorak has ties to several underground organizations, but that’s not the interesting part. He’s been connected to people who... vanish.”
Emilia frowned. “Vanishing how? You mean they disappear without a trace?”
“Exactly,” Lestrade replied, her eyes narrowing. “Over the past five years, everyone who gets close to him—associates, rivals, even family—has disappeared. No bodies, no evidence, nothing. It’s as if they were erased.”
Emilia’s heart skipped a beat. “Erased? You think Lucian had something to do with it?”
“I don’t think,” Lestrade said, leaning forward. “I know. Every time someone gets too involved with him, they disappear. And now, Doctor, he’s involved with you.”
The gravity of Lestrade’s words hung in the air, the silence thick between them.
“But I’m just his doctor,” Emilia said, her voice quieter now. “I’m not involved in whatever... this is.”
Lestrade’s gaze softened, just slightly. “That may be true now. But Lucian doesn’t just pick people at random. He chooses them for a reason. You said he knew your name before you introduced yourself. That’s no coincidence.”
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Emilia swallowed, her throat suddenly dry. “What are you saying, Inspector?”
“I’m saying you need to be very careful. Lucian’s playing a long game, and you’re part of it now, whether you like it or not. We need to figure out why he’s fixated on you.”
Emilia let out a shaky breath, her mind racing. “And if we can’t figure that out?”
Lestrade’s face darkened. “Then you need to protect yourself. Don’t let him pull you in deeper.”
Emilia stood there for a moment, processing everything. She wanted to believe that this was all just paranoia, that Lucian was just another criminal. But something inside her told her that Lestrade was right. Lucian wasn’t done with her yet.
“Is there anything else you found?” Emilia asked, her voice steadier now, though the fear still lingered beneath her skin.
Lestrade nodded and flipped through the file again, pulling out a photo of a younger Lucian, maybe in his early twenties. He looked almost the same—sharp, calculating eyes, a face that revealed little emotion.
“This photo was taken ten years ago,” Lestrade said. “He’s been on our radar for a long time. The strange thing is, we can’t trace his life before that. No birth records, no childhood photos. It’s like his past has been scrubbed clean.”
Emilia stared at the photo, a chill creeping up her spine. “So, we don’t even know where he came from?”
“No,” Lestrade said, shaking her head. “It’s as if he doesn’t exist. And yet, every few years, he surfaces—always tied to something dangerous.”
Emilia’s thoughts churned, trying to piece together the puzzle that was Lucian Dvorak. How did someone just... erase their past? And why?
“I need to talk to him again,” Emilia said suddenly, the determination in her voice surprising even herself. “Maybe I can get him to open up, give us something to work with.”
Lestrade looked skeptical. “That’s risky. The more you interact with him, the more you’re giving him what he wants.”
“I don’t have a choice,” Emilia replied. “If he’s involved me, I need to know why.”
Lestrade considered her for a moment, then nodded reluctantly. “Fine. But I’ll be close by. You contact me the minute anything feels off.”
“Agreed,” Emilia said, though deep down, she knew there was no way this was going to go smoothly.
Later that night, Emilia found herself once again standing outside Lucian’s room, her heart pounding in her chest. She hadn’t told anyone she was going in—not even Elias. This was something she needed to do alone.
She took a deep breath, then stepped inside.
Lucian was sitting up in bed, his eyes half-lidded, as if he’d been waiting for her. The moment she walked in, his gaze snapped to her, and that unsettling smile appeared again.
“Emilia,” he said softly, his voice like silk. “I knew you’d come.”
Emilia stood her ground, forcing herself to meet his gaze. “You seem to know a lot about me, Lucian. Care to explain how?”
Lucian chuckled, the sound low and almost amused. “I know many things, Doctor. But you... you’re different.”
“How am I different?” Emilia asked, her voice sharper than she intended. “What do you want from me?”
Lucian tilted his head, his smile never fading. “Want from you? No, Emilia. It’s not about what I want from you. It’s about what you’re capable of.”
Emilia’s pulse quickened. “What are you talking about?”
Lucian’s eyes darkened, his voice dropping to a near whisper. “You think you’re just a doctor, don’t you? But I see the truth. You’re more than that. You’ve always been more than that.”
“Stop speaking in riddles,” Emilia snapped, her patience wearing thin. “What do you know about me?”
Lucian leaned forward slightly, his gaze intense. “I know that you’re meant for something greater. You and I... we’re not so different.”
Emilia felt a wave of unease wash over her. “I’m nothing like you.”
“Aren’t you?” Lucian asked, his smile widening. “You’ve already started to feel it, haven’t you? The pull, the connection. You can’t deny it.”
“I saved your life. That’s all,” Emilia said firmly, though the uncertainty was starting to creep into her voice.
Lucian’s smile faltered, just for a moment. “You think it’s that simple? Emilia, you saved me because you had to. It wasn’t just fate—it was inevitable.”
Emilia took a step back, shaking her head. “No. You’re manipulating me. This is all just part of your game.”
Lucian’s gaze softened, almost pitying. “Believe what you want. But soon, you’ll see the truth. And when you do, you’ll realize that you and I... we’re on the same side.”
Emilia felt a lump rise in her throat. She turned, not wanting to hear any more. As she walked toward the door, Lucian’s voice followed her, soft but piercing.
“We’ll meet again, Emilia. Sooner than you think.”
She didn’t look back. But as the door closed behind her, she couldn’t shake the feeling that Lucian was right.
This wasn’t over. Not by a long shot.