Chapter 131


    Chapter 131


    Joy’s dilemma proved to be a tough nut to crack, and she couldn’t make it back. In her stead, Jeremy


    dutifully swung by every day to chauffeur Leanne to and from work.


    By day, she was ensconced within the bustling hospital, and by night, she retreated to the high-security


    embrace of Crystal Cove Vis. Leanne wasn’t left to her own devices, nor did she encounter any more


    of the bizarre urrences that had unsettled her that one day.


    Donna rolled her eyes with contempt, “See, I told you these guys are all bark and no bite. They hide


    and talk big, but they wouldn’t dare to show their faces.”


    Jeremy shot Leanne a text, saying he had a ss reunion that evening and couldn’t pick her up.


    Leanne replied, “No worries, I’m on the night shift today anyway.”


    “Leanne’s on the graveyard shift, huh?” Amy fretted, “What if that creep decides to show up in the


    middle of the night?”


    “Don’t jinx it, Amy, knock on wood,” Donna quickly interjected, before turning to Leanne with advice,


    “Make sure you buddy up when you head to the restroom, don’t go alone.”


    Leanne nodded and opened her drawer to reveal her secret weapon, “I’m prepared.”


    Amy’s eyes lit up with excitement, “Send me the link for that.”


    That day, a patient showed up at the hospital sporting a swollen, blistered left eye – turned out to be a


    bacterial infection. He was treated with anti-inmmatory medication by the day-shift doctor.


    Leanne was in the middle of documenting patient histories when the man’s condition took a nosedive.


    His left eyelid was ulcerated and sealed shut by swelling, and he was in excruciating pain, spiking a


    high fever. They had to rush him to the ICU.


    Leanne grabbed her things in a hurry, rushing out only to double back and pocket her essentials.


    After administering medication to control the infection and consulting with other doctors for an urgent


    urgent treatment n, hours had slipped by for Leanne. She had missed dinner, and the cafeteria had


    long since closed its doors for the night. She figured she’d order


    takeout back at the office.


    Meeting a nurse in the corridor, Leanne inquired about a patient who had just undergone surgery that


    afternoon.


    After their exchange, she turned to continue to her office. Passing through a security corridor, she was


    caughtpletely off-guard when a hand mped over her mouth and dragged her aside.


    14:35


    The hospited was riddled with ourveince cameras, and it wasn’t even fon clock yet Most patients


    were chill awake, with rtives fingering in their rooms.


    Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.


    And the nurse she had just spoken with hadntjven walked far off


    The notion that someone could be so audacious had never crossed Leanne’s mind


    The instant terror crawled up her scalp, she cognized the pungent odor invading her nostrils


    Ether


    As a doctor, she knew all too well what it was a potent inhtion anesthetic that could knock a person


    out in an instant


    In a sh, she reached into her pocket and sprayed her pepper spray blindly behind her.


    A scream pierced the air as the grip on her ckened. Gasping for air and coughing violently, Leanne’s


    vision swam, and her limbs felt weak She groped for the door to the passage, driven by instinct


    But she hadn’t anticipated an aplice.


    other curse sounded, and just as her hand brushed the doorknob, it was violently


    per spray was wrenched from her grasp, and the scent of ether smothered her


    senses once more.


    Leanne tried desperately to hold her breath, kicking at the door with all her might, hoping to make


    enough noise to be heard.


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