In one of the small yet resourceful cities in America stood a large hospital, built in a square shape with an open space at its center. The hospital's size was impressive, unlike any other, and it was well-equipped with nearly every medical facility one could imagine.
Inside one of the many offices in the hospital, a blonde-haired woman was removing her bloodstained surgical coat. As she struggled with it, the door suddenly burst open, and a dark-skinned woman with black hair walked in.
"Oh, shit… Anna?!" Sera exclaimed, surprised.
"Why didn't you change in the locker room? Why here, in your office of all places?" Sera asked as she walked over to her.
Anna, Alex's mother, was now fully changed into her usual office attire—a white blouse and a black skirt. She didn't respond to Sera's question, instead quietly sitting at her desk with her hands resting under her chin.
Sera sighed and sat down in one of the chairs across from Anna.
"Look, Anna, it doesn't matter what you are or what people say. As long as you're using it to save lives, that's all that matters," Sera said earnestly.
Anna's eyes lifted from the desk, meeting Sera's gaze. "So, you believe them now? You think I'm a witch?" Anna asked softly.
"I do think you're a witch," Sera interrupted before Anna could say more.
"I hate that you're still trying to hide this from me, but I saw it. I saw what you did back there. Trust me, your secret is safe with me. I understand why you've kept it hidden," Sera added, her voice steady but kind.
She studied Anna's face carefully, searching for any reaction, but Anna remained silent, her expression unreadable.
After a few moments, Sera stood up and headed toward the door. Just as she reached for the handle, Anna's voice stopped her.
"Wait!" Anna called out.
Sera turned around, curious about why Anna had stopped her.
"Since you saw what happened… I guess I should explain how I got this power," Anna said, her tone resigned.
A few moments later, still in the office, Sera couldn't stop asking questions.
"You mean that scum who left you and ran away was the one who taught you this magic?" Sera asked, her voice filled with disbelief and awe.
"It's not magic… At least, that's what he told me," Anna replied softly.
Sera stayed silent for a moment, processing Anna's words.
"So, there are beings living among us who aren't exactly human? But if they have so much power to do all these things, why aren't they helping out?" Sera asked, her voice filled with frustration. "I mean, if more people like you existed, more lives could be saved."
Anna sighed. "I don't know why. Honestly, I don't even consider myself one of them. And the power I use now… it feels different from what I was originally taught," she confessed.
"What do you mean?" Sera asked, leaning forward in her seat.
"The feeling I get now isn't the same as it was back then," Anna explained. "When he taught me… this ability, he called it 'life force control.' He said if I could control the life force of a living being, I could save them from life-threatening situations."
She paused before continuing. "But as time went on, it changed. Now, I don't feel like I'm controlling anything. It's like I just tell their body to heal, and it listens."
Sera's eyes widened. "Who cares how it works? You have a superpower! You could help so many people. Have you tried curing patients with serious conditions?"
"No," Anna said firmly. "I'm afraid if I do, it will raise questions I can't answer."
The thought of curing diseases like cancer, HIV, and other incurable illnesses had crossed Anna's mind more than once. But she knew the consequences. If she performed miracles like that, people would demand to know how—and she couldn't reveal the truth about her powers.
"I get it," Sera said gently. "I'm not judging. I just wanted to know if you've tried. But you should know—your actions in this hospital are already raising questions. Other doctors are starting to wonder what your secret is. You've even earned a nickname," Sera added cautiously.
"I know about the nickname," Anna said, her voice calm. "They can call me whatever they want."
In the hospital, Anna had gained a reputation for never losing a patient, no matter how critical their condition. Because of this, her colleagues had started calling her The Witch Doctor. Anna was aware of it—she had overheard some of them slip up and use the name around her. But there was nothing she could do about it.
An awkward silence filled the room until Sera spoke again.
"Can you teach me?" she asked suddenly.
"No," Anna replied immediately.
"It's not that I don't want to," Anna added quickly. "I do want to share this with the world. But it's dangerous. And the truth is, I don't even know how I do it. I just… give a command, and it happens."
Sera nodded slowly, understanding the weight of Anna's words.
"Dangerous?" Sera asked, her brows furrowed in concern.
Anna lowered her gaze slightly.
"I guess I left that part out," Anna began. "When he first taught me this, I saw him use it on my dog. That's when he explained something important—these superhumans follow a strict system. It's not just about having powers or knowing them. You have to join a group or a clan. If you don't, you'll be hunted down and killed."
"Our plan was for me to join a clan," Anna continued, her voice soft. "But… you already know how that turned out."
Sera nodded, understanding the weight of Anna's words. "I get it, Anna. I might be dying to learn it, but I understand why you can't teach me."
She paused, then added with a wry smile, "Well, in the end, it looks like that scum didn't just leave you with Alex. He left you something useful too. Maybe he's not a complete scum after all."
Anna chuckled lightly at the comment.
"Speaking of Alex… how's he doing?" Sera asked casually.
"Alex?" Anna repeated, as if bringing her thoughts back. "He's doing well, but…" Her voice trailed off, unsure how to continue.
"But what?" Sera's tone turned serious.
"He's been going out a lot lately. His body's changing too—getting bigger, like someone who's been hitting the gym," Anna explained.
Sera burst out laughing. "That's it? You're worried because your son, who used to lock himself away, is finally getting out into the world?" She playfully pinched Anna's arm.
"That's not it," Anna replied, shaking her head. "It's more than that. He's acting different. His behavior… It's not like him. He suddenly meditates in the middle of the night. His posture, the way he walks—it's all more confident, more… deliberate."
"Meditation?" Sera raised a brow. "Who knows, maybe he found some wellness guru online. It's not a bad thing. As for the gym, maybe he's got a girlfriend or is trying to impress someone."
Anna didn't respond. She stayed silent, lost in thought. The meditation part bothered her the most.
"His father used to meditate," Anna thought. "He always told me to meditate to strengthen my mind. And now Alex is doing the same. Maybe there's something going on that I'm missing."
"Hey, snap out of it," Sera said, breaking Anna's thoughts. "The day's almost over. Let's visit Alex. I'd love to see his face when he realizes I know about his secret girlfriend," she added with a mischievous grin.
---
Meanwhile, in another part of the hospital, a group of seven male doctors gathered in a lit office. Their expressions were grim.
"So, the Witch Doctor did it again, didn't she?" one of them, wearing a badge that read Dr. Guity, said bitterly.
"She saved another patient from the brink of death. How she does it… none of us know," Dr. Guity continued. "But I believe she's hiding something. We need to uncover her secret. And if she refuses to share it, we'll get rid of her. Who's with me?" he shouted, his voice filled with conviction.
Without hesitation, every hand in the room shot up.