Chapter 50: Suspect
Hailee’s POV
I jumped out of my bed, my eyes drifting to the wall clock. It was past 7 p.m. Without wasting a second, I grabbed the first jacket I could find and threw it over myself. My heart pounded—not from the rush, but from fear. Deep, soul-gripping fear. That dream... It wasn’t just a dream. I knew it wasn’t. My dreams never were. They were always signs. Warnings. And this one felt worse than any I’d ever had.
I flew down the stairs, thankful that Mom’s door was shut. I couldn’t stop. I couldn’t explain. I slipped out of the house and slammed the door behind me. The cold air wrapped around me, biting at my skin—but I didn’t care. I ran. I ran like my life depended on it. Or his.
The streets were quiet, the streetlights casting long shadows around me, but I didn’t stop. I couldn’t. My feet hit the pavement hard and fast, my breath catching, my chest tight with panic. I didn’t even realize how far I’d come until I saw the glowing sign of the hospital in the distance.
When I pushed through the glass doors, a nurse turned sharply, startled to see me. A doctor raised a brow in surprise.
"Miss? Visiting hours are—"
But I didn’t stop. I rushed past them, my legs carrying me toward the hall I’d memorized earlier. I got to Nathan’s floor and saw two guards standing outside his room.
One of them stepped in my path. "You can’t go in right now—"
"Please," I panted. "I just... I need to see him. I had a feeling—something’s wrong. I swear I won’t do anything crazy. I just need to make sure he’s okay."
They exchanged a look, hesitating. Something in my voice—maybe the desperation—got to them. After a second, one of them gave a reluctant nod and stepped aside.
I didn’t wait. I pushed the door open and walked in quickly. There he was. Still lying there, unconscious. But something felt different. I rushed to his side and gently placed my hand on his bare chest, right over his heart. It was now or never. I could feel the flicker of energy rising inside me, my ability ready to surface. I closed my eyes, ready to call it forward...
Suddenly the door burst open.