The night was warm as I sat in my room, waiting for whatever fate would come. The events of the previous day crashed over me like relentless waves, threatening to drown me in guilt and self-doubt. Yet, amidst the torrent of emotions, there was a glimmer of hope—a chance, a promise of a new tomorrow. So I waited, clinging to that fragile thread.

Time seemed to crawl, each minute stretched out as if the world itself was holding its breath. I knew I should try to sleep, but every time I closed my eyes, his face appeared—those cold, dead eyes that seemed to pierce my very soul. Ashcroft. His image haunted me, a shadow that wouldn't leave.

At some point, exhaustion claimed me, and I slipped into a restless sleep.

In the dream, I was on the roof again. He was coming closer, step by step, his dark curly hair framing his pale face. Those eyes, hollow and predatory, locked on me as I backed away. My heel hit the low row of bricks at the edge of the roof—no more room to run. His hand struck me across the face, the sting sharp where his wedding band cut my skin. A thin line of blood trickled down my cheek as he smiled, that sadistic glee dancing in his expression. Then, with a single thrust, his palm slammed into my chest, sending me over the edge. As I fell, my scream echoed, his name ripping from my throat—

I woke with a start, gasping for air. It took a moment to remember where I was. Alone, in my room. The clock showed that dawn was near—almost time for Dr. Meyers.

A soft knock on the door startled me. It creaked open slowly, and Dr. Meyers stood there, his lab coat as crisp as ever, but his face haggard, eyes dark and shadowed from lack of sleep.

"Are you ready?" he asked, his voice carrying the weight of everything we had planned.

We had gone over the details last night, but now that the moment had come, the unease twisted inside me.

"I am," I said, though the words felt heavy, like lead on my lips.

Dr. Meyers wheeled a mortuary cot into the room. I climbed atop it, my heart racing. He worked quickly but gently, strapping me down at the waist, wrists, and ankles.

"I'm going to secure you now. This has to look real," he whispered as the straps tightened around me.

I stared up at the ceiling, feeling the cold steel beneath my skin. "Are you sure this will work?" My voice trembled despite my best efforts to keep it steady.

He paused for a beat before answering. "No," he admitted softly. "But we don't have any other options."

A white sheet was pulled over me, and I lay there, rigid, feeling as though I were already dead. My mind raced as he rolled the gurney down the corridor. The lab was where it all started—the sterile, blinding white room. And now, it was where this had to end.

The double doors swung open, revealing the lab's harsh fluorescent lights. The gurney stopped in the center of the room, the shadows from the overhead lights looming like specters on the walls.

My chest tightened, and panic surged within me. "I can't do this," I whispered, the fear clawing its way out.

Dr. Meyers leaned in close, his voice calm and reassuring. "Remember the plan," he said softly. His words anchored me, though my heart still pounded in my chest.

I lay still as he began attaching cables and tubes to my body, connecting me to the machines that hummed around us. My mind fixated on the gleaming instruments laid out on a nearby tray, their sterile shine pulling my attention away from the needle that pierced my arm.

Dr. Meyers continued his work, methodical but fast, laying out components and wires as he prepared for what had to be done. His hand found mine, warm and reassuring.

"Just try to relax," he murmured, his eyes soft, the warmth in them calming me in ways I couldn't explain. "It'll be over soon."

I took a deep breath, letting myself sink into the comfort of his gaze. A rush of warmth spread through my arm, then through my entire body as the sedative flowed in. The world began to blur, my vision dimming. I felt the soft press of his lips on my forehead, the gentleness of the gesture lingering as I drifted away into darkness.