Chapter 12 – The Setup
ROY
I stood in the sterile hospital room, the smell of antiseptic heavy in the air, as the doctor delivered the news.
“I’m sorry, Roy,” he said, his voice steady but sympathetic. “There’s nothing we can do for your grandmother. The poison has done too much damage, and we don’t have the antidote.”
My heart sank. I felt as if the floor had dropped out from beneath me. “No… there has to be something,” I stammered, desperate for a glimmer of hope.
Chapter 12 – The Setup
Freya, who had been standing beside me, gasped softly, and tears began to stream down her cheeks again.
“Roy…” she whispered, her voice breaking. I turned to her, my chest tightening at the sight of her pain. She was trying to stay strong for me, but the weight of the situation was too much.
“Freya, it’s going to be okay,” I said,
wrapping my arms around her. “We’ll find a way.”
Freya sobbed into my shoulder. I held her tighter, my own heart breaking for her.
“I’ll be right back,” I promised, pulling
away slightly to look into her eyes. “I need to see her.”
Chapter 12 – The Setup
“Okay,” she sniffed, wiping her tears with the back of her hand. “I’ll be here.”
As I walked into my grandmother‘ s room, the sight of her frail body lying on the hospital bed hit me like a punch to the gut. Machines beeped softly, a steady reminder of the life she was slowly losing. I approached her slowly, my heart heavy with dread.
“Hey, Grandma,” I said softly, taking her hand in mine. It felt so fragile. “It’s me, Roy.”
Her eyes fluttered open, and a weak smile crossed her lips. “Oh, my sweet boy,” she rasped.
“Don’t say that,” I choked out, fighting back tears. “You need to focus on getting
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Chapter 12 The Setup
better. We’ ́ll get through this together.”
“I love you, Roy,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “Just remember that.”
I nodded, feeling the tears spill over. “I love you too, Grandma. We’ll find a way to fix this. I promise.”
After a few moments, I stepped out of the room, my heart heavy. Freya was waiting for me, her eyes red and swollen.
“How is she?” she asked, her voice trembling.
“She‘ s… she’s hanging in there,” I said, trying to sound hopeful, but the truth weighed heavily on my chest.
Just then, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I
Chapter 12 – The Cetup
better. We 77 ”
get through this together.”
“I love you, Roy,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “Just remember that.
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I nodded, feeling the tears spill over. “I love you too, Grandma. We‘ ll find a way to fix this. I promise.”
After a few moments, I stepped out of the room, my heart heavy. Freya was waiting for me, her eyes red and swollen.
“How is she?” she asked, her voice trembling.
“She‘ s… she’s hanging in there,” I said, trying to sound hopeful, but the truth weighed heavily on my chest.
Just then, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I
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Chapter 12 The up
pulled it out and saw a text from an anonymous number. “If you want to save your grandmother, come to this location alone.”
My heart raced as I read and reread the message. What kind of sick game was this? glanced at Freya, who looked at me expectantly.
“Is everything okay?” she asked, concern etched on her face.
“I… I need to go. I’ll be right back,” I said, my instincts kicking in. I didn’t want to alarm her.
“Roy, wait!” she called after me as I rushed out of the hospital. I didn‘ t look back. I had to know what this was about.
Chapter 12 – The up
P
I arrived at the location, a rundown bar on the outskirts of town. The dim lighting and stale air added to my unease. I stepped inside, scanning the room until my gaze landed on her–Raina, sitting at the bar with a sly smile on her face.
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“Roy, darling! So glad you could make it,‘ she purred, raising a glass as if we were old
friends.
“What games are you playing, Raina?” I demanded, my fists clenching at my sides.
“What do you want?”
She motioned for me to sit, her smile unwavering. “First, have a drink with me. Then I’ll tell you how you can save your precious grandmother.”
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Chapter 12 – The Setup
“I’m not playing your games,” I shot back, my adrenaline pumping. “You poisoned her, didn’t you?”
“Oh, please,” she said, rolling her eyes.
“You have no proof. Just think of it as… an opportunity.”
My heart raced with anger. “I’ll call the cops. You’ll pay for this.”
Raina leaned closer, her voice low and taunting. “Go ahead. But you know they won’t believe you without evidence.” Her smile widened. “You‘ re in a tough spot, Roy. Either take the drink or watch your grandmother die.”
I hesitated, my mind racing. “What‘ s in it?”
Chapter 12 – The Setup
“Nothing,” she smirked.
Reluctantly, I grabbed the glass, my hands trembling. I brought the drink to my lips, the bitter liquid swirling with uncertainty.
“And the antidote?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
“After,” she promised, her eyes gleaming with mischief. “Now drink up!”
With a deep breath, I gulped the drink down, the taste burning my throat. “Now, where‘ s the antidote?” I demanded, but as I spoke, the room began to spin.
“Roy?” Raina’s voice faded into the background as everything blurred around me.
I felt my knees buckle, and before I knew it,
darkness engulfed me, swallowing my
consciousness whole.
