The policeman’s words hung in the cold air of the emergency room… – BICHNHU

—NX-47 —I whispered.

Marcus slowly raised his gaze.

-Yeah.

For a moment the noise of the hospital seemed to disappear completely, replaced by a heavy silence in which only my breathing and the irregular sound of my son’s heart monitor existed.

NX-47 was not an ordinary substance.

It was an experimental compound found only in the hospital’s drug laboratory, stored under strict security protocols and accessible only to authorized researchers.

I was one of those researchers.

I felt the police officers’ eyes on me even before one of them spoke.

“Do you recognize that substance, doctor?” asked the rigid-jawed officer.

I looked at him slowly.

—Yes —I replied.

The officer took a discreet breath, as if she had just confirmed a silent suspicion.

—Then you will understand why we need to ask you some additional questions.

Marcus immediately took a step forward.

“This is not the time,” he said firmly. “Emma’s son is in critical condition and her family is still undergoing treatment.”