Two police officers entered the hospital, their presence drawing curious glances from the staff. They approached the front desk, where a nurse was busy with paperwork.
"We're looking for a nurse named Michael Caden," one of the officers said, his voice carrying a tone of authority.
As they inquired, Rose happened to be passing by. She paused, catching the exchange, and turned toward the officers.
"They're asking about Nurse Michael," the nurse at the counter informed her, her voice tinged with concern.
Rose stepped forward, her eyes narrowing slightly as she addressed the officers. "Good evening, officers. Is there a problem?"
"Nothing too serious," one of the officers replied. "We just need to have a word with him. He was involved in a shooting incident in the subway."
Rose's expression shifted, a mix of surprise and skepticism crossing her features. "That's not possible," she said firmly. "Michael can't do something like that."
The officers exchanged a glance before one of them asked, "Can you tell us more about him?"
Rose hesitated, her mind racing as she tried to decide how much to reveal. After a brief silence, she spoke, her voice guarded. "He comes in, does his job, and then goes home. Other than that, I don't know what to tell you. Interns work around the clock—we don't have much of a life outside these walls."
The officer nodded, sensing her reluctance. "Do you know where we might find him?"
"No," Rose replied quickly. "You could try him at home, or you'll have to wait until he comes back on shift."
The officers lingered for a moment, exchanging silent communication as they assessed the situation. One of them handed Rose a card, his expression softening just slightly. "He's not in some kind of trouble, is he?" Rose asked, her voice holding a note of concern.
"No, nothing like that," the officer assured her. "But give us a call once he's back."
With that, the two officers turned and walked away, leaving Rose standing at the counter, the weight of their visit hanging in the air. She watched them go, her thoughts clouded with suspicion and worry. As soon as they were out of sight, Rose slipped the card into her pocket and made her way into the wards, her mind racing with questions about what had really happened in the subway—and how Michael could possibly be involved.
Selina entered Michael Caden's building, her footsteps echoing faintly in the dimly lit hallway. She glanced at the crumpled piece of paper in her hand, confirming the apartment number. Standing outside Michael's door, she took a deep breath, then broke the lock with a swift, forceful kick. The door swung open, revealing a modest, unassuming space.
Selina stepped inside, her sharp eyes scanning the room. It was the typical living space of a single man—minimalistic, functional, with little to no personal touch. She moved to the table, rifling through the papers and photographs scattered across it. Useless. Nothing of value, nothing that explained why Michael was important enough to be hunted by werewolves.
As she sifted through his belongings, Selina suddenly froze. Footsteps were approaching, accompanied by the shrill ring of a phone. Instinctively, she melted into the shadows, her vampire senses heightening.
Michael walked slowly up to his apartment, his heart skipping a beat when he saw the door ajar. He pushed it open cautiously, his pulse quickening. Inside, the phone continued to ring. He picked it up, his voice shaky as he realized someone had been in his home.
"This is Michael. I'm not in right now, please leave a message," the automated voice chirped after a long pause.
"Hey, Michael, it's Rose. The police were just at the hospital looking for you. They're convinced you were involved in a shooting, but I told them there's no way you'd be part of that. But they're looking for you right now, so be careful."
The message ended with a beep, leaving a heavy silence in its wake. Michael stood there, digesting Rose's words, but before he could make sense of them, Selina shot out of the shadows, her hand clamping around his neck like a vise. She shoved him against the wall, her eyes burning with intensity.
"Why are they after you?" she demanded, her voice low and dangerous.
Michael gasped for air, eyes wide with fear. "I—I don't know! I didn't do anything!"
As Selina interrogated him, her keen senses picked up movement upstairs. She released Michael abruptly, spinning around to face the threat. It was a werewolf, lurking in the upper floor, ready to pounce.
Selina didn't hesitate. She pulled out her gun, firing shots toward the ceiling, but as she turned back, she realized Michael had seized the opportunity to flee. "Damn it!" she cursed, sprinting toward the hallway just as the elevator doors slid shut with Michael inside.
"Shit," she muttered under her breath.
Turning around, Selina was confronted by three werewolves, their bodies already in mid-transformation. They lunged at her, snarling viciously. She fired off several rounds, hitting one of them square in the head. The creature collapsed, lifeless. But the other two kept advancing. Thinking quickly, she aimed her gun at the floor, firing in a circle around herself. The ground beneath her gave way, and she dropped to the second floor just as the werewolves reached her position.
Selina landed gracefully, her eyes darting around, searching for Michael. She dashed down the hallway toward the elevator, arriving just as the doors opened.
Michael stepped out, only to find himself face to face with a man. Lucas.
"Hello, Michael Caden," Lucas greeted him with a cold smile, his eyes gleaming with malevolent intent.
Selina reached the ground floor just in time to see Lucas standing over Michael. Without hesitation, she fired four rounds into Lucas's back. The bullets hit their mark, causing Lucas to stagger. Selina charged at him, hoping to finish the job. But Lucas, with his last bit of strength, grabbed Michael and sank his fangs into the man's neck.
Michael screamed, a sound that echoed through the empty hallway. Selina's heart sank as she watched in horror. She rushed forward, but it was too late. Lucas's bite had already taken hold, his venom spreading through Michael's veins.
Selina skidded to a stop, watching as Lucas released Michael, who crumpled to the ground, convulsing in pain. Lucas turned his bloodied gaze to Selina, a wicked grin playing on his lips.
Selina's eyes widened, her heart racing as she realized the full gravity of the situation. But before she could react, the building around her began to tremble.