MERCY HOSPITAL

Fred walked past Avery's ward, intending only to peek in, but the sight stopped him cold. Avery sat on the hospital bed, her body rigid, her gaze locked on the wall with an eerie blankness. Something was wrong.

Without thinking, he stepped into the room, letting the door swing shut behind him. "Avery," he began cautiously. "What's wrong?"

She didn’t flinch, didn’t blink—just kept staring at the wall as though it might reveal some dark truth.

Fred tried again, this time louder. “Avery! Avery!” His voice broke through her trance, and she jolted slightly, her eyes blinking rapidly.

“What?” she snapped, scratching the side of her head. “What...