Katherine pov

I abruptly woke up, startled by a scream that pierced the air from a distance. My heart raced as I shot up from my sleep, and to my surprise, Brenda was already on her feet, equally alarmed by the sound. I forced myself out of the ground too.

Our eyes met, a shared sense of urgency passing between us. Without wasting a second, we hurriedly dashed out of the clinic where we had spent the night. The adrenaline surged through my veins, propelling me forward.

As we emerged outside, a crowd had already gathered, their faces etched with panic and confusion. The atmosphere was charged with fear and...