The hallway outside Lucian’s room felt claustrophobic, despite its emptiness. Emilia leaned against the wall, trying to catch her breath. Elias stood beside her, arms crossed, his expression unreadable. Neither of them spoke for a long moment.

“He’s toying with you,” Elias finally said, his voice low.

Emilia shook her head. “I don’t think so. There’s something… deliberate about the way he talks. It’s like he knows something we don’t.”

Elias gave her a hard look. “You’re letting him get inside your head, Emilia. You need to distance yourself from this.”

“I can’t just pretend he’s another patient, Elias. He knows my name. He said I was the only one who could stop him.” She paused, the weight of those words pressing on her. “Why would he say that?”

“Maybe he’s manipulating you,” Elias said carefully. “Or maybe he’s trying to unsettle you for a reason we can’t see yet. But whatever his game is, you don’t have to play it.”

Emilia exhaled slowly. “I don’t think it’s a game to him. He’s... methodical, calculated. I felt it the moment he woke up.”

Elias ran a hand through his hair, clearly frustrated. “If that’s true, then all the more reason for you to keep your distance. Let the police deal with him.”

Emilia met his gaze. “You know I can’t just walk away.”

Elias studied her face for a moment, his eyes softening. “Emilia, I’ve known you for years. You’re brilliant, but you have this habit of getting too close to things. Of feeling too responsible.”

She opened her mouth to argue, but Elias held up a hand. “I’m not saying that’s a bad thing. But this—this is different. You’re not responsible for whatever he’s done. You didn’t cause it.”

She let out a bitter laugh. “Didn’t I? I saved him, Elias. If I hadn’t, none of this would be happening.”

“You couldn’t have known who he was or what he’s capable of,” Elias said gently. “You’re a doctor, not a mind reader.”

Emilia pressed her fingers to her temple. “Maybe. But now I’m part of it. He made that clear. He knew me, Elias, before I even stepped into that room. How is that possible?”

Elias was silent for a moment, then he sighed. “Look, if you’re going to keep treating him, you need to protect yourself. Don’t let him get too close. You don’t owe him anything beyond medical care.”

“I’ll be careful,” Emilia promised, though she wasn’t sure she believed her own words. She could feel Lucian’s presence, lingering like a shadow, even from a distance.

As Elias was about to respond, the door at the end of the hallway creaked open, and Inspector Aria Lestrade stepped through, her expression grim. She walked briskly toward them, her coat billowing behind her like a cape.

“Doctor Navarro,” Lestrade called, her voice clipped. “I heard Lucian’s awake.”

Emilia nodded, trying to keep her composure. “He regained consciousness briefly. But he… went back under pretty quickly.”

Lestrade’s gaze sharpened. “What did he say?”

Emilia hesitated, glancing at Elias. “He said my name. He seemed... aware of who I was, even though I’ve never met him before.”

Stolen story; please report.

Lestrade’s jaw tightened. “Of course he did.”

“What does that mean?” Emilia asked, her frustration mounting. “What aren’t you telling me?”

Lestrade folded her arms. “Lucian Dvorak is dangerous for more reasons than just his crimes. He has a way of getting into people’s heads. He’s manipulative, charismatic. It’s not uncommon for those who come into contact with him to feel like he knows more about them than he should.”

“But how?” Emilia pressed. “He’s just a man. He’s not some... mind reader.”

“No,” Lestrade agreed, her voice cool. “But he’s spent years honing his ability to manipulate people. He studies them, learns their weaknesses, and exploits them. He’s done it before, and he’s doing it again.”

Elias frowned. “So, what do you suggest? Should Emilia stop treating him?”

Lestrade’s eyes flickered with something unreadable. “I can’t make that decision. But I will say this: the more time you spend with him, the more he’ll try to pull you into his web. You need to be very careful, Doctor.”

Emilia swallowed hard. “What exactly is his endgame? Why would he care about me?”

Lestrade paused, her gaze softening ever so slightly. “With Lucian, it’s hard to say. But if he’s focusing on you, it’s because he sees you as valuable in some way. And that’s never a good thing.”

Elias shook his head. “This is insane. Are you saying Lucian is some kind of mastermind manipulating us all from his hospital bed?”

Lestrade’s lips pressed into a thin line. “I’m saying he’s more dangerous than you realize. You should take his words seriously.”

“I am taking them seriously,” Emilia said, her voice firmer than she felt. “But he’s still just a man. He’s not invincible.”

“No,” Lestrade agreed. “But he’s survived more than you know. And he’s always one step ahead.”

Emilia’s mind raced, trying to make sense of it all. “So, what do we do? Just sit around and wait for him to make his next move?”

Lestrade’s eyes darkened. “We watch. We wait. And we make sure he doesn’t get the upper hand.”

“I don’t like this,” Elias muttered. “You’re treating this like a game, but Emilia’s life is at stake here.”

Lestrade’s gaze didn’t waver. “It’s not a game, Dr. Kerr. It’s a battle. And Lucian’s been fighting it long before any of us realized.”

Emilia felt a knot of dread tighten in her stomach. “What happens if we lose?”

Lestrade looked away for a moment, as if considering her answer carefully. Then she turned back to them, her voice quiet but firm. “If we lose, people die.”

The weight of her words hung in the air, and for a moment, no one spoke. Emilia could feel the gravity of the situation settling in, the realization that this was bigger than her, bigger than the hospital, bigger than anything she’d ever been part of.

“We can’t let that happen,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Lestrade nodded. “No, we can’t.”

The silence stretched on, the tension almost unbearable. Finally, Elias cleared his throat. “Well, if you’re determined to keep treating him, we need a plan. We can’t go in blind.”

Emilia nodded, feeling a spark of determination ignite within her. “You’re right. We need to be smart about this.”

Lestrade seemed to approve of their resolve. “Good. Keep your distance, don’t let him manipulate you, and report anything suspicious immediately.”

Emilia’s mind was racing with possibilities, but she forced herself to focus. “Understood. But what about when he wakes up again? What do I ask him?”

Lestrade’s expression softened ever so slightly. “Don’t ask him anything directly. Just let him talk. He’ll reveal more than he intends to if you give him enough rope.”

Elias frowned. “That sounds like a dangerous game.”

Lestrade’s gaze was cold and sharp. “It’s the only game we can play.”

With that, she turned on her heel and left, her boots clicking against the floor as she disappeared down the hallway. Emilia and Elias watched her go, the tension between them palpable.

Elias was the first to speak. “This is getting out of hand.”

“I know,” Emilia replied softly. “But we can’t back down now.”

Elias sighed, rubbing his temples. “Just promise me you’ll be careful. If you feel like he’s getting to you—if anything feels off—you’ll tell me. No hesitation.”

“I promise,” Emilia said, though deep down, she wasn’t sure how much of a choice she really had anymore. Lucian had already gotten into her head, and she wasn’t sure how to shake him loose.

As she stood there, watching Elias walk away, she couldn’t help but feel that everything had already begun to spiral out of control.

Lucian had said they were connected. That she was the only one who could stop him. And even though she didn’t want to admit it, some part of her believed him.

She wasn’t just a doctor anymore.

She was part of the game.

And she had no idea how to win.