Dangerous Affection

Hidden Truths

(LILA'S POV)

The surgical wing felt alive with tension, a heavy atmosphere that wrapped around me like a fog. Quinn and I moved cautiously through the dimly lit hallway, the distant sounds of hurried footsteps and muffled voices echoing off the sterile walls. I glanced at Quinn, who was scanning the area, his brow furrowed in concentration. I had to keep my wits about me; I knew the stakes were high, but the nagging feeling in my gut made me uneasy.

"Do you think we should really be here?" I whispered, trying to keep my voice steady. "What if we get caught?"

Quinn paused, his eyes darting toward the end of the corridor where a group of nurses gathered, their voices hushed. "We need to find out what's happening. If the rumors are true, then patients are in serious danger."

I nodded, though a chill ran down my spine. I had heard the whispers, patients disappearing, suspicious surgeries, and doctors behaving oddly. As much as I wanted to uncover the truth, I couldn't shake the feeling that we were stepping into something far darker than we anticipated.

Moving closer to the nurses, we overheard snippets of their conversation.

"Did you hear about the patient in room 12B? They say she's been in a coma for weeks, but...," one nurse said, her voice trailing off as she glanced around nervously. "They're keeping her here longer than necessary."

I exchanged a look with Quinn, excitement and fear mingling within me. If they were keeping patients sick for profit, we had to know more.

"Come on," Quinn urged, gesturing down the corridor. "Let's see if we can find out what's going on without being seen."

We crept down the hallway, staying close to the walls as we navigated around corners and avoided the gaze of passing staff. The air felt charged with secrecy, and I could hear my heart pounding in my ears. The dim lights flickered above us, heightening the feeling that we were intruders in a forbidden space.

Suddenly, a door swung open ahead, and a doctor stepped out, his face a mask of urgency. "We can't let anyone find out," he said to a nurse, who nodded, her eyes wide with fear. "If the board hears about this..."

"What's going on?" I whispered to Quinn, my pulse quickening.

"Just keep listening," he replied, his eyes trained on the conversation.

"Well move over or somethin-" I say.

"Did you hear that? Someone's here!" the nurse suddenly exclaimed, her voice sharp with panic.

My stomach dropped as I realized they might be talking about us. Quinn and I quickly ducked into a nearby supply closet just as the doctor and nurse rushed past us, their footsteps echoing in the hallway.

Inside the closet, I held my breath, the scent of antiseptic and disinfectant overwhelming. We squeezed ourselves into a corner, trying to remain as quiet as possible.

After what felt like an eternity, the footsteps faded. Quinn peeked through the door crack, ensuring the coast was clear. "Let's go," he whispered, and we slipped out of the closet.

We moved stealthily toward room 12B, our hearts pounding with anticipation. As we approached, I could see through the small glass window in the door. The room was dimly lit, and a figure lay motionless on the bed. My breath caught in my throat.

"Lila, look!" Quinn urged, pointing to the side of the room where a chart hung on the wall. It listed the patient's name, Jessica Hill, and her medical history, detailing how she had been admitted weeks ago but had shown no signs of improvement.

"This is the patient they were talking about," I said, stepping closer to the door. "We need to help her."

"Wait, we can't just burst in there," Quinn said, glancing over his shoulder. "Let's see if we can find a way to get her out without anyone noticing."

Just then, I noticed a small gap in the doorframe. If we could slip inside and speak with her, maybe we could learn more about what was happening. Quinn gently pushed the door, allowing us to slip into the room unnoticed.

"Jessica?" I whispered, approaching the bed. She looked pale, her chest rising and falling with labored breaths. "Can you hear us?"

As if sensing our presence, her eyelids fluttered open, revealing frightened eyes. "Who... who are you?" she croaked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"We're here to help," I said urgently. "Can you tell us what's been happening? Why are you here?"

As Jessica finds the words to say, Quinn hands me a surgical knife. I look at him and he gives me a look. A look that says 'you never know if you may need it', type of look.

"They keep drugging me," she muttered, her gaze darting toward the door. "They say it's for my own good, but I feel worse every day."

"Worse?" I repeated, feeling a knot tighten in my stomach. "They're making you sick on purpose?"

Jessica nodded weakly. "They want to keep me here... to keep the money coming in from my family."

A wave of anger surged through me. "We need to get you out of here."

Before Jessica could respond, I heard footsteps approaching the room. Panic flooded through me as Quinn and I exchanged worried glances.

"We have to hide!" he hissed, darting to the side of the bed. I quickly followed suit, crouching behind the curtain, my heart racing as the door swung open.

A nurse entered, looking around suspiciously. "Come out,come out where ever you are! You two shouldn't be in here," she said, her voice filled with authority.

Quinn and I held our breaths, praying she wouldn't notice us.

"We have to go," Quinn whispered, glancing at me, desperation in his eyes.

As the nurse turned her back, I spotted a window, our only chance. "This way!" I whispered urgently, pointing toward the window.

With our hearts pounding in sync, we slipped out of our hiding spot and moved toward the window, ready to take a leap of faith.

How will Lila and Quinn solve this?
Let's check the next chapter.
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