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Chapter 6: The Body Doesn’t Lie

The research room was quiet.

Too quiet.

A digital clock blinked 02:47 AM.

Rook was still awake.

---

She sat cross-legged on the floor, the hard tiles pressing into her skin.

The chair next to her desk remained untouched, neatly pushed in.

A cold lamp buzzed overhead, flickering as she turned another page.

Stacks of case files lay open around her like a fortress made of paper and ink.

Her golden eyes didn’t blink often.

Her body rocked slightly, just enough to keep her mind from freezing over.

This was normal for her.

She hadn’t really slept in years.

---

Not because she didn’t want to.

Because she couldn’t.

The few times she drifted off, the world behind her eyelids wasn’t silent.

It was screaming.

So she stayed awake.

Or at least… tried.

---

Grayson found her like that at dawn.

Still sitting on the floor.

Still reading.

Still… barely there.

> “Rook?”

She didn’t respond.

He stepped closer.

> “Hey—”

She slumped sideways.

Books scattered.

Her body hit the floor with a hollow thud.

---

Ash Wing Medical Wing – Early Morning

“She collapsed,” Grayson said. His voice was calm, but his jaw was clenched.

The lead medic shook her head.

> “Not just exhaustion. It’s systemic failure.”

> “Explain.”

> “She hasn’t slept in days. Maybe longer. Classic insomnia, trauma-induced. Malnourished. Blood pressure’s low. She’s severely dehydrated.”

She flipped the chart.

> “And she only has one kidney.”

Grayson stilled.

> “You’re sure?”

> “Positive. The left one’s completely missing. Old surgical scar—crude. No hospital would’ve done it legally. Her remaining kidney is overworked and under pressure. This is going to keep happening unless we intervene.”

Vera sat beside the hospital bed, silent.

Rook lay there hooked to an IV drip, too small for the pillows around her.

Her face was pale, and her lips dry.

---

Cain entered quietly, hands in pockets.

> “How long until she wakes?”

> “Anytime now,” the medic said.

> “And when she does?”

The medic hesitated.

> “She’ll probably pretend she’s fine.”

Grayson sighed.

> “Because pretending is the only thing she knows.”

---

Later

Rook blinked awake.

White ceiling. IV tube. Blurred voices.

She slowly sat up, breathing shallowly. Vera reached out.

> “Don’t—” Rook flinched.

Grayson stepped in.

> “You’re in the med wing. You passed out.”

> “I wasn’t done reading.”

> “You have insomnia.”

She looked away.

> “I know.”

> “You’re not invincible.”

Rook was quiet.

Then, softly:

> “I don’t trust beds.”

> “Why not?”

> “They mean you’ll be woken up.”

> “And chairs?”

> “I was never allowed to sit.”

---

The room went still.

No one laughed.

No one spoke.

Only the beeping of the monitor.

Grayson finally said:

> “Not anymore.”

> “What?”

> “You can sit where you want. Sleep when you want. We’ll deal with the rest.”

Rook didn’t smile.

Didn’t cry.

Just stared at him like she wasn’t sure if he was real.

---

End of Chapter 6