Episode 27– The Surveillance Trap
Iris Awoke With A Start,Her Breathing Shallow,Her Hands Clutching The Bedsheet Like A Shield.Her Dreams Were No Longer Just Nightmares—They Were Memories.Fragments.Snapshots.Her Sister's Voice,The Glint Of A Scalpel,Alec's Cold Hands Pressed To Her Wrists.
She Sat Up,Her Eyes Darting To The Corners Of The Room.The Ceiling Vent,The Wall Clock,The Mirror Above The Sink—Any Of Them Could Hold A Camera.She'd Suspected For Days,But Now She Was Sure.She Was Being Watched.
She Slipped Out Of Bed,Her Feet Bare Against The Cold Tile Floor.Her Gown Whispered As She Moved,Every Sound Amplified In The Stifling Silence.She Approached The Mirror First,Pressing Her Palm Against The Glass.Then Her Fingers Traced The Edges,Feeling For A Seam,A Wire,A Flaw.
Nothing.
Then The Vent.Stepping Onto The Rolling Chair,She Rose Carefully,Her Heart Beating Against Her Ribs.She Stuck Her Fingers Into The Slats And Pulled.Something Clicked.
Behind The Vent,Hidden In Shadows,A Tiny Red Light Blinked.
Camera.
Iris's Breath Caught.She Hadn't Been Paranoid.She Hadn't Been Wrong.She Hadn't Been Alone Even For A Second.
She Pulled Back,Hands Trembling,Jaw Set.She Jumped Down,The Chair Spinning Behind Her As She Hit The Floor.
They Were Watching Her.Listening.Recording.
Alec Knew Everything.
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Down The Hall,Alec Stood In A Control Room,One Hand In His Pocket,The Other Holding A Glass Of Scotch.Screens Lined The Wall,Each Showing A Different Feed:Hallways,Elevators,Patient Rooms.And Room 404—Hers.
He Watched As Iris Discovered The Camera,As She Trembled And Tried To Compose Herself.His Lips Curved Slightly,But There Was No Humor In His Eyes.
"Stop Recording Feed From 404,"He Said Quietly.
A Tech Beside Him Flinched."Sir?"
"I'll Handle Her Myself."
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Iris Tore The Page From Her Notebook,Writing In Tiny,Compressed Letters:Vent—Camera Confirmed.They See Everything.Hide This.
She Folded It,Stuffed It Into The Seam Of Her Pillow,And Moved To The Door.She Tried The Handle As Usual—Locked,Of Course—But Then She Knocked Deliberately.
Seconds Later,Nurse Nina Opened It,Expression Tired But Alert.
"Something Wrong?"She Asked.
"I Want To Talk To Alec.Now."
Nina's Brows Rose."Now?"
"Yes."
The Nurse Hesitated,Then Nodded,Pulling A Walkie From Her Belt And Whispering Into It.
Within Minutes,Alec Arrived—Tailored Suit,Calm Eyes,A Shadow Of A Smile Playing On His Lips.
"I Heard You Were Eager To See Me,"He Said.
Iris Stepped Back,Letting Him Enter.He Shut The Door Behind Him,Locking It Without Breaking Eye Contact.
"I Know About The Cameras,"She Said,Voice Low.
Alec Didn't Flinch."Of Course You Do.I Expected You Would."
"Why?"
"For Your Safety.And Mine."
"That's Bullshit."
Alec Took A Step Forward."Is It?"
"You're Keeping Me Here Like A Prisoner.You Drug Me,Lie To Me,Watch Me While I Sleep."
"I Protect You, Iris,"He Said Quietly."From Yourself."
"You're Not Protecting Me,"She Snapped."You're Controlling Me."
He Studied Her Face For A Moment,Then Moved Closer,Reaching Into His Jacket.He Pulled Out A Small Device—A Keycard.
He Handed It To Her.
"What's This?"
"Freedom."
She Didn't Move.
"That Key Opens The West Stairwell Door,"He Said."From There,You Can Walk Right Out.The Choice Is Yours."
She Stared At The Card,Heart Thudding.
"What's The Catch?"
"No Catch,"He Said."But You'll Be Giving Up Answers.The Truth You're So Desperate To Find Lies Within These Walls."
"I Don't Trust You."
"You Don't Have To,"He Said,Turning Toward The Door."Just Decide."
He Left Without Another Word.
---
She Waited Until Nightfall.
When The Hallways Grew Still,When The Guards Rotated Out,When Even The Cameras Might Look Away—She Moved.
Clutching The Keycard,She Slipped Into The Corridor,Her Gown Replaced With Scrubs She'd Hidden Under Her Mattress.Dull Gray,Worn But Better Than Looking Like A Patient.
She Crept Toward The West End Of The Hospital,Her Pulse A Steady Drumbeat.
The Door Was Ahead.
She Swiped The Card.
It Clicked.
Freedom.
She Pushed It Open.
And Stepped Into Darkness.
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But Not Emptiness.
A Hand Snatched Her Wrist,Pulling Her In,Pinning Her Against The Wall.
"You're Not Supposed To Leave,"A Voice Hissed.
Male.Not Alec.
Someone Else.
Rough Uniform.Strong Grip.
Security.
She Kicked,Struggled,But He Slapped Something Over Her Mouth—A Rag,Damp,Chemical-Laced.
Chloroform.
The Last Thing She Saw Was A Gloved Hand Reaching For Her Neck.
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When She Awoke,She Was Back In Her Room.Strapped Again.This Time Tighter.
Her Mouth Was Dry,Her Head Foggy.
The Door Opened.
Alec Walked In,Unbuttoning His Cuffs Slowly.
"I Gave You A Choice,"He Said Calmly.
"I Took It."
"Yes,"He Nodded."And Now There Are Consequences."
"You Lied."
"I Said You Could Leave.I Never Promised You'd Make It Out."
He Leaned Down,His Face Inches From Hers.
"You Think This Is A Game,Iris?That You Can Outsmart Me?"
Her Voice Was A Whisper."You're Sick."
He Smiled.
"And You're Finally Starting To Remember."
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Back In The Control Room,The Tech Watched Feed From Another Room—One Not On The Main Grid.
It Showed A Girl.Tied.Gagged.Blindfolded.
A Mirror Image Of Iris.
Her Sister.
Alive.