Chapter 26

• Jake***
• The sterile scent of antiseptic filled the air as we stepped into the hospital, an overwhelming reminder of the cold, lifeless space we now occupied. The harsh fluorescent lights overhead gleamed off the stark white walls, amplifying the tension that hung between us. My hand was tightly clasped around Belle’s, her fingers cold and firm, the pressure of her grip sending a ripple of unease through me. It wasn’t fear that gripped her—no, it was resolve, something much sharper and more dangerous. I could feel her determination like a living thing, pressing down on my chest, urging me forward, but also making my heart race with the weight of what we were about to face.
• I glanced at her. Her face was pale, her lips set in a firm line. Despite everything she had been through, there was a fire in her eyes, a steady pulse of anger and something even deeper—something raw and aching that I could barely comprehend. As we walked, I couldn’t help but wonder if she was haunted by the memories, if the man we were going to see was still the monster in her mind, even now when he lay so broken and vulnerable in that hospital bed.