Naomi's body jerked in shock, and for a fleeting moment, she felt the stranger's hold loosen. The punch that followed was a brutal force, sending the man crashing to the floor with a sickening thud. Blood splattered across the cold, sterile floor, droplets spraying in all directions like a twisted, grotesque painting. The impact was so violent that Naomi stumbled backward, her legs weak and unsteady beneath her.
Her heart raced as she backed away, trembling uncontrollably. Her eyes, wide with terror, scanned the hallway, struggling to make sense of what had just happened. The world still felt disjointed, like a nightmare unfolding in slow motion.
And then, through the haze of fear and confusion, Naomi saw him.
