Chapter 460 Anne's Fate Hangs in the Balance
The hospital bed was a mess, with the sheets twisted and tangled. The IV stand lay crooked in the corner, and shards of glass mixed with dried blood were scattered in the cracks of the tiles.
The pillow was torn in half, with stuffing scattered like snowflakes on the nightstand. The small blood pressure monitor that had been on the table was now smashed to pieces, its cuff twisted into a knot, and the fragments of its display screen glinted coldly under the harsh overhead light.
I stumbled through the chaos, my fingers brushing against the still-wet bloodstains on the sheets. The sticky sensation sent a chill through my heart.
"Anne?"
My voice echoed in the room. As I moved the curtains, a few dried blood flakes fell from the folds, landing on the back of my hand. The overturned nightstand pinned down a broken IV tube, with dark red streaks still visible on the clear plastic. As I kicked it aside, it scraped across the floor with a grating sound. The mattress was flipped over, exposing twisted metal springs that snagged a few strands of hair.
The strands were shoulder-length and slightly yellowed at the ends—Anne's hair. Now, they hung forlornly from the sharp springs, swaying gently with my movements, as if silently accusing.
The smell of disinfectant mixed with the acrid scent of gunpowder. The window was wide open, and the hum of the ventilation system resonated through the ducts, but it couldn't dispel the lingering stench of blood.
A sense of danger crept over me. The walkie-talkie in my hand suddenly buzzed, and I pressed the talk button with trembling fingers, only to hear static.
As I turned, I caught a glimpse of a white figure at the end of the hallway. A nurse, clutching a bundle of sheets, stumbled forward, the linen obscuring half her face. She froze when she saw me, her rubber-soled shoes screeching against the floor. Her eyes, cloudy with panic, darted away as she hurried into another room.
"Have you seen Anne?"
I rushed over and grabbed her wrist, noticing a faint tattoo under her sleeve.
She struggled to break free, the sheets falling to the floor.
"I don't know! I just started my shift, I haven't seen anything!"
"Stop lying!"
Her voice cracked as she screamed, spittle hitting my face. I pinned her against the wall, a silver necklace slipping out from her collar, glinting under the light, identical to the ones Jeffrey's men wore. She clawed at my hand, leaving five bloody scratches, trying to escape my grip.
"The room is a mess, and you expect me to believe you know nothing? Anne can't walk on her own. Where did they take her?"
I demanded, my grip tightening unconsciously.
The nurse suddenly sneered, her mouth twisting into a cruel smile.
"Kid, don't make this harder on yourself. Mr. Adams' men took her away five minutes ago. If you go after them now, you're just walking into your own death."
Before she finished speaking, she kneed me in the stomach.
I doubled over in pain but didn't let go. She elbowed my temple, making my vision go black as I stumbled back. She turned to run, but I grabbed her hair. She screamed and pulled a folding knife from her pocket, slashing at me.
I dodged, the blade grazing my arm and leaving a cut. The pain sharpened my focus. I twisted her wrist, dislocating it, and the knife clattered to the floor.
She didn't give up, kicking my knee hard. I lost my balance and fell.
She pounced, her hands squeezing my throat.
I realized she wasn't just an ordinary middle-aged woman. Her moves weren't as lethal as a trained bodyguard or assassin, but she was strong enough to make me struggle for breath, my vision blurring.
In desperation, I grabbed a metal trash can and smashed it against her head.
She grunted and collapsed on top of me.
Gasping for air, I pushed her off and leaned against the wall, retching, the taste of blood strong in my mouth.
I bent to pick up the walkie-talkie when I heard a thud behind me. The nurse had somehow gotten up, using her dislocated arm to pull herself up with the fire hydrant. She staggered to the emergency exit, the cold wind carrying the scent of disinfectant.
"Stop!"
I stumbled after her, my shoes crunching on broken glass. Just as I reached the threshold, she yanked a fire extinguisher from the wall. White powder sprayed into my face, and I instinctively raised my hands to shield myself. The acrid powder burned my nose, making me cough violently, tears streaming down my face.
When my vision cleared, the hallway was empty except for the overturned extinguisher and a trail of blood. The stains varied in color, some fresh, some dried. I couldn't tell which were Anne's and which were the nurse's.
The walkie-talkie buzzed in my hand, making my fingers tremble. I pressed the talk button, Lila's voice crackling through the static.
"Diana? What's going on over there?"
At that moment, the emergency lights went out. In the darkness, I heard the sound of metal scraping against the floor, getting closer. I pressed my back against the cold wall, sweat soaking through my clothes.
"Anne was taken by Jeffrey's men!"
I whispered into the walkie-talkie.
Anne's pale face flashed in my mind, her hand with the IV still in it. In her current state, she couldn't endure any torture.
"She's in serious danger." My voice shook uncontrollably.
The walkie-talkie crackled with the sound of medical equipment.
"Come back now!" Lila's voice was urgent.
"Edward's condition is unstable. Lucas is waiting downstairs. We'll figure out what to do about Anne later."
Later? By the time we had the means and time, would Anne still be alive? The emergency lights flickered and went out, the footsteps growing louder.
What should I do? I couldn't just let Anne fall into Jeffrey's hands. But Lila said Edward's condition was critical, and Lucas was waiting.
Logic told me to follow Lila's advice and return, but thinking of Anne, I couldn't take that step.
I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. Then I sprinted towards the exit, bursting through the metal door. The smell of disinfectant and damp concrete hit me. No matter the danger, I had to find a way to get Anne back.
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