Minutes turned into hours, and still, no one came out to give him an update. The sterile smell of the hospital was suffocating him, reminding him of every second that ticked by with Aurora fighting for her life. The sound of the rain had faded, but the storm inside him raged on. He needed to do something, anything, to get rid of the helplessness that was eating away at him.
As he was about to storm into the emergency room, a nurse, her eyes filled with pity, stepped out. “Sir, you can’t go in there,” she said, her voice gentle but firm.
“What’s happening to her?” he demanded, his voice strained with desperation.
“The doctors are doing everything they can,” she replied, her expression tight. “But she’s in critical condition. You need to prepare for the worst.”
Damian felt his world crumble around him. He slammed his fist into the wall, the pain in his knuckles a mere echo of what he felt in his heart.
The hours passed with agonizing slowness, each second a lifetime of dread and guilt. His thoughts swirled like a tornado, replaying every moment he’d failed Aurora, every time he’d allowed Lucas to get to her. The anger grew within him, a fiery beast demanding vengeance.
Damian felt his legs give out, and he slumped onto the cold, plastic chair in the waiting room. He cradled his head in his hands, the weight of his emotions too much to bear. He didn’t realize the tears had started until they were a torrent, streaming down his face, soaking the collar of his shirt. He let out a guttural sob, the sound echoing in the empty room. He should sit down and cry, let the pain out, but he feared if he started, he’d never stop.
The sterile, white walls seemed to close in on him, each breath a struggle. The only thing keeping him from completely breaking down was the thought of Aurora fighting for her life on the other side of the doors. He’d failed her so many times, and now she was paying the price. He wiped at his eyes with the back of his hand, his knuckles raw from where he’d punched the wall.
The emergency room doors swung open, and a doctor with a tired, grim expression walked out. Damian’s heart skipped a beat, his hope fading as he saw the doctor’s eyes. “How is she?” he asked, his voice hoarse with fear.
The doctor took a deep breath, his eyes filled with sympathy. “Mr. Damian, Aurora is in a coma,” he said, his voice measured and calm. “The bullet wound was serious, but we’ve managed to stabilize her. However, the poison is a different matter. We’re not sure what it is, but it’s attacking her system rapidly.”
Damian’s legs gave out beneath him, and he sank back into the chair, feeling the last bit of color drain from his face. “Will she wake up?” he croaked.
The doctor paused, his expression pained. “We’re doing everything we can, but we can’t make any promises. Comas like this are unpredictable. It could be days, weeks, or…” His voice trailed off, and he didn’t need to finish the sentence. The words “or never” hung in the air like a noose, choking the hope out of the room.
Fueled by rage and fear, Damian stood, his eyes blazing. “What do you mean, you don’t know what it is?” he roared. “Find out! Save her!”
The doctor held up a hand, his eyes understanding. “We’re doing our best, but we need a sample of the substance to identify it. We’ve sent a message to the lab for a rush analysis.”
Damian’s mind raced. “Lucas,” he spat. “It’s got to be something he used. That sadistic bastard won’t get away with this.”
The doctor nodded solemnly. “We’ll do everything we can to save her, but we need time.”
Damian paced the hallways like a caged animal, his mind racing with thoughts of Aurora’s sweet smile and the sound of her laughter. He couldn’t bear the thought of losing her, not now, not after everything they’d been through. He’d fought so hard to find her, to save her, and now she was slipping away again.
As he walked back to the waiting room, his phone vibrated in his pocket. He checked the screen, expecting it to be another useless message from one of his informants, but instead, he saw a number he hadn’t seen in years. It was a burner, one he’d used when he first started looking into Lucas’s dark past. His heart pounded as he answered, hope and fear mingling in his chest.
“Hello?” he said, his voice tight.
“Damian,” a gruff voice replied, one that was all too familiar. “You’ve got yourself in quite the mess, haven’t you?”
It was the man who had given him the intel on Lucas’s mother’s murder. The one who had led him down this twisted path of vengeance.
“How did you find me?” Damian snarled.
“It’s what I do,” the man said, his tone unapologetic. “But that’s not why I’m calling. I’ve got information on the poison. Meet me at the docks in an hour.”
The line went dead, leaving Damian with more questions than answers. But he knew that if there was even the slightest chance of saving Aurora, he had to take it.
The hospital’s sterile lights flickered as he stormed out, the rain now a downpour. He didn’t bother looking back as he climbed into his car and peeled out of the parking lot. The engine roared as he sped through the empty streets, the windshield wipers struggling to keep up with the deluge.
The docks were a grim place, the water a murky black, reflecting the moon’s glow. The rain had turned the air heavy with a chill that clung to him like a second skin. He could feel the eyes of the rats scurrying in the shadows, sensing his turmoil. He parked his car in a deserted corner, the headlights casting a feeble beam of light onto the wet ground.