𝘖𝘳𝘱𝘩𝘪𝘤 | 𝘖𝘭𝘥 𝘋𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯 & 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳

[1.] 𝗧𝗵𝗲 [𝗘𝗣𝗜𝗗𝗘𝗠𝗜𝗢𝗟𝗢𝗚𝗜𝗦𝗧]

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[Anodyne_Day aka Reader POV]

I sit at the front desk of the hospital, the gentle glow of the overhead lights casting a soft illumination on the scene before me. The night is hushed, the only sounds are the occasional murmur of voices from distant corridors and the soft shuffle of papers as I jot down notes. The dimness adds to the sense of solitude, the empty waiting room stretching out before me like a vast expanse of quietude.

With a pen in hand, I diligently record the various injuries and ailments that have passed through these doors this week, each entry a snapshot of someone's injury. The rhythmic scratching of my pen against the paper fills the silence, punctuating the stillness of the night.

As I meticulously sorted through the papers, arranging them in neat stacks, the sudden piercing scream shattered the tranquil atmosphere like glass. In an instant, the papers slipped from my grasp, cascading to the floor and without a second thought, I lunged for the holster at my side, fingers closing around the familiar grip of my gun with practiced urgency. As I burst through the doors, the cool night air washed over me, carrying with it the scent of fear and uncertainty. Squinting against the darkness, I scanned the shadows, my grip tightening on the weapon in my hand, ready to confront whatever lurked in the darkness. But as my eyes adjusted to the dim light, what I saw froze me in my tracks. A lone figure of a woman huddled against the wall, trembling with terror, her eyes wide with fear as she stared into the abyss beyond. And there, lurking just beyond the reach of the flickering streetlights, a huge, spiked monster with a pair of glowing eyes watched with predatory intent.

With a steady hand and a firm resolve, I stepped forward, a beacon of calm amidst the storm of chaos. As I aimed my gun at the [NIGHT] monster's head, my hands steady despite the adrenaline coursing through my veins, I fired two precise shots. Satisfied it was down, I instinctively fired two more rounds to ensure its demise.

Turning to the woman, her fear palpable as she recoiled in terror, I noticed the injury on her leg. She trembled, her eyes wide with a mix of panic and uncertainty as I approached her slowly. Crouching in front of her, I sought to convey reassurance despite the chaos around us.

"You, okay?" I whispered, my voice a gentle contrast to the chaos that had just unfolded. As I reached out to touch her shoulder, she flinched away, her fear still raw. With a sigh, I retrieved my briefcase, which held some medical supplies.

"Can you stand, or is the pain too much?" I asked, concern evident in my tone. I began to open the case, preparing to tend to her wound, but she interrupted me hastily. "Oh, no! I'm fine! I-I can walk!" Her hands moved defensively, a silent plea for me to refrain from further intervention. "The injury is bleeding quite a bit. It needs attention," I stated calmly, my gaze briefly flickering towards the lifeless form of the [NIGHT] monster. Her eyes widened with apprehension; her fear palpable as she anticipated my next move.

Suddenly, I turned my attention back to her, and she flinched involuntarily. I extended a hand to offer her support. "Don't worry, it won't hurt as much once I treat it-"

But before I could finish, a familiar voice grated on my nerves, interrupting me as it always did.

"Don't worry, [OPERATIVE] Anodyne_Day. I'll take care of this," [OPERATIVE] Benevolent_Day chimed in from behind. I turned to see him approaching, his presence eliciting a relieved smile from the woman. Meanwhile, I couldn't help but cross my arms and grumble in annoyance at his intrusion. "Don't worry, Benevolent. I've got this," I responded, attempting to sound courteous, though there was a subtle edge to my tone, a hint of venom aimed at shooing him off. He waved his hand dismissively. "Oh, Anodyne, you're scaring the poor lady," he remarked, gesturing towards the shaken woman who was staring at us, particularly me, with fear in her eyes. "Why don't you go check in on the [NIGHT] monster? It could be useful for research. Meanwhile, I'll tend to her wounds. It's quite a nasty scar, you know. Who knows how it could affect her without proper treatment?"

I shot him a frustrated glare before swiftly turning around and making my way to the dead creature lying on the floor. As Benevolent helped the woman to her feet and escorted her to the hospital, I watched from the sidelines, rolling my eyes in exasperation. Turning my attention back to the corpse, I began inspecting it until something caught my eye-a peculiar [SYMBOL] that was unfamiliar to me. Crouching down for a closer look, I moved the body slightly, revealing the symbol in full. This was not related to the [NIGHT COALITION] or anything I had encountered before, and it sparked a sense of unease within me.

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[Anodyne_Day's POV]

"Ugh, and then after he treated the civilian, he had the audacity to 'advise' me to clean up to look more welcoming! I mean, sure, my office might resemble the aftermath of a horror movie, but it's just filled with creepy photos and a little bit of blood on the tables!" I vented to Sorrowful about the events of the previous night, omitting the detail about the [SYMBOL]-I wasn't ready to broach that subject just yet.

"Anodyne... He's a doctor too, so it's okay for him to treat [CIVILIANS]. And how big was the monster again?" Sorrowful inquired calmly, taking a sip of his tea.

"[THIRTY METERS]," I replied, crossing my arms in frustration. "Look, I know he's a doctor too, but I can't help feeling irrelevant in the city because of him. It's like I'm not even important."

I glanced down, feeling a pang of self-doubt, but Sorrowful sniffled and approached me, crouching down to my level. "Don't worry, Anodyne. You are important. It's good to have another doctor in the [CITY], just in case there are too many injured [CIVILIANS] or [OPERATIVES] for one doctor to handle alone."

"Thanks, Sorrowful," I said, a small smile forming on my lips. I appreciated his reassurance. "But the [CIVILIANS] don't really like me that much. They'd rather be treated by Benevolent since he's much 'nicer' than I am. What do I have to do for them to like me, or at least stop looking at me in fear?"

I patted Sorrowful on the head as he stood up. "Well, I like you, and so do some of the operatives. You don't need to worry about everybody liking you when you still have people there for you. But whatever happens, the [CITY] will still need you, no matter what."

I could sense the warmth behind his words, even through his frowning mask, and it brought a smile to my face. "Thanks, Sorrowful," I said sincerely. I cherished our friendship; he was always there to listen whenever I needed to vent about my problems.

"Now, go finish your tea. It's probably cold by now," Sorrowful suggested, gesturing to the neglected beverage sitting on the coffee table. I chuckled and picked up the now-cold drink, finishing it with one swift gulp.

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"You were always there for me."

RAHHHH ITS DONE THE CHAPTER IS SHORT CUZ I HAD TO RESTART THE WHOLE THING IDK HOW TO FEEL ABT THIS TBH

Words: 1232