The hospital was cold and quiet, the dim lights making the sterile hallways feel lifeless. Damian stormed through the doors, the vial clenched tightly in his fist. His jaw was set, and his eyes burned with frustration and desperation.
He didn’t bother with pleasantries as he approached the doctor who had been treating Aurora. The man looked up from his clipboard, startled by Damian’s sudden appearance.
“I have it,” Damian said, his voice sharp and commanding as he held out the vial. “The antidote. Take it. Test it. Do whatever you need to do, but save her.”
The doctor took the vial carefully, his brows furrowing as he inspected the clear liquid inside. “Where did you get this?” he asked, his tone cautious.
“That doesn’t matter,” Damian snapped. “Just do your job.”
The doctor nodded and gestured for Damian to follow him into the lab. Damian’s footsteps echoed loudly in the sterile space as they walked. The sound only seemed to heighten his growing impatience.
The doctor set the vial on a metal tray and began preparing equipment to analyze it. He glanced at Damian, who was pacing back and forth like a caged animal.
“How is she?” Damian asked abruptly, his voice softer now but still filled with tension.
“She’s stable,” the doctor said carefully. “But we don’t have much time. The poison is spreading, and her condition is worsening.”
Damian’s hands clenched into fists, his frustration boiling just beneath the surface. “She can’t die,” he said, his voice low. “Do you understand? I won’t let her die.”
The doctor didn’t respond immediately, focusing instead on the liquid in the vial. After a few minutes of testing, his expression darkened. He set the vial down and turned to Damian, his face serious.
“This isn’t an antidote,” he said firmly.
Damian froze, his blood running cold. “What are you talking about?”
The doctor held up the vial. “This is no cure. In fact, this substance is incredibly dangerous. It could kill someone instantly if it’s injected or ingested.”
Damian’s anger exploded. He slammed his fist into the nearest wall, the impact reverberating through the room. The drywall cracked under the force, and blood smeared across the surface as his knuckles split open.
“That bastard,” Damian hissed, his teeth gritted. “That lying bastard. I should’ve known.”
The doctor took a cautious step back, watching Damian carefully. “Who gave this to you?” he asked.
“A doctor,” Damian spat, shaking his head in frustration. “Someone I thought I could trust. I should’ve killed him when I had the chance.”
The doctor sighed and set the vial aside. “Listen, Mr. Damian,” he said, his tone calm but firm. “I understand you’re upset, but this isn’t the end. We’re running more tests on Aurora’s blood. Once we know exactly what kind of poison we’re dealing with, we can work on finding a real antidote.”
Damian turned to face the doctor, his chest heaving as he tried to rein in his emotions. “How long will that take?”
“It could be a few hours, maybe longer,” the doctor admitted. “But we’re doing everything we can. I promise you that.”
Damian sank into a nearby chair, his head in his hands. The weight of everything pressed down on him like a crushing force. He couldn’t stop picturing Aurora’s pale face, the way she had looked when he left her in that hospital bed.
“She’s running out of time,” Damian said quietly, his voice thick with emotion.
The doctor placed a hand on his shoulder, trying to offer some reassurance. “I know this is hard,” he said gently. “But you have to trust us. We’ll find a way to help her.”
Damian looked up at him, his eyes filled with a mixture of anger and desperation. “She can’t die,” he said again, his voice breaking slightly. “You don’t understand. She’s… she’s everything.”
The doctor nodded solemnly. “Then let us do our job,” he said. “Go see her. Be with her. She needs you, too.”
Damian stood and nodded, though his movements were stiff. He left the lab and made his way back to Aurora’s room, his mind racing. He felt like he was losing control of everything, and he hated it.
When he entered her room, the sight of her took his breath away. She looked so small and fragile, her chest rising and falling with shallow breaths. The machines around her beeped softly, a cruel reminder of how close she was to the edge.
Damian sat in the chair beside her bed, his hands still trembling from the earlier confrontation. He reached out and gently took her hand in his. Her skin was cold, and the touch sent a shiver through him.
“I’m so sorry,” he whispered, his voice raw. “I swear I’ll fix this. I’ll make it right.”
Aurora didn’t stir, but Damian felt a small sense of peace just being near her. He leaned forward, resting his forehead against their joined hands.
“I should’ve protected you,” he said softly. “This is all my fault.”
The hours dragged on as Damian stayed by Aurora’s side. Nurses came and went, checking her vitals and adjusting the machines, but he barely noticed. His mind was consumed by thoughts of revenge and redemption.
Finally, the door opened, and the doctor stepped inside. Damian sat up immediately, his heart racing.
“What did you find?” he demanded.
The doctor held a folder in his hand, his expression serious. “We’ve identified the poison,” he said. “It’s rare, but we have an idea of how to counteract it. The good news is, we believe we can create an antidote. But it will take some time.”
Damian stood, his fists clenching at his sides. “How much time?”
“Hours,” the doctor admitted. “But we’re moving as fast as we can. Every specialist we have is working on this.”
Damian nodded slowly, his jaw tight. “Do whatever it takes,” he said. “I don’t care about the cost. Just save her.”
The doctor gave him a small nod before leaving the room, leaving Damian alone with Aurora once again.
Damian sat back down, his hand returning to hers. He stared at her face, willing her to fight, to stay with him.
“I’m not giving up on you,” he said firmly. “So don’t you dare give up on me.”
The room was silent except for the soft hum of the machines, but Damian felt a flicker of hope. He didn’t know how this would end, but he knew one thing for certain he wouldn’t stop fighting for Aurora.