The door closed heavily behind them with a low click, as if sealing off all the dangers outside. Ethan and Aria lay silently on the hospital beds, the rhythm of the machines beside them ticking steadily, seeming to be the only proof that they were still alive. Sunlight streamed through the blinds, casting mottled shadows that danced across the bed, eerie and dark. The wind barely lifted the curtains, bringing in a scent that mingled the antiseptic from the hospital with the earthy smell of the distant garden, leaving an inexplicable unease.

Aria closed her eyes, trying to escape the oppressive environment, but she couldn’t shake the lingering memories. It was as if she was back in the operating room, those cold surgical tools twisting inside her, cutting her flesh while she lay powerless. She could feel every inch of her skin tingling with a dull ache, but she knew this was just the beginning of the pain. She gently turned her head to look at Ethan, his face shrouded in shadow, but she could clearly see the beads of sweat on his forehead and the worry in his eyes.

“Ethan, guess what I saw...” Her voice was as faint as a whisper, but the suppressed emotion was like a taut string, ready to snap at any moment.

Ethan didn’t respond, perhaps because he didn’t dare to, or perhaps because he already knew the answer. His hand clasped Aria’s, feeling her cold fingertips. They held on to each other, as if only by doing so could they find a sliver of courage to keep going.

“I saw the past... that little girl tortured by a drunk father and a gambler mother,” Aria’s voice trembled, her memories flooding back, drowning her in endless pain. “She tried so hard to please them... to win a bit of their attention and love, but in the end, there was only more suffering.”

Ethan’s heart felt like it was being pierced by a blade; he could sense that every word from Aria was being torn from the depths of her soul.

“Who is that boy? The ‘Nike’ you mentioned…” Ethan asked tentatively, his eyes full of confusion and unease.

“Just... an old friend,” Aria quickly avoided his gaze, turning her head to look out the window, as if the world outside could offer her a moment of solace. But Ethan knew the truth was not that simple. She was hiding something, and the person named “Nike” might be the key to unraveling this mystery.

Meanwhile, Sherry’s warning echoed in Ethan’s mind: “Be careful of Leander.” He couldn’t help but glance around the room, as if that man was lurking in some corner, waiting to strike when they least expected it.

“Leander isn’t waiting outside,” Ethan said softly, his brow furrowed, his eyes filled with unease. He couldn’t help but wonder if they were truly safe.

As night fell, the hospital corridors grew quiet. The footsteps of the nurses echoed clearly in the silence. Ethan listened intently to every sound, feeling an indescribable sense of urgency. He knew this was just the brief calm before the storm, that the real danger was looming ever closer.