Chapter 19 (Side Story - Zayne)

03 | Scarier Than A Demon

The next morning, two sets of mismatched footsteps echo down the hall. One is quick and heavy while the other follows hurriedly.

"You didn't say much yesterday, I didn't expect you'd be so lively." The moment they go upstairs, Greyson is bombarded with John's questions about Zayne. It gives him a headache.

"Well, Dr. Zayne isn't here, and checking patients is relatively easy. I'm not as nervous."

"It's only easy because you haven't met any with particularly nasty attitudes."

"The kind that refuse to be treated or take their medicine?"

Greyson shakes his head with a pretense of maturity. "You know nothing."

As they speak, they arrive at the door of Ward 3.

When John notices where they are, he recalls relevant information: Zack, the patient in Ward 3's Bed 12, underwent a heart valve replacement surgery last week.

He has to stay in the hospital for three weeks for observation and is expected to be discharged this week.

"Then what should I do if I encounter even..."

An unusual noise comes through the door before John can even finish his question.

"Hurry!"

"Careful now!"

"Sir, you're going to hurt your teeth!"

"Damn it. He's definitely causing trouble again!" Greyson says as he pushes open the door. "Help us!"

John follows. Inside, two nurses are holding down Zack, tying him down. By the time Greyson approaches them, the nurses have tightened the last strap.

Another nurse reaches for whatever he's biting down on. He resists, twisting and turning as he cries out.

"What happened to the special care we were supposed to give?" Greyson asks.

"What's in his mouth?"

"An access card..." The nurse is sweating from tying up Zack, or maybe from anger.

"He took it when I wasn't looking."

John looks at Zack, who is unable to move but still restless. "Do we need sedatives?"

"He has a history of cerebral infarction, so let's avoid that if possible. Leave it to me."

Greyson maneuvers behind the nurse on the left and reaches for the access card tightly clenched between Zack's teeth. Zack mumbles something incoherent, but from his tone, it's clear that he's saying he'll swallow the card if anyone tries to take it from him.

The access card is small. If he really wants to, he could definitely do it.

Greyson doesn't want to force it, so he backs off. Just then, someone opens the door.

Everyone is quiet. Only Zack, who has his eyes closed, is still crying out. Zayne nears the bed and knocks on the bedside table. "Where does it hurt?" The moment he speaks, Zack stops moving.

Opening his eyes, Zack catches a glimpse of Zayne. The old man swallows his cry, and the only thing that can be heard is his unsteady breathing.

After a while, Zack tucks his chin in and looks away. Within moments, he goes from a stubborn old man to a guilty child. Zayne points at his mouth.

Zack loosens his jaw, but he still holds on to the access card.

"Spit it out." Zayne sounds calm, but everyone around him shudders at his words.

Zack finally spits out the card. He quickly begins to talk. "I'm so bored... No one would talk to me, so I thought..." Zayne looks at the old man and says nothing, his eyes revealing nothing. "I'll stay with you."

Zack gulps, wraps himself in his duvet, and lies back down on the bed without a word. Zayne looks away from the old man and mutters something to the nurse. Then, he leaves.

The ward falls quiet, as if the commotion earlier didn't happen at all.

John tries to calm his racing heart, and a chill racks his entire body.

Dr. Zayne is scary by being able to frighten even an old man.

To Be Continued...

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