Hyllos's presence looming over him like a dark cloud. He followed Hyllos, his mind racing with thoughts of what awaited him in the company's headquarters.
As they walked, Rio stole a glance around, trying to gauge his surroundings. The PharmaMedicor facility was a sprawling complex, bustling with activity. People in lab coats hurried past, engrossed in their work, while security personnel stood watch at various checkpoints.
They soon reached a large, imposing building that Rio assumed to be the main headquarters. Hyllos led him inside, through a maze of corridors and elevators, until they finally arrived at a sleek, modern office at the top floor.
To Rio's relief, Mr. Haydon was not in the office when they arrived. The absence of the imposing figure that had been lingering in his mind since Hyllos informed him of the meeting gave Rio a moment of respite.
Hyllos motioned for him to follow and led him to another room adjacent to the office.
The room was a marvel of advanced technology, far surpassing the medical vehicle in both size and sophistication. It was at least twenty times bigger, with sleek, futuristic designs that spoke of cutting-edge innovation.
The walls were lined with state-of-the-art medical equipment, each machine more advanced than the last. Transparent screens displayed intricate medical data and diagnostic images, their clarity and detail astonishing. The room buzzed with a quiet hum of machinery, creating an atmosphere of efficiency and precision.
In the center of the room stood a massive, circular workstation, surrounded by monitors and control panels. It was a hub of activity, where medical personnel could oversee and manage complex procedures with ease. Everything about the room spoke of a commitment to excellence and the relentless pursuit of medical advancement.
In the midst of all the advanced medical equipment, there was a simple bed in the middle of the room. Rio felt a sense of familiarity with it, as it was the only thing he knew the use of in this high-tech environment.
He signaled for the man to carefully place Batho on the bed, and Hyllos and the other men positioned themselves at the door connecting the two rooms after doing so, watching intently.
As Rio approached Batho, who was now lying on the bed, a complex mix of emotions washed over him. He felt a deep sense of unease and inadequacy - he didn't know how to operate any of the machines or interpret the data displayed on the screens. Yet, he had to maintain the facade of being Dr. Rega, a skilled physician who knew what to do in such situations.
Rio's hands trembled slightly as he reached out to examine Batho. He felt the weight of the situation bearing down on him, the pressure to perform like a real doctor overwhelming.
"Doctor, any problems?" Hyllos's voice broke through Rio's thoughts, pulling him back to the tense reality of the situation.
Even without having to look at Hyllos, Rio knew exactly the confused and suspicious look on his face as he observed Rio's every movement. Hyllos, who seemed to be Haydon's right hand, had a knack for detecting anything unusual. Rio knew he had to be careful.
"No, everything's under control," Rio replied, his voice steady despite the turmoil within. He forced himself to appear confident, hoping to allay any suspicions Hyllos might have. The last thing Rio needed was for Hyllos to discover his true identity and intentions.
Rio began to pretend to conduct a quick examination of Batho. Despite his lack of medical expertise, he tried to appear confident and knowledgeable, mimicking the actions he had seen real doctors perform.
As he looked at Batho, he noticed that his complexion looked healthier than when Rio had brought him back to the forest to Dr. Rega. It became apparent to Rio that Batho's collapse was likely due to exhaustion rather than any severe medical condition.
Rio had never expected that, under the watchful eyes of Hyllos and his men, he would prefer to be summoned by Haydon himself rather than continue the charade of performing fake examinations in the room. The risk of being exposed was too great, and Rio knew he had to find a way to escape this precarious situation before it was too late.
To his relief, footsteps echoed from the other room that Rio had just entered. Hyllos and his men turned their attention towards the approaching sound, their stance alert and ready. Rio felt a surge of curiosity, but he suppressed the urge to poke his head out and see who the newcomer was.
Continuing to pretend to examine Batho, Rio stole a few glances at Hyllos. As Hyllos sidestepped, a man appeared at the door, his presence commanding and authoritative.
It was indeed Haydon, just as Rio had expected. Haydon strode over to Batho and examined him intently, his gaze making Batho seem like some kind of experiment under scrutiny. Haydon's impassive expression revealed nothing of what was on his mind.
Rio clasped his hands before him, trying to appear composed as he waited for Haydon to speak first. The tension in the room was palpable.
"What happened to him?" Haydon's deep voice resonated through the room, cutting through the tense silence.
"Just exhaustion," Rio replied, maintaining his calm demeanor. "The guy who brought him back to the forest said he was in a critical state. I administered Zonizide, and he woke up briefly after the treatment. However, he passed out again from severe exhaustion. He should regain consciousness in the next couple of hours."
Haydon's narrow eyes narrowed further as he locked his gaze on Rio, sending a chill down his spine. "How did he manage to escape from the forest?" Haydon's tone was cold and calculating.
"It was my fault," Rio admitted, swallowing hard. He knew that in this moment, he had to place the blame solely on Dr. Rega. "I was preoccupied studying the blood analysis of the others, and Batho managed to slip away."
"The child was taken to a nearby hospital," Haydon stated, his expression devoid of emotion.
Rio could only nod, his heart sinking at the implication of Haydon's words.
"I need you to investigate whether the hospital administered anything that could harm the child," Haydon continued, his voice cold and threatening. "If they've jeopardized the child's well-being, I will not hesitate to burn down the hospital." Despite the threat, Haydon's face remained as impassive as the medical equipment surrounding them. "And, of course, Dr. Rega, you will also be held accountable for your carelessness in this matter."
Rio swallowed the hard lump in his throat, realizing that assuming Dr. Rega's identity had not bought him as much time as he had hoped. It appeared that Haydon was expecting Dr. Rega, who was now Rio, to run the tests on Batho.
Despite the pressure and the looming threat of Haydon's wrath, Rio knew he had to act swiftly and decisively.
"I ran a few quick tests during the initial treatment," Rio explained, forcing his voice to remain calm despite the rising tension in the room. "And everything seemed alright."
Mr. Haydon closed the distance between Rio and himself with a few intimidating steps. His presence loomed over Rio, making him feel smaller and more vulnerable than ever.
"Dr. Rega, I did not hire you to run a few quick tests," Haydon's voice was icy, each word dripping with menace. "I want definite answers. I want one hundred percent certainty. You know I will not hesitate to kill you if you make a silly mistake. Do you understand how long I have waited for this?"
Rio felt a chill run down his spine as Haydon's cold gaze bore into him. The temperature in the room seemed to drop to subzero as Haydon stood just inches away, his menacing presence overwhelming. Rio knew he had to tread carefully if he wanted to survive this encounter.
"I understand," Rio managed to utter, composing himself once more. "I will run the tests. But these tests require some time. Perhaps you can wait in the next room while I'm running and waiting for the results," Rio suggested, hoping to buy himself some time to figure out his next move.
There was a shift in the air as he made the suggestion. Hyllos took in a sharp breath, his expression unreadable. It was as if Rio had said something that could potentially be fatal. Mr. Haydon tilted his head slightly, studying Rio with his intent gaze.
After a moment of silence, Haydon finally spoke. "Very well, Dr. Rega. But make it quick. I expect nothing less than accurate and swift results," he said, his voice a cold warning. Rio nodded, trying to conceal the nervousness that threatened to consume him.
As Mr. Haydon turned to leave, he was suddenly overcome by a bout of severe coughing. The cough was high-pitched and prolonged, sounding almost painful. He looked as if he was struggling to catch his breath, his eyes red and watery, and his lips almost purplish in hue.
Desperate, Mr. Haydon retrieved a handkerchief from his pocket and covered his mouth as he coughed. When he removed the handkerchief, it was stained with blood. Not just blood, but blood clots and fresh blood mingled together, a stark and unsettling sight.
The sudden change in Mr. Haydon's condition startled Rio, who watched in concern and shock.
Hyllos quickly strode to Mr. Haydon's side and passed him a new handkerchief, concern etched on his face. Rio, regaining his composure after the initial shock of witnessing Mr. Haydon's severe bout of coughing, remembered his assumed identity as a doctor in this very room. He felt a responsibility to check on Mr. Haydon after seeing him cough out blood.
"Mr. Haydon, are you alright?" Rio asked, his voice tinged with genuine concern. He approached Mr. Haydon cautiously, aware of the gravity of the situation.
Mr. Haydon finally stopped coughing, and his face now bore the marks of the ordeal, looking as if he had aged by ten years in just a few moments. He stuffed the bloodied handkerchief into his pocket and turned to face Rio, giving him a chilling smile.
"Dr. Rega, thank you for your concern," he began, his voice cold and detached. "But I would like to remind you that I don't appreciate people giving me suggestions. I will decide for myself when or where I want to wait for the analysis results."
Rio felt a chill run down his spine. After witnessing the severity of Mr. Haydon's coughing fit, it was chilling to realize that he cared more about control and authority than his own health. It was a stark reminder of the kind of man Rio was dealing with, and the danger that lurked within PharmaMedicor.
Rio nodded, trying to hide his unease. "Of course, Mr. Haydon. I will proceed with the tests immediately," he said, his voice steady despite the turmoil within.
As Mr. Haydon left the room, followed by Hyllos, Rio was left alone with his thoughts. He knew he had to act quickly to uncover the truth behind Mr. Haydon's intentions and protect himself and Batho.
Rio approached the medical equipment, his mind racing with possibilities.
Rio realized that despite his best efforts to appear knowledgeable, he knew nothing about operating the medical equipment. Even if he wanted to fake running the tests, he couldn't. The only way out for him and Batho was to find an exit from the facility and escape from Haydon and his men.
Rio began to walk around the medical facility, his eyes scanning the interior for any signs of ventilator exits or other escape routes.
After a few rounds of studying the medical facility, Rio came to a grim conclusion: there were no ventilator exits or any other means of escape. He realized that their fate was sealed if Mr. Haydon and his men discovered that he had not run any tests.
Rio stared at Batho, taking in his pale face and the steady rise and fall of his chest as he breathed. His hand drifted to the metallic device in his pocket, a reminder of the leverage he held in this dangerous game.
An idea formed in Rio's mind as his eyes locked with Batho's face. With a resolute expression, Rio made up his mind. He sat on the floor, leaning against the bed where Batho lay, his mind racing with the details of his plan.