Hybrid Lena

Chapter 4

-Lilian-

I stared at the screen; disbelief was tightening in my chest. How was this even possible? I reset the filter and searched three days before yesterday. Bed thirty-two. A previous patient’s record appeared instantly.

Deceased.

So, the system worked. My fingers moved faster now. I returned to yesterday’s date. To the same bed.

Nothing.

There were no admission. No transfer. No discharge. It were as if no one had occupied that bed at all. My jaw slackened slightly as I leaned closer to the screen. He couldn’t have known how to wipe himself from the system. Not completely. Not like this.

Something was very wrong. Someone else is involved in this disappearing act. My mind replayed what Noah did in the handover. He couldn't have known , could he? But then he would have known who I was too, surely?

I sat there, pulse pounding, trying to decide what to do next.

Suddenly the doorknob turned. Oh crap, I was in trouble. I snapped the screen into sleep mode just as the door opened.

Light from the corridor spilled into the room, outlining a tall dark figure in the doorway. For a split second, fear punched through me. The silhouette from the car park, from the café window. My breath hitched.

Then my eyes adjusted, relief washed through me, followed quickly by irritation. It was Noah.

“What are you doing here, Lilian?” he asked quietly, stepping inside and shutting the door behind him. I folded my arms. “I could ask you the same thing.”

He glanced toward the door before taking a step closer. “I was asked to find a patient’s personnel file. Apparently, you’re supposed to be on your break.”

When he moved closer, he leaned down slightly, his face uncomfortably close to mine.

“Last I checked, this wasn’t the place to rest,” he said. “So, I’ll ask again, what are you doing in here?” I kept my expression neutral, schooling my face into calm.

Inside, Lena bristled.

She didn’t like him this close. Didn’t like the pressure of his presence in our space. A low warning stirred in my chest, barely contained. And then there was something else. A faint scent. Not a human… Something else?...

My focus sharpened. Why hadn’t I noticed it before? And why was Lena reacting like this now when she never had with him before? I stood, breaking the tension, and moved toward the door. I wasn’t letting him corner me again.

“We need space.” I said flatly, and time to think.

I reached for the handle as Noah’s arm shot out, bracing above my head, his hand pressing against the door.

“Move,” I said. “I want to leave.”

I tugged again but the door didn’t budge.

“Noah,” I warned, my voice low. “What has gotten into you?”

He exhaled sharply. “This is a good thing. He’s gone. You saved his life, and now he’s out of it. That should be enough.”

My stomach twisted.

“So please,” he continued, “let’s stop this. I won’t tell anyone you were in here as long as you drop it.” I stared at him, realization settling heavy and cold. This was control and he does know something.

Lena surged, furious, urging me not to back down. She wanted to show herself. She knew I could push harder to force the issue, but people were nearby. And despite everything, Noah was still human. I inhaled slowly. Debating whether or not to bring it up and question him about the system being wiped. See if I can tell if he is involved and why. Scrap about getting into trouble but the danger he put himself in?

“Fine,” I said at last. “I’ll drop it.”

He studied my face, searching for any signs of cracks, then finally lowered his arm. He opened the door a fraction, checking the corridor, then smirked.

“Good,” he said. “The last thing we need is you getting obsessed over some random patient who didn’t even exist. People will start thinking you’re losing it.” Something inside me snapped. Lena’s anger surged through me hot, sharp, unapologetic. I stepped past him, turning back only once.

“You know what Noah?” I said coolly. “Forget it. Don’t bother waiting for me after work. I’d rather walk home.”

His brow furrowed.

“People might start thinking I’m the one obsessed,” I added. “With you.” I turned and walked away before he could respond.

Instead of going back on the floor, I walked out of the hospital. On my way home, I texted the senior nurse to let her know I wasn’t feeling well and needed to leave. She didn’t like that I’d done it over text, but she accepted it and told me to get some rest. Soon after, my phone started buzzing.

Texts, Missed calls. All from Noah.

He’d clearly realised I’d left the hospital. Normally, that would have pulled me straight into another argument but today, I’d had enough. He could wait until I’d cooled off. In fact, he could wait until tomorrow.

I slipped my phone back into my pocket and kept walking.

It didn’t take long before I reached the familiar split in the path. Straight ahead would take me directly home. Left would lead through the small, wooded park, looping back toward my flat from the other side.

I slowed down as I thought.

I wasn’t ready to go straight home. Not yet. The longer route would give me time to breathe, to clear my head. To ease a tight knot that was on my chest.

So, I turned towards the park.

Sunlight filtered through the trees as I made my way inside, the air cooler beneath, letting the sounds of the city fade behind me. Leaves rustled softly overhead as birds called somewhere in the distance.

It was unusually quiet.

But not in a way that felt threatening. If anything, it felt calm, steady. Like the world had lowered its voice for me. I continued down the path, letting myself enjoy the stillness, hoping it would be enough to quiet everything churning inside me.