( PH2)
The corridor outside the intensive care unit of Synapse Medical Complex was too quiet.not the kind of quiet that brought peace.the kind that stayed… even when you didn't want it to.
White lights stretched endlessly above.
cold,unchanging the soft sound of distant machines echoed faintly from inside the sealed rooms.
Beep… beep…
Steady uncertain Anie sat on one of the metal chairs.her hands rested on her lap still.
Her eyes were fixed on the glass door in front of her Room 17.
Inside Eli no movement no voice no presence.
Just silence.
She didn't remember how long she had been sitting there.Minutes hours It all felt the same her thoughts kept circling back to that moment.
Him stepping in front of her again and again.and again her fingers tightened slightly.
"…why?"
The word slipped out quietly not loud enough for anyone to hear.
Footsteps.....,
Soft approaching Anie didn't turn immediately.she thought it was just another nurse.another doctor another passing presence that didn't matter.
"Anie…?"
That voice was familiar her head lifted
Mira stood a few steps away.
Beside her,another girl tall sharp features.short dark hair eyes that observed more than they spoke.
"…you look worse than him."
The girl said calm,direct,Anie blinked.
Once, twice,
"Mira…"
Her voice came out dry Mira walked closer quickly.her expression filled with concern.
"What happened?"
She asked not rushed but serious.
Anie didn't answer immediately.
Because,
how do you explain something that doesn't make sense even to you?
The other girl stepped forward slightly.
"Let her breathe."
She said quietly then looked at Anie.
"I'm Lena."
Anie nodded faintly silence fell again.
But this time it wasn't empty Mira sat beside her.close but not too close,
"You disappeared."Mira said softly.
"We tried calling."
Anie looked down, "I know…"
Another pause Lena leaned against the wall.arms crossed watching not judging.
Just… observing...,
"…is he going to be okay?"Mira's voice lowered.
That question hit harder than anything else.Anie's fingers tightened again.
"I don't know."
Honest too honest the machines inside the room beeped again.as if answering for her.Mira followed her gaze then slowly looked back.
"…Anie." a small pause,
"What happened?"
This time Anie didn't avoid it she took a slow breath.
"It wasn't… normal." Lena's eyes sharpened slightly,
"Start from the part that matters."
She said Anie gave a faint, almost tired look.
"…there were people."
Mira frowned,
"People?" Anie nodded,
"They weren't… like us." silence,
"They knew something."she continued.
"About me… about him…"
Lena straightened slightly., "Go on."
"They called us…" a small hesitation.
"…Called."
The word hung in the air strange unfamiliar Mira blinked.
"…Called?" Anie gave a small nod,
"They were hunting us." that made Mira go still.
"Hunting…?" Anie's voice didn't rise,
didn't shake.
"They had weapons."
"They knew where we were."
"They didn't hesitate."
Each line simple but heavy Lena's expression didn't change much.but her eyes focused deeper.
"Who are they?"
She asked Anie shook her head slowly.
"I don't know." a pause,
"They call themselves… Hunters."
The word felt colder when spoken aloud.Mira swallowed slightly.
"Why… you?"
Anie looked at her hands the memory flashed just for a second.
The power, the force the destruction.
"I think…" she whispered,
"…they want something."
Lena tilted her head slightly,
"What?" Anie's eyes darkened,
"I don't know that either."
Silence no one tried to fill it because sometimes not knowing was louder than answers.
Mira looked at the glass door again.
"…and he?"
Anie didn't hesitate this time,
"He protected me."
Simple but the way she said it changed something.Mira noticed Lena noticed.
Anie didn't,
"He didn't even think twice."
She added quietly her voice softened without her realizing.
"…he just moved."
a small pause,
"…like it was obvious."
Mira's expression shifted slightly.
she didn't smile but something softened.Lena looked away for a moment then back.
"…so you stayed." Anie blinked,
"What?"
"You're still here." Lena said,
"You didn't leave."
A simple observation.
But it landed deeper than expected.
Anie didn't answer.because she didn't have one Or maybe she did.
But didn't want to say it the corridor fell quiet again.
But this time it wasn't empty It was filled with things unsaid.Mira leaned back slightly letting out a slow breath.
"…this is insane." she muttered,
"No," Lena corrected calmly.
"It's real."
Another pause.Anie's eyes slowly drifted back to the glass door.For a second just a second something flickered in her mind.
A hallway different but the same a door.
closed waiting.her breath caught slightly.
"…not again…" she whispered,
"What?" Mira turned....
Anie shook her head quickly,
"Nothing."
But her fingers had tightened again.
And her eyes for a brief moment
weren't in the present anymore.
Lena noticed but said nothing because she understood something important,
Some memories…
don't come back all at once they return
piece by piece.and when they do they don't ask for permission.
They just…break through the soft sound of footsteps echoed again in the corridor.
A nurse passing by a cart rolling life continuing.but for Anie time had already started bending.
Between past…and present....,