. She wasn't wearing a disguise this time. She wore a ta

the morning shift change she had observed the day before. She held up her phone, displaying a QR code she had generated-not from the v

ner beep

alked t

w. He checked the flowers, pa

hed the d

e ventilator. Serena Vance lay in the bed. S

. Her eyes widened

hispered. "You'

bedside table and began arranging the f

ing. "Arno told me about you

directly at Serena. Her g

ably. "Why are you here?

notepad and a pen. She wrote a single sentence. She

every night. He adjusted your p

rained from her face, leaving her

e sick," Sere

mall, cold curving of he

Or does he just man

eld i

s a weak, ragged sound

stood her ground, a sil

en. A nurse and t

" Serena sobbed, point

. He dragged her toward the door. Edlyn didn't fight

evator doors opened. Arno sprinted

ndling Edlyn. He stopp

go," Ar

her. Edlyn stumbl

. His face was a mask of

ted into a coughing fit. The monitors bega

again. He shoved past he

ren

ot before she saw Arno fall to his knees beside the bed, gras