Vengeful Healing "Trust can be deadly."

Story Line 2

Chapter 16Doubting Minds

 In the dimly lit room, tension hung heavy in the air as the hospital boardmembers sat around the long, mahogany table. Bernard, his broadshoulders tense with urgency, leaned forward in his chair, his eyeslocked on each member. His heart raced within his chest as hestruggled to convey the seriousness of the situation that plagued theirhospital. 

 Doctor Helix, his sickly complexion even more pronounced in thesoft glow of the room, sat across from Bernard. His sharp green eyesdarted around the table, like a predator assessing its prey. The flicker ofa wicked smile danced on his lips, hidden beneath a thin veneer of falseconcern. 

Behind that mask, however, lay a mind calculating its nextmove. Beside Bernard, Dr. Patel sat with a sense of calm determination.Her short black hair was neatly tucked behind her ears, revealing a faceetched with wisdom and experience. Her warm brown eyes fixed on theboard members, her gaze silently urging them to take action. Sheexuded an air of authority that commanded respect. 

 The board members themselves seemed caught between doubtand belief. Their brows furrowed as they grappled with the weight of theallegations laid before them. Some wore expressions of disbelief, theirskepticism etched deeply into their features. Others appearedconflicted, torn between loyalty to Doctor Helix and the mountingevidence against him.

 Bernard felt a surge of frustration rising within him. How could theynot see what was happening? The horrors that lurked within the walls of56their esteemed hospital? The sacrifices made by countless innocentlives? He had poured over every piece of evidence, painstakinglyconnecting the dots to expose the truth. Yet now, faced with theirhesitance, doubt clawed at his conviction. 

 With a voice filled with determination, Bernard spoke up. "Membersof the board, I implore you to listen to us," he said firmly, his wordscutting through the silence. "We have gathered substantial evidencethat proves the abominable acts committed by Doctor Helix and hisaccomplices. Lives have been lost, patients subjected to unspeakablehorrors. We must take action.

" Doctor Helix's face remained unreadable, his eyes narrowing everso slightly as Bernard spoke. He knew that his grip on power wasslipping, that the truth was unraveling the carefully constructed facadehe had woven for himself. But he wasn't ready to relinquish control justyet.

 One of the board members, a middle-aged man with graying hairand a furrowed brow, spoke up tentatively. "Mr. Bernard, we understandthe gravity of your claims, but we cannot simply jump to conclusionsbased on allegations alone. We need concrete evidence." Bernard's frustration threatened to consume him, but he schooledhis expression into one of calm resolve.

 "But we have concreteevidence," he countered, his voice laced with desperation. "We'vepresented it before you. The testimonies of the survivors, the recordswe've gathered—they all point to Doctor Helix's involvement in theseatrocities." Another board member, a woman with a stern countenance, leanedforward and crossed her arms over her chest. "Mr. Bernard, I mustremind you that these are serious accusations against a respectedmember of our hospital staff. We cannot simply condemn withoutproper investigation.

"57 A flicker of doubt crossed Bernard's mind, but Dr. Patel'sunwavering gaze provided him with strength. He took a deep breath andcontinued with unwavering determination. "We're not asking you toblindly accept our words," he said firmly. "We're asking for an impartialinvestigation—a thorough examination of the evidence we've presented.The truth is there, waiting to be uncovered.

" Doctor Helix's pale face contorted into a mask of feignedinnocence as he interjected, his voice dripping with false sincerity. "Iassure you, members of the board, that these allegations are baseless,"he said smoothly. "These individuals have concocted a web of lies totarnish my reputation and the reputation of this esteemed hospital. Idemand that you dismiss their claims.