"Hello, you must be the friend Dr. Morgan mentioned who's here to transfer the patient, right? I'm Dr. Jack Hudson. Please sign this transfer document, and then you can arrange for the patient to be picked up. Alternatively, our hospital can also provide transport to the destination hospital."
Dr. Jack Hudson, a tall, blonde, and handsome man in a white coat, greeted Castle warmly as he approached the building. He handed over a document for Castle to sign.
Damn, why do all the doctors I meet lately have to be so good-looking? First Henry, now this Dr. Jack.
Despite his inner grumbling, Castle reached out to shake hands with the cheerful doctor and thanked him profusely.
"Dr. Hudson, nice to meet you. Yes, I'm Henry's friend here to handle the patient's transfer. The car is still on its way, so we might have to wait a bit. I'll sign the document now."
Castle signed a random name on the transfer document and handed it back. Then, he diplomatically said, "Dr. Hudson, if you have other duties to attend to, please go ahead. I can wait here alone for the transport."
Dr. Hudson, without even checking the signature, handed Castle a copy of the signed document and said, "Alright, I'll leave you to it then. When your transport arrives and takes the patient, you can leave directly. I've informed the gatekeeper that the patient from Building 17 will be transferred tonight. Just show the receipt to the gatekeeper as you leave.
If you need anything else, you can use the room's internal phone to contact me."
With that, the considerate doctor left Castle alone at the entrance of Building 17.
"Finally, time to settle the matter with Adam once and for all..."
Castle muttered to himself as he walked into Adam's room.
Adam, lying in bed, had already overheard the conversation outside. Though paralyzed and unable to speak due to an air embolism that blocked his blood vessels, his mind remained clear. The method Henry and Castle used to incapacitate him was indeed vicious. For someone like Adam, who did not fear death, being trapped in his body, unable to speak or move, living as a living corpse, was the ultimate punishment.
Staring at Castle with eyes full of hatred, Adam understood that Castle's visit was anything but friendly. They had coordinated with the hospital under the pretense of a transfer to make him disappear, which meant Castle and Henry had decided to use the ancient dagger to end his eternal life.
The irony that it was his own actions that provided them with the means to do so wasn't lost on Adam. They must have found the dagger he painstakingly recovered as a memento of his ancient glory. Now, this relic would be used to sever his immortality. The ultimate irony indeed.
Adam didn't hate Henry much. His transformation into the ruthless person he had become was due to centuries of isolation and torture at the hands of mad scientists during the era of the mustached painter. Initially, discovering another immortal like himself made him happy, but his impatience and methods alienated Henry and led to Abigail's tragic death.
Adam's subsequent actions to test Henry by causing a subway derailment made Henry despise him further. His plans were disrupted further by Castle, who feigned friendship, drugged him, and handed him over to a vengeful Henry. Henry's immediate response was to paralyze him, turning Adam into the living dead, unable to use his charm to sway Henry.
Lying in bed, able only to breathe and blink, Adam watched Castle enter with mixed emotions—regret, a hint of relief at the impending end, but mostly a deep-seated hatred for the man who ruined his plans.
Castle, seeing Adam's furious gaze, decided to tell him the whole story. He felt Adam deserved to know the truth before meeting his final end.
"Adam, I know you hate me for thwarting your plans and causing your current state. Yes, you've probably guessed it—I'm here to end this once and for all. I owe it to you to explain how you lost, to let you die knowing the reasons behind your defeat."
Adam's anger subsided, replaced by curiosity. He wondered how his secretive life had been uncovered. If he was destined to die tonight, at least understanding how might offer some solace.
Castle took a deep breath and began, "Adam, have you ever heard of the concept of the 'multiverse'? Well, I'm not from this universe. I come from a parallel world where your story, along with Henry's, is depicted in a TV series called 'Forever.'"
Castle explained how he came to this universe, how he seemed to know everything because in his original world, Adam and Henry's lives were part of a fictional show. He told Adam everything, from the day he arrived until now.
Adam's eyes widened with a mix of shock and understanding. No wonder Castle knew so much; his life was an open book in another universe. Defeated by an otherworldly interloper, Adam finally understood why he had lost so completely.
Castle, feeling a sense of relief from sharing his deepest secret, noticed the hostility in Adam's gaze had faded. Instead, there was a calm acceptance. For someone who had lived over two thousand years, hearing about another universe before dying was a fitting end.
After nearly an hour of talking, Castle concluded, feeling a weight lifted. He felt more integrated into this new world, having shared his secret.
Reaching into his space, Castle retrieved the dagger and said, "Alright, I've told you everything. You should have no regrets now. It wasn't your fault you lost to me. Goodbye, Adam... or rather, farewell forever."
With that, Castle plunged the dagger into Adam's chest.
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