Chapter 2: Miracle patient
Lief lay motionless, his ears straining to catch the hushed conversation between the doctors. Their words sent a chill down his spine.
"...miraculous recovery," Dr. Lee whispered. "I've never seen anything like it."
Dr. Patel's voice rose in skepticism. "It defies explanation. We should run more tests."
Dr. Rachel's suggestion made Lief's blood run cold: "Perhaps we should dissect him. Understand the physiology behind his survival."
Lief's eyes snapped open, horror etched on his face. He tried to speak, but his voice caught in his throat.
The doctors continued, oblivious to Lief's growing unease.
"We could learn so much from his body," Dr. Rachel pressed on. "Unlock the secrets of human resilience."
Lief's mind reeled. They couldn't seriously consider cutting him open.
Panic set in, and Lief's eyelids grew heavy. Exhaustion claimed him, and he fell into a fitful sleep.
---
Dreamscape
Lief found himself standing in a desolate wasteland, surrounded by skeletal trees that seemed to reach towards the sky like bony fingers. The air reeked of smoke and ash.
Suddenly, a group of men clad in golden armor emerged from the haze. The sigil of the sun emblazoned their chests, shining with an otherworldly light.
"Heretic!" one shouted, his voice echoing across the wasteland. "Blasphemer!"
"Burn in the light of the Solarium!" another bellowed, charging towards Lief.
The armored men closed in, their curses echoing through the dreamscape. Lief turned to flee, but his legs felt heavy, as if rooted to the spot.
The armor-clad men surrounded him, their faces twisted in rage.
"You dare defy the Solarium?" one growled, raising his sword.
Lief raised his hands, pleading for mercy. But the men showed none.
One swung his sword, striking Lief's shoulder. Lief cried out, stumbling.
The men chased him, their footsteps pounding the dry earth. Lief's breath came in ragged gasps.
Suddenly, an arrow whizzed through the air, striking Lief's side. He cried out, stumbling.
The armor-clad men closed in, their curses intensifying.
Lief's vision blurred, pain overwhelming him.
As the darkness claimed him, Lief heard a voice whispering in his ear:
"You will never escape the Solarium."
Lief's thoughts swirled, trying to make sense of the dream. Who were those men? Why were they chasing him?
The doctors' conversation still lingered in his mind. Were they truly considering dissecting him?
Lief's anxiety spiked. He had to escape.
But how?
As the hospital room grew darker, Lief's resolve hardened. He would find a way out.
No matter the cost.