Episode Three
1164 Words
Something’s Not Right
"You're not to interact with Patient nine again."
Dr. Monroe’s voice was calm but laced with something icy beneath the surface.
Isla blinked, still trying to wrap her head around what had just happened. "But I thought…"
"You thought wrong." Monroe’s gaze was sharp. "I’ll be reassigning you immediately."
Isla clenched her hands into fists, frustration flaring in her chest. "I was sent there to observe him. That was the whole point of my assignment."
Monroe’s expression didn’t change. "And now I’m telling you that’s over."
Something wasn’t adding up.
Kael Draven had broken through steel restraints, terrifying everyone in the room. Yet, instead of increasing security or putting the facility on lockdown, they were pulling her away from the case entirely?
Why?
Why did they care so much about keeping her away from him?
And why did he react to her like that?
She opened her mouth to push further, but Monroe leaned forward, her eyes darkening.
"Miss Carter, consider this a professional courtesy. Do not ask questions you do not want the answers to."
The words sent an uneasy feeling all around Isla.
Monroe slid a new assignment folder across the desk. "Report to the medical wing tomorrow. You’ll assist with minor patient recovery instead."
It was a clear dismissal.
Isla clenched her jaw. She could argue, but it wouldn’t change anything.
Not right now, so she took the file, nodded, and left.
But as she walked out of Monroe’s office, her mind was already made up.
She wasn’t going to let this go.
Later that evening, Isla sat in the breakroom, still trying to process everything.
She hadn’t told anyone what had happened. How could she? It didn’t make sense.
Kael had looked at her like he knew her.
Like he’d been waiting for her.
The way his voice had dropped, low and guttural..
"You smell familiar."
And worse, the way her own body had reacted to him.
A flush of heat curled in her stomach at the memory, and she groaned, dropping her forehead onto the table.
"Damn, girl. That bad, huh?"
Isla’s head snapped up to see Rosie smirking at her, a cup of coffee in one hand, the other resting on her hip.
"What?" Isla frowned.
Rosie slid into the seat across from her, eyes gleaming with mischief. "You look like someone who either had an amazing night… or got hit by a truck. Which is it?"
Isla exhaled sharply. "Neither. Just a rough day."
Rosie took a sip of her coffee before tilting her head. "Has something to do with the infamous Cell nine, doesn’t it?"
Isla tensed. "How do you know about that?"
Rosie grinned. "Oh, please. Everyone’s talking about it. A newbie gets assigned to the psycho in chains, and two seconds later, he’s breaking out of them like some kind of sexy monster villain? I’d be stupid not to be curious."
Isla blinked. "Wait, what do you mean everyone’s talking about it?"
Rosie snorted. "The guards. The nurses. Hell, even the janitor knows. They’re saying Kael Draven has never reacted to anyone the way he did to you."
The chill jolted through Isla like a warning.
Never?
Before she could respond, Rosie waggled her brows. "So, tell me. What exactly did you do to him? Strip?"
Isla nearly choked on air. "Excuse me?!"
Rosie laughed loudly. "Hey, I’m just saying, big scary guy goes from stone-cold statue to full-blown beast the moment you walk in? Maybe you did something without realizing."
Isla groaned, rubbing her temples. "Rosie, I did not strip."
Rosie gave a dramatic sigh. "Shame. That would’ve been a great story."
Despite herself, Isla felt a small smile tug at her lips.
But the moment of humor didn’t last.
Because deep down, she knew something still felt off.
***********
That night, Isla couldn’t sleep.
Kael’s eyes, burning gold, filled with something unnatural haunted her.
Frustrated, she decided to take a walk through the halls, hoping movement would clear her mind.
But as she rounded the corner near the security office, she heard voices.
Two guards were speaking in hushed tones, their backs turned.
"…it’s not normal. He’s never reacted like that before."
"Yeah, well, there’s a reason we don’t talk about him. He’s not just some patient. He’s something else entirely."
Isla’s breath hitched.
The first guard sighed. "Have you ever heard the stories about Whitehouse’s true purpose? The ones they don’t put in the official reports?"
"I’ve heard rumors. You think they’re true?"
"I think whatever Draven is, it’s not human."
Isla’s blood ran ice cold.
She backed away before they could notice her, her pulse pounding in her ears.
What the hell was happening in this facility?
Isla tried to push the conversation out of her head.
She told herself she was overthinking things. That she was just letting her imagination get the better of her.
But when she was called to retrieve new patient records later that night, the nagging feeling of unease wouldn’t go away.
She stepped into the observation wing, glancing around the dimly lit corridor.
She was supposed to be alone.
Yet, the air felt different. Thicker and charged.
She moved toward the file cabinet, fingers brushing the cold metal.
Strangely the lights flickered.
A sharp click echoed through the room. The door behind her had just locked.
Panic flared in her chest as she turned sharply.
"Hello?" Isla called out but there was silence.
She pressed against the door, but it wouldn’t budge.
That’s when she realized where she was.
The observation room.
Directly connected to Cell nine.
And on the other side of the reinforced wall was Kael Draven. He stood there watching her.
Isla’s pulse skyrocketed.
He was awake. And he wasn’t shackled anymore.
Kael tilted his head, his golden eyes glowing in the dim light.
"Lost again, little Rabbit?" His voice was deeper, rougher.
Isla swallowed hard. "I didn’t mean to come here. The door locked behind me."
A slow, dark smirk tugged at his lips. "That’s unfortunate."
The air felt strange, almost suffocating, making it harder to breathe.
That’s when she noticed the full moonlight filtering through the small window above.
And something clicked in her mind.
The guards had said he wasn’t human.
They had said he wasn’t normal.
The icy feeling curled in Isla’s chest.
Kael exhaled slowly, rolling his shoulders.
"You should start running, Isla."
Her body turned to ice, frozen at the spot.
"Why?" she whispered.
Kael’s pupils dilated.
"Because I can’t promise I won’t chase you."
A slow, deep growl rumbled from his chest.
The wall wasn’t thick enough. The locks weren’t strong enough.And the full moon was rising.
Immediately it felt like a beast was about to break free
Isla took an instinctive step back.
Kael mirrored her, his body coiling like a predator ready to strike.
Then, the first shudder ran through his frame.
Something was changing. His breathing grew uneven, labored.
His eyes burned brighter. And then the wall cracked.
- Writer
