Secretly Watching Over Her

Chapter 9: A Dangerous Demand

Ling's body ached with each desperate struggle. The man had a firm grip on her, one she couldn't break free from no matter how much she fought. His arms were like iron bands, squeezing the breath from her lungs. Her strength was waning, each punch she threw landing weaker than the last. Pain exploded through her ribs as the man slammed her against the wall, his eyes cold and unyielding.

"Let go!" Ling gasped, trying to kick out, but he blocked her easily. With a sudden, harsh yank, he pulled her forward, dragging her through the dimly lit corridors of the hospital. The emergency lights flickered, casting eerie shadows that stretched and moved like ghosts on the walls. Every step felt like it was carrying her further away from safety and closer to the heart of the danger that had invaded her sanctuary.

Eventually, they arrived in an empty room. Mina stood there, her back to them as she gazed out the window, seemingly calm amidst the chaos. The man shoved Ling roughly, making her stumble, and she barely managed to regain her balance before falling to the floor. She straightened up, her eyes fixed on Mina's silhouette.

"What do you want from me?" Ling demanded, her voice strained but defiant. She was trying to hold onto the fear that threatened to overwhelm her, focusing on the anger bubbling up inside instead.

Mina turned around slowly, a faint, almost serene smile playing on her lips. Her eyes glinted with something that sent a shiver down Ling's spine—something that felt far more dangerous than the brute force of the man who had dragged her here.

"You'll see soon enough," Mina said softly, almost sweetly, which only made the menace in her words more chilling.

Meanwhile, Orm stood outside the hospital, her heart pounding as she argued with the police. Her eyes were wild with fear, her voice hoarse from shouting. "Why aren't you doing anything? They're in danger! They have hostages in there!" she screamed, frustration turning her words into a near-hysterical pitch.

The lead officer, a burly man with a stern expression, held up his hands in a placating gesture. "Miss, please calm down. We're handling this situation. We can't move in until we know exactly what we're dealing with. If they have heavy firearms, we need to be prepared."

Orm's eyes blazed with fury. "Prepared? They don't have time for you to get prepared! You're supposed to be protecting people, not waiting for a damn shipment of guns! They have doctors and patients in there! Ling is in there!" Her voice broke on the last words, her panic and fear spilling over.

Her manager, who had been watching helplessly from the side, stepped forward, placing a firm but gentle hand on Orm's shoulder. "Orm, you need to take a breath. This isn't helping. The police are doing what they can."

Orm shrugged off the touch, rounding on her manager with tears in her eyes. "I can't just stand here and do nothing. I need to do something! Ling can't die. None of them can die. Don't you understand?"

The officer frowned, his patience wearing thin. "We're doing all we can, Miss Orm. Please, for your own safety, stand back. We need to focus on this operation."

Orm wanted to scream, to lash out, but she knew it wouldn't help. Instead, she took a deep, shaky breath, trying to think of another way to help, any way at all. She could feel time slipping away like sand through her fingers, each second bringing her closer to losing Ling forever.

Back inside the hospital, Mina watched Ling with a calculating gaze, her smile still in place. "You look surprised to see me," Mina said, tilting her head slightly. "Did you really think you could just walk away from everything, from me, without consequences?"