Chapter 2
Lilly was busy attending to routine hospital tasks when her phone buzzed with messages from her friends. She barely glanced at them when something caught her attention—Dr. Vale's car speeding into the hospital driveway at an almost reckless velocity. Her heart skipped a beat. To think I miss her so much that I'm even hallucinating about her arrival, she thought wryly. But the sound of screeching tires and frantic movement shattered any illusion. It wasn't a hallucination.
"Come on, Lilly, we have a patient!" Selena's urgent voice rang in her ears, snapping her out of her daze. Without further delay, Lilly sprang into action, waving for assistance as hospital staff rushed to the emergency entrance. The patient was already on a stretcher, his body severely battered, his breathing faint. Dr. Vale barely paused before moving with the team into the emergency room, her coat billowing behind her.
"How long do you think the great healer will take?" a patient asked curiously.
Another, who had been saved by Selena just hours ago, replied with confidence, "Maybe thirty minutes at most. That guy looks terrible, but if anyone can save him, it's her."
"I say twenty," another interjected. "Dr. Selena is a miracle worker. There's no one she can't heal."
Nods of agreement spread among the gathered crowd. It was clear that they had unwavering faith in her abilities. However, as time trickled by, an unsettling silence spread. Thirty minutes passed. Then an hour. Then two. By the third hour, whispers of worry replaced the earlier confidence. By the sixth, tension filled the air like a thick fog.
It was already morning, and Lilly couldn't keep calm anymore. Hospital protocol strictly prohibited anyone from entering the emergency room during surgery, but this was different. Eight hours had passed, and worry gnawed at her insides. Unable to hold back any longer, she pushed the door open.
She found Dr. Vale standing frozen in place, her expression unreadable as she stared at the patient's motionless body.
"Dr. Vale?" Lilly called hesitantly, stepping closer. "What happened?"
Selena's voice wavered, her hands trembling. "I... I don't know what to do."
Lilly had never seen her like this. The ever-composed, ever-capable Dr. Vale looked utterly defeated.
"I tried everything," Selena continued, her voice breaking. "But the wounds... they just keep growing deeper. I've exhausted all possible treatments, and nothing works."
Tears welled in her eyes as she let out a shaky sob. It was the first time in her career that she had encountered something beyond her expertise.
Lilly looked at the patient. His face was so pale it was hard to believe he was still breathing. She swallowed back her own fear and took a deep breath.
"Dr. Vale," she said firmly, "you've always found a way to save lives. I believe in you. You can do this."
Selena's sorrowful expression softened into a small, grateful smile. "Thank you, Lilly. I won't give up. I promise."
---
A few days later, a young man walked into the hospital, clutching an injury on his arm.
"I need to see Dr. Vale," he said.
A nurse at the front desk sighed. "She's been busy for days. Other doctors can treat you."
"No." The man shook his head stubbornly. "I'll only be treated by Dr. Vale. I'll wait."
Hours passed. One. Two. Three. By the sixth hour, frustration flickered in his eyes as he finally relented and sought treatment. As he sat with the attending physician, one of the younger doctors scoffed.
"What's Dr. Vale even busy with these days?" he muttered.
A female doctor leaned in and whispered, "I heard her secret lover is injured. She's giving everything she has to save him."
The young doctor snorted. "Impossible. I've confessed my love to her multiple times, and she always said she has no time for relationships."
But as much as he wanted to deny the rumors, he couldn't ignore the possibility that for the first time, Dr. Vale had encountered a case beyond her abilities.
---
Three weeks later, Selena sat by the bedside of the same patient, her sorrowful gaze fixed upon his still body. His complexion was deathly pale, his breathing slow—so slow it was barely perceptible.
"Why?" she whispered, voice thick with guilt. "Why can't I save you?"
Her hands curled into fists. She had devoted herself to this man's survival, pouring everything she had into saving him. Yet, despite her efforts, his condition only worsened.
It was then that she noticed something she had overlooked. A faint glow emanated from his chest. Frowning, she reached out and placed her hand over the source. Her eyes widened in shock. How had she not seen this before?
Gripping the glowing object, she pulled with all her might. Slowly, inch by inch, it emerged from his chest. Her breath hitched.
The object was a long, pure white crystal. It had pierced his heart. Yet, inexplicably, he still lived.
She stared at it in disbelief. Why hadn't they detected this earlier? What was this thing?
Before she could process her thoughts, the door swung open.
"Dr. Vale," Lilly said softly, "it's time for you to leave. It's almost midnight."
Selena hesitated. She had spent nearly a month trying to keep him alive. Every fiber of her being screamed at her to stay.
But Lilly placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry, doctor. I believe he will wake up soon. Until then, you need to rest."
Selena nodded reluctantly and left.
---
Hours later, the hospital room was quiet. Then, without warning, a change began.
The pale skin of the patient darkened, then slowly regained color. His sunken face transformed, his features sharpening into a breathtakingly beautiful visage. His fingers twitched, extending into razor-sharp claws before retracting back to normal. His chest rose with deep, steady breaths.
And then—
His eyes snapped open, glowing red in the dim light of the hospital room.
The transformation was complete.
He has awakened.
To be continued.