Dr. Aiden was heading toward the hospital parking lot when the hair on the back of his neck stood on end. He paused, frowning as he looked around. The lot was dimly lit, eerily quiet—and completely empty.
He shook off the creeping feeling and continued walking. Just as he reached for his car keys, he sensed movement behind him.
He spun around.
A tall, dark figure stood inches away. The man smiled.
"Night-night," he said.
Before Aiden could react, the butt of a gun slammed into his head. He collapsed instantly—but didn't hit the ground. The stranger caught him mid-fall, slung him over his shoulder, and disappeared into the night.
A few hours later,
Aiden stirred, groggy and aching.
His wrists and ankles were tied, and a foul-smelling sack covered his head. The darkness was total. His heart thudded wildly in his chest.
He didn't need to guess what was happening.
He'd been kidnapped.
But why?
He didn't owe money. He didn't run with criminals. He was just a doctor.
"Hello?" he called out, voice strained. "Is anyone there?"
Silence.
"If this is a ransom thing, I can pay. Please, just don't hurt me—"
Before he could finish, the sack was yanked off his head. A harsh light above him flared, blinding him. He squeezed his eyes shut against it, blinking rapidly.
Footsteps echoed.
A door creaked open.
Aiden looked up—and his blood turned cold.
Knight.
Blood was smeared across Knight's face, hands, and shirt. He smiled—a slow, terrifying grin.
"We meet again, Doctor Aiden."
Aiden's mouth opened, but nothing came out.
Knight stared down at him for a moment, then took out a cigarette. He lit it with a lighter passed by one of his men, inhaling deeply like it was the first breath of air after years underwater.
His pupils had dilated. No longer blue. They looked... black.
Inhuman.
Knight stepped forward, crouching in front of Aiden, cigarette dangling from his lips. He blew out a puff of smoke directly into the doctor's face.
"I'll go straight to the point," he said.
Aiden nodded quickly, his head bobbing like a frightened animal.
"First question. Have you ever lied to me?"
Aiden frowned, confused.
Then—
THUNK!
A dagger slammed into his thigh.
He screamed. The sound tore from his throat, sharp and wild.
Blood gushed from the wound, dark and hot. It soaked through his scrubs and dripped to the floor.
The pain was blinding. His leg shook. His hands clenched the armrest.
He couldn't think. He couldn't breathe.
Only pain. Pain and blood.
Knight smirked as blood pooled on the floor. "Oops. Forgot to mention—you get five seconds to answer my questions."
Aiden sobbed, the pain overwhelming.
"I'll ask again…"
"Yes! Yes, I've lied!" Aiden blurted. "I lied!"
Knight nodded. "Good boy."
"Next question. What did you lie about?"
Aiden's breathing was shallow and fast. "I—I lied about your wife's test results. It wasn't stomach flu."
Knight tilted his head. "Go on."
"I didn't want to! Monica Caldwell made me! She threatened me! She—"
Another dagger pierced his other thigh. This time, the blade sank to the hilt.
Aiden's scream echoed through the room, sharp and broken.
He convulsed, blood seeping through his scrubs. The pain drowned everything else.
"Why?" he gasped. "Why are you doing this? I told you the truth!"
Knight leaned forward, his voice calm and cruel. "I didn't ask why you lied, Doctor. I asked what you lied about. You gave me the answer. Good. But don't get ahead of yourself."
Smoke drifted between them.
Aiden choked on it. "S-she didn't have the flu. What she took… it was…"
Knight's voice cut in, sharp. "What did she take?"
Aiden stammered, "It—it was a drug. No, a poison. It's designed to trick the body—destroys any life forming in the womb. If taken too long, the womb starts deteriorating. Permanently."
Knight's face didn't change, but his eyes were fire.
"She still has a chance," Aiden added quickly, "you brought her in just in time. But—"
Knight's tone darkened. "But what?"
Aiden hesitated. "But I only said the flu thing because Monica made me. She's the one who gave her the pills. I—I swear."
Knight stood slowly and stared at the wall, unreadable.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Blackwood! Forgive me, please!" Aiden cried. "Please!"
Knight didn't respond. He turned to one of his men—Fang—and gave a small nod.
Fang stepped forward.
"No! No, please—don't!" Aiden screamed. "Nooooo!"
Outside…
Knight stepped out of the building into the night air. He was walking toward his car when—
Crack!
A bullet whizzed past his head, hitting the wall behind him with a sharp clang.
His men moved instantly, surrounding him, weapons raised.
Knight turned slowly, his eyes scanning the buildings around them.
The bullet had smashed part of the concrete, leaving behind a blackened scorch mark and a twisted fragment on the ground.
He bent down, picked it up, and smiled.
Then he looked up toward the rooftop.
The wind whispered around him.
His grin widened.
As he smirked, El Alacrán gritted her teeth, eyes locked on him.
"Ahhh, mija, you missed," red said, mocking.
"No, mamá, I didn't, I wanna start a war" she replied coldly, then handed Red a bullet.
Red turned it over in her palm, her brow furrowing.
"Since when did you start using Howa-grade ammo?" she asked, voice low with caution.
El Alacrán didn't answer. She just smiled. A slow, knowing smile that said this isn't over. Not by a long shot.