*ADELINE*
The hospital room felt sterile and cold, a stark contrast to the chaotic storm swirling inside my mind. Doctor Stevens had just finished examining my head injury and the scratches on my arm. "Everything looks good," he'd said, his tone upbeat, but I couldn't shake the feeling that I was teetering on the edge of something ominous. "Healing is perfect. No need for further redressing. If you feel dizzy or nauseous, though, call me back immediately."
I offered a weak smile in response, but the moment he left, that smile faded, folding into itself like a badly drawn origami crane. My pulse quickened, an uneasy rhythm taking shape in my chest. Without Marcus by my side, I felt exposed, like a lone deer caught in the spotlight of a hunter's gaze.
Just minutes ago, Doctor Stevens had
