Chapter 25 Not Afraid To Face Threats

• Hospital Room – A Quiet, Overcast Morning
• The steady beeping of the heart monitor filled the pristine white room like a soft but persistent reminder of life. A faint smell of antiseptic lingered in the air, mingling with the sterile scent of bandages and hospital linens. Pale gray curtains hung half-open, letting in the dull, overcast light of the morning, casting a cold glow on the hospital bed in the center of the room.
• Edward lay there, his body wrapped in bandages. His left shoulder was heavily padded in white gauze, and a reddish bruise bloomed across his right temple. His face was pale, but his eyes slowly began to open, scanning the room with a shallow, labored breath.