Dr. Cain released a prolonged sigh, a visible effort to regain composure. With a raised arm, he signaled his guards with a subtle flick of two fingers, without even sparing them a glance. His voice, though devoid of emotion, carried an undeniable chill that sent shivers down the spines of those in the room. “Remove her,” he commanded, his words resonating with an undercurrent of authority.

Without hesitation, the guards swiftly responded to Dr. Cain's command, their movements synchronized and disciplined. With an unwavering grip, they seized the panicked woman, who was now on the verge of a full-blown panic attack. "Sir, please!" she pleaded, desperately attempting to free herself from their grasp, but their hold remained unyielding as they forcefully guided her towards the exit. Her voice trembled with a mix of fear and desperation as she continued to plead her case, her words echoed through the hallway, growing fainter with each step taken away from the examination room. "I swear it wasn't my intention, it all came out wrong! Give me another chance, please! Dr. Cain!" Her pleas faded into the distance, swallowed by the corridor's silence.

Dr. Cain's expression softened slightly as he shook his head in disappointment. The middle-aged male doctor standing nearby swiftly recognized the need for gloves and handed a pair to Dr. Cain. Taking the gloves, Dr. Cain pulled a chair close to Zack, who sat there holding his cheek where the slap had landed, his gaze deliberately avoiding Cain's. His expression etched with a mixture of defiance and discontent.

"Zack, look at me," Dr. Cain spoke calmly yet firmly, his gaze piercing through the boy's defenses. With a resigned sigh, Zack reluctantly turned his head towards Dr. Cain, keeping his hand firmly pressed against his cheek. The intensity of Dr. Cain's scrutiny made Zack uneasy, as if the man could see straight into his soul. Sensing Zack's discomfort, Dr. Cain gently took hold of his hand, prying it away from his face. 

He gently lifted Zack's face by the chin, his gaze focused on the injured cheek. Without a word, he pressed a gloved finger against Zack's closed lips, exerting a steady pressure to coax his mouth open. Dr. Cain carefully inserted his finger, exploring the inside of Zack's mouth, examining the area where the forceful blow had landed. 

“Ugh.” Zack winced and grimaced at the discomfort caused by the intrusion, his eyes reflecting a mixture of pain and apprehension.

Dr. Cain withdrew his finger from Zack's mouth, his gaze shifting to the middle-aged male doctor. "Retrieve the soothing gel," he commanded in a firm tone. The male doctor promptly moved towards the cabinet located at the back of the room, his steps quick and purposeful. 

"Zack, focus your gaze on my finger and follow its movement," Dr. Cain instructed, redirecting his attention to Zack. He raised his arm and extended a finger upward before sweeping it across from left to right. 

Zack obediently followed the motion of Dr. Cain's finger with his eyes.  

Dr. Cain let out a sigh, his sharp gaze fixed on Zack. “How many days has it been since you last slept, Zack?” he asked.

Zack averted his gaze from Cain's piercing eyes. "Two days," he answered 

"Zack..." Dr. Cain's voice carried a hint of sternness and disappointment, emphasizing the name.

Zack let out a sigh, “Three days…” He admitted.

The middle-aged doctor returned, holding the ointment in his hand. He handed it over to Dr. Cain, who took it without a word. Before applying the ointment, Dr. Cain swiftly wrote something on a prescription paper and handed it to the male doctor. The doctor promptly left the room to retrieve the requested item.

Dr. Cain squeezed a small amount of ointment onto his finger, carefully spreading it across his fingertip. He looked at Zack and commanded, "Open your mouth." 

Zack followed his instructions, parting his lips to allow Dr. Cain to administer the ointment.

After applying the ointment inside Zack's mouth, Dr. Cain turned his attention to the tray containing vials and needles for blood withdrawal. With practiced precision, he took hold of Zack's arm and inserted the blood collection needle, his movements swift and efficient. 

Zack was relieved to feel no pain, though a sense of unease lingered within him. 

Dr. Cain gestured to the doctors standing nearby, signaling them to continue collecting blood samples from Zack.

Meanwhile, Ian sat on his examination bed, hugging his knees tightly as the tension in the room weighed on him. His eyes followed Dr. Cain's movements, anxiously anticipating his turn. 

As Dr. Cain finished with Zack, he glanced in Ian's direction, making eye contact. 

Ian's heart raced, shit, is it my turn? Slowly releasing his grip on his knees, he positioned himself on the bed, his face etched with worry.

Dr. Cain approached Ian, his steps measured and composed. Sensing Ian's apprehension, he reached out and gently patted him on the head, a seemingly comforting gesture accompanied by a subtle smile. 

Ian, taken aback by the unexpected touch, found himself momentarily startled. However, the subtle warmth in Dr. Cain's smile managed to soothe his racing thoughts, granting him some ease.

A male doctor trailed closely behind Dr. Cain, carefully balancing a tray laden with vials and needles for the blood work. Simultaneously, he pulled out the chair next to Ian's examination bed, gesturing for Dr. Cain to take a seat. With practiced efficiency, Dr. Cain swiftly and skillfully collected the blood sample from Ian, the process lasting no more than 10 minutes. Remarkably, Ian found himself experiencing no pain or discomfort during the procedure. Unlike the rough experience Ian had endured during his initial awakening in the ward that left him with unpleasant memories.

After swiftly completing the blood collection from Ian, Dr. Cain moved on to Adam, executing the procedure with the same speed and efficiency. However, Ian couldn't help but notice an unusual exchange between Dr. Cain and Adam. Their conversation was carried out in hushed tones, making it impossible for Ian to discern its content. 

As Dr. Cain finished, he leaned in closer to Adam's ear, whispering something that visibly affected the normally composed boy. Adam's expression shifted from stoic to distressed, leaving Ian curious about the nature of their exchange. Dr. Cain, seemingly aware of Ian's observation, winked at him playfully before making his way over to the middle-aged doctor who had returned, syringe in hand, standing near Zack's bed.

Dr. Cain took the syringe from the middle-aged male doctor, he turned towards Zack, his tone calm but commanding. "Give me your arm, Zack," he stated, his gaze fixed on Zack's face.

Zack's frown deepened as he looked at the syringe, clearly concerned about its contents. "What is it?" he questioned, hesitant to offer his arm.

Dr. Cain's gaze grew sharper, his voice carrying an authoritative tone as he emphasized Zack's name. "Your arm, Zack," he reiterated, his firmness leaving little room for refusal.

Protesting silently, Zack's face displayed his inner turmoil. However, unlike Zack’s usual rude behavior, Ian noticed a change—he seemed compliant. With a momentary hesitation, Zack extended his arm towards Dr. Cain, who swiftly administered the drug into his vein. As Dr. Cain removed the needle, Zack's eyelids immediately grew heavy, and he succumbed to the drug's effects, falling into a deep unconsciousness.

As Zack fell into a deep sleep on the examination table, Dr. Cain's piercing gaze shifted towards one of his guards, silently conveying his instructions. The guard swiftly stepped forward, acknowledging the unspoken command. 

"Take him to my office," Dr. Cain ordered.

"Yes, sir," the guard replied, swiftly moving towards Zack and carefully lifting him into his arms. With Zack in his grasp, the guard exited the examination room under Dr. Cain's watchful gaze.

Dr. Cain then turned his attention back to the other doctors in the room, his tone firm and authoritative. "Proceed with the examinations, and I expect a detailed report," he instructed, as he made his way towards the exit.

The middle-aged doctor, who had been overseeing the boys since the beginning, shifted his attention towards them, his gaze cold and indifferent. "You two, follow me," he commanded.

Meanwhile, the other doctors continued their examinations of the remaining children, their focused attention directed behind the privacy curtains.

Adam and Ian obediently climbed down from the examination beds and trailed behind the middle-aged doctor, leaving the room and making their way back to the waiting area.

"Wait here," the male doctor stated curtly, as he closed the door behind him, leaving Adam and Ian alone in the waiting room.

Ian released a heavy sigh, his exhalation carrying the weight of the tension he felt this whole time. "Is it always like this?" he asked, his question directed at Adam.

However, Adam seemed unaware of Ian's words. He walked towards one of the couches and took a seat, his distant gaze fixed on an unseen horizon. Lost in his own thoughts, his face was etched with worry.

Did he not hear me? Ian's perplexed expression deepened "Adam?" He called, slightly tilting his head in confusion.