No one escapes Lorenzo

The hospital corridors were finally quiet, save for the occasional shuffle of late-night staff. Aria Bennett adjusted her bag strap and glanced at her best friend, Maya, who was juggling her phone and a stack of patient charts. “Finally done for the day,” Maya sighed, a tired but genuine smile on her face. “I don’t think I can survive another one of these rotations.” Aria laughed softly, feeling a warmth in her chest. “Tell me about it. Six more months and we’re done. No more night shifts, no more endless rounds.” Maya nudged her playfully. “You’re going to be the youngest doctor anyone’s ever seen. Twenty-one and already licensed. Can you imagine?” Aria’s grin widened. The thought had made her giddy all day. “Possibly the youngest doctor in history. I just need to survive the next six months without completely losing my mind.” “Don’t worry,” Maya said, nudging her again. “You’ve got this. All that hard work will pay off.” Aria nodded, savoring the reassurance. “Thanks, Maya. You too. And hey… be careful on your way home.” Maya laughed. “You worry too much. See you tomorrow.” Aria watched her friend disappear into the night and adjusted her bag again. She took a shortcut through the alley behind the hospital, a route she hated but one that shaved ten minutes off her walk. The night air was crisp and smelled faintly of wet asphalt and rain-soaked leaves. Her thoughts drifted to graduation...just six months away. Twenty-one and a doctor. The idea made her chest swell with pride. Her footsteps echoed softly as she walked, the city around her dim and quiet. The distant hum of traffic faded as she turned into the narrow alley. She loved her work, loved medicine, loved helping people...but right now, all she wanted was to get home and crawl into bed. Then she froze. A low, guttural groan reached her ears. Her heart thudded in her chest. Probably someone hurt themselves, or maybe a drunk stumbled around, she told herself. Yet, the sound was different, sharp, deliberate, and filled with pain. Before she could decide to turn back, a muffled scream followed. Her pulse spiked. Aria’s first instinct screamed at her to run, but curiosity...her ever-present, dangerous curiosity.....pulled her forward. Maybe someone needs help… maybe I can do something. She moved cautiously, sticking close to the shadows. Her stomach churned, every hair on her body on end. The alley seemed longer than before, darker, silent except for the faint groans that made her chest tighten. She didn’t see anything at first. Just an empty stretch of brick walls and puddles reflecting the dim light of the streetlamps. Her hands were clammy, her breath uneven. She was about to turn around when the sound came again....closer, louder, unmistakable. Aria swallowed hard and took another step forward, forcing herself to peer around a corner. And then she saw him. He was… different. Larger than any man she’d ever seen, every movement precise and controlled. Dark hair, that seemed to cut through the shadows, and a presence that made her stomach twist with both fear and fascination. He stood over a figure sprawled on the ground. The knife in his hand gleamed under the flickering streetlight. He twisted it slowly, deliberately, in the person’s chest, as if it were the most natural, necessary thing in the world. Each motion was exact, almost ritualistic. Aria’s legs froze, her breath catching in her throat. Her mind screamed at her to look away, to run, to scream....but she couldn’t. The alley seemed to shrink around her. The glint of the knife, the stillness of the body beneath it, the dark, commanding figure above...it all pressed down on her like a physical weight. Her legs trembled. She tried to step backward, to retreat, but her knees betrayed her. They gave way, and she stumbled, hitting the ground with a sharp thud. A small gasp escaped her lips. And then… the man’s head flicked in her direction.