Nicholas pushed through the hospital entrance, the doors sliding open with a quiet mechanical hum. The moment he stepped inside, the tension in the air was unmistakable. Staff members were moving quickly, whispering to each other, and the guards posted along the corridor looked unusually stiff. Nicholas immediately sensed that something had gone wrong.
His sharp gaze landed on Ezekiel, who was standing near the hallway leading to the secured ward.
"What's going on?" Nicholas asked as he walked toward him, his voice calm but carrying an edge that made nearby nurses straighten.
Ezekiel swallowed before answering. "He's dead."
Nicholas stopped mid-step.
For a brief moment, he simply stared at Ezekiel, as if giving him the chance to take the words back. But Ezekiel didn't. Instead, he shifted uneasily and began walking, silently signaling Nicholas to follow.
Nicholas's boots echoed against the polished hospital floor as they moved down the hallway.
