Chapter 322: The Escape
At the hospital...
In the late hours of the night, a nurse approached the room where Lydia was kept.
Outside the room, the lone policeman slumped in his chair, head tilted to the side, lost in sleep. He didn’t stir when she quietly approached, her face partially obscured by a surgical mask. Her footsteps were light, almost soundless, as she slipped past the door and into the room.
Her gaze landed on Lydia lying motionless, her chest rising and falling with shallow breaths. Tears filled her eyes when she saw her face covered with bruises. With trembling fingers, she reached down and gently tapped Lydia’s shoulder.
"Mom," she whispered. "Mom, it’s me, Erica."
Lydia stirred, her swollen eyes fluttering open. Confusion flickered across her bruised face as she struggled to focus. Erica slowly pulled down her mask, revealing her face.
"It’s me."
"Erica!" Lydia’s heart sank, disbelief and fear etched into every line of her face.
The faint clicks of the closing door snapped the policeman out of his slumber. He jerked upright, heart racing with the sharp instinct that something was off. His eyes darted toward Lydia’s room. Without wasting a second, he pushed the door open.
Inside, a nurse stood by the bed.
"What are you doing here?" the officer barked, stepping forward with suspicion etched into his furrowed brow. "Why are you in the room this late?"