The harsh lights of Gatham City Private Medical Center made everyone look worse than they already felt. The bulbs were bright and unflattering, washing every tired face into a pale, ghostly color. The walls were too polished, the floors too reflective, and the air too cold. Everything in this hospital felt like metal and glass. No softness. No comfort. Only tension and fear.
Amelia walked down the long hallway beside Jacob, her steps steady and her face calm. Inside her chest, her heart pounded hard enough that she felt it in her fingertips, but she refused to show it. She had spent too many years learning how to keep her rage quiet and her dignity sharp. Every step echoed through the sterile corridor, and with each one, her shoulders straightened a little more.
