Can’t Win Me Back by Ginger Sue

The hospital corridor was eerily silent in the dead of the night. The lone nurse on duty drowsed at the nurses' station, oblivious to the flashing red light from the malfunctioning surveillance camera down the hall A figure clad in a white doctor's robe and mask darted past the station, his movements purposeful. He carefully scanned his surroundings before pushing open the door to Natalie's ward and slipping inside. The patient lay curled up in bed, seemingly fast asleep. The intruder crept closer, a glint of steel catching the dim light as he drew a dagger from his sleeve. He raised the weapon high and stabbed the person on the bed.

All of a sudden, his vision went dark.

Unexpectedly, the person on the bed leaped up and threw the blanket over his head! Panic surged through the assassin. He flailed wildly with the dagger, ripping the blanket free. But before he could react further, the cold muzzle of a gun pressed against his forehead froze him in place.

"Don't move. Not unless you want your head to be blown off." Under the dim light, Axel's eyes glinted with a dangerous glint. A cynical smile played on his lips, sending shivers down the assassin's spine. The ward door burst open, revealing Sean and Xavier leading a team of men who quickly surrounded the intruder.

"Are you alright, Mr. Axel?" Sean inquired, his voice laced with concern.

Axel clicked his tongue. "I didn't even attack him. All it took was a blanket to take this fool down."

With a practiced ease, Axel disarmed the assassin. He sneered. "Sir, you can barely fight, yet you're trying to be an assassin? Try harder next time."

The assassin's face was drained of color. His knees buckled, and he crumpled to the floor in a heap.

"Talk," Axel growled, nudging the man's head with the gun. "Who hired you? Reveal his name, and you'll face attempted murder charges at worst. After a decade or two in prison, you can walk free and live a normal life. I can't guarantee that you'll be able to walk out of this ward with all your limbs intact otherwise."

"I... I only spoke to him over the phone! I've never met him in person!" the man stammered, sweat drenching his clothes. "But... I have his number and our message history! He wired a million to my account two days ago and promised another after the job! We even spoke just 30 minutes ago!"

him. He searched the assassin

to the station. I'll find a way to

nodded firmly in response. "Thank you,

was escorted away, the silence returning to the ward as if the commotion had never

sense of unease lingered in Axel's gut as an

He opened the message, his pupils

from Amber. Her words were a gut punch, sharp and final. They hurt him so much that his vision blurred, and he nearly lost his grip

find me. Even if you hear news about me or

him. His fingers trembled as he typed and retyped a frantic

time passed. Yet,

Axel bombarded Amber with messages. It was as if he had gone

do you think I am? Can you avoid seeing me just because you don't want to? Do you think you can control me?" "You're the only

Do you

its words a cold and

replied, "I don't think that's

that happened to appear in my world of darkness. You showed me what the light looked like. You simply gave me a feeling that I've never had

disappear, but feelings will don't feel anything for you anymore, Axel. This is all that I'm able to do. If you really love me, don't approach me anymore. I just want to live

not open for business