As time passed, Lennox and Kira tiptoed through Nightshade's warehouse, the silence broken only by the occasional drip of toxic liquids and the faint hum of machinery. "Drip... hum..." They encountered various types of toxins, each labeled with a menacing hiss or a chilling crackle. One, labeled with a green tag, had a paralyzing effect, emitting a sinister "zzzzip" as they passed by. Another, Nightshade's signature kill, emitted a low, ominous rumble it was known as "the Dread," an inferno toxin that consumed its victims from within.
They stumbled upon jars and deep freezers containing body parts, the atmosphere thick with the stench of decay. Squelch... crunch... It seemed as if the place had been a macabre storage for months, Kira couldn't fathom why the academy hadn't investigated this themselves, especially considering the numerous deaths - over twenty exarchs so far.
Their exploration led them to a chilling discovery: on the wall, a woman holding a five-year-old boy in her arms. Instantly, they recognized her as Alice, along with her son.
With reinforcements arriving, Everly descended into the room, surveying the scene with a grim expression. "Let's get out of here, seal off the area, and preserve the evidence," she instructed.
Lennox and the others nodded in agreement, their movements cautious as they gathered their themselves. The precariousness of the area was evident; they had to tread carefully to avoid damaging any evidence. Lennox and the others cleaned themselves meticulously, wary of contracting any diseases or toxins. In such a contaminated environment, safety couldn't be taken for granted, especially with unknown toxins possibly lingering in the air.
The Detective Everly locked eyes with everyone. "Now that we have confirmation that Alice is Nightshade, apprehending her becomes a more feasible task. But before we proceed, we must locate her," she declared firmly.
"What if we quickly check the hospital; it's getting late, she might be finishing her shift soon, and that's when we can catch her." Kira suggested. "But let's be cautious about it. We don't want to barge in during a busy time or draw unnecessary attention. Maybe we can wait a bit longer, observe the flow, and then make our move strategically."
With unanimous agreement, they sprang into action. Before leaving, Kira suggested restoring everything in Nightshade's hideout and the other officers to normal, in case Alice returned. They all piled into Everly's car and headed to the nearby hospital where Nightshade, now known as Alice, had worked for the past 15 years. It had been her dream job after witnessing her mother's battle with cancer and feeling helpless to assist her. She dedicated her life to medical studies, determined to help others facing similar struggles in the future.
The Vision City main hospital stood tall, a beacon of hope with 20 stories and 50 rooms on each floor. On the second floor, room 96, three people occupied the space. A man, presumably a relative, expressed gratitude to Nurse Alice for caring for his cousin. The nurse, with her distinctive purple hair, assured him of the cousin's recovery, thanks to being an Nexarch, though her tone faltered slightly when mentioning the term "Nexarch."
The man inquired about the cousin's awakening, and Nurse Alice advised him to rest, having been at the hospital for two days straight. As he departed, Nurse Alice's demeanor shifted, revealing a sinister smile. She retrieved a syringe filled with green liquid from her coat and approached the patient's bed with malevolent intent. Snick... Injecting the green liquid into the IV bag, a menacing glow spread through the tubing, coursing into the patient's body, marking it with black lines.
With practiced efficiency, Nurse Alice wheeled the patient out, shrouded in a white cloth, unnoticed by the departing relative. Meanwhile, on the first floor, Everly and the others had arrived. Everly questioned the receptionist about Alice's whereabouts, learning she was still in the building for another half-hour. They decided to wait, keeping a watchful eye on her as she finished her shift.
"The receptionist called for you, Nurse Alice," the receptionist said casually, unaware of what Alice did.
"Nurse Alice!" Detective Everly called out, but Alice continued to move forward, seemingly ignoring them.
"Nurse Alice, we just have a couple of questions," Detective Everly walked toward Alice, gesturing for Lennox and the others to do the same.
Suddenly, Alice threw the wheelchair aside and sprinted down the hall at an astonishing speed, reminiscent of a professional athlete.
"Whooosh!"
"Stop, Nurse Alice!" Detective Everly shouted as Lennox and the others raced to catch up.
While running, Lennox devised a plan. He turned back, running in the opposite direction of Kira and the rest, circling the building to scan for any sign of Alice. Reaching the other side of the building, Lennox moved faster than Alice.
At the end of the hall, Alice was nowhere to be seen. Even the other nurse who had checked the patient in the wheelchair couldn't locate her. Everlyn, realizing she couldn't keep up with Alice, activated a talisman to seal off the hospital, creating a protective barrier unknowing to other beside Everlyn outside the hospital was surrounded by a large green globe.
Explaining the situation to the others, they decided to split up to cover more ground in the search for Alice. After 15 minutes of scouring every corner of the hospital, they found no trace of her. Even inquiries among citizens, doctors, and nurses yielded no leads.
Reuniting in front of the hospital, Everly called for reinforcements to further secure the area and continue the search.
"I don't know how she could have possibly escaped with the entire hospital sealed off," Everly voiced her frustration, her tone tinged with exasperation. "It just doesn't make any sense! The sea had every exit covered. There must have been some serious lapse in security or... something else going on."
"We can't rule out the possibility that she's a Nexarc or possesses an artifact that conceals her energy and presence," Kira suggested. "It's a long shot, but considering the circumstances, we shouldn't dismiss any possibility."
"Considering Alice's expertise in escaping, she likely had a plan in place, maybe even a means to transport a patient without being detected," Lennox added thoughtfully. "We should focus on retracing her steps, looking for any subtle clues that might give us an idea of her next move. It's all about staying one step ahead."
"But there's also the possibility that someone is helping her from inside the hospital," Detective Everly remarked.
"I have a suggestion, if you're open to it," Lennox offered.
"Whether it's good or bad, it's better than nothing," Detective Everly replied.
Lennox nodded "Hmm, we search again, focusing on spots where she could possibly hide or escape, like her hideout or a sewer. If not, we'll head to a hideout she doesn't know about yet," he proposed.
Everyone nodded to each other, acknowledging that they had no current plan to find Nightshade. After a while, other officers arrived, and they sealed off the hospital. They also assisted with the search and questioned other hospital staff about Alice. They all had good things to say about her. Even patients who couldn't afford medical bills mentioned how Alice would sometimes pay on their behalf. She was always helpful to other staff, diligent in her work, and they never noticed any change in Alice at all.
After another 15 minutes of searching, an officer discovered an open sewer near the hospital with a torn piece of white cloth similar to a nurse's uniform. They all headed to the spot to investigate.
"Quickly, find out where this sewer leads and what it's used for," Everly ordered her investigation team. "Let's gather all the information we can every detail counts".
Within five minutes, they learned that the sewer had been used in the past to smuggle medical resources and equipment to sell in other realms. Surprisingly, it had never been properly addressed or covered up to prevent further smuggling.
Fortunately, they also discovered where the sewer led. Unfortunately, it was close to Nightshade's hideout. Without hesitation, they headed towards her hideout, hoping to catch her off guard.