Chapter 1The Last Shift
The emergency ward never slept.
Even at 12:49 AM, stretchers rolled through the corridor. Heart monitors beeped in different rhythms. Somewhere nearby, a child cried. Somewhere else, a doctor called for another unit of blood.
For everyone inside the hospital...
It was just another night.
For Dr. Zihan...
It was supposed to be the end of a long shift.
He pulled off his gloves and dropped them into the yellow disposal bin.
"Done."
The young man sitting on the bed slowly flexed his bandaged hand.
"Will I be able to play cricket again?"
Zihan looked at the stitches one last time before placing the medical file on the table.
"If you stop punching people..."
The patient scratched the back of his neck.
"...I can't promise that."
A small laugh escaped Zihan.
"Then I'll probably see you again."
The patient smiled.
"I'll try to stay out of trouble, Doctor."
"Good."
Zihan gave him a light pat on the shoulder before stepping outside.
The corridor felt quieter.
Most of the lights had already been dimmed.
A cleaning staff member pushed a mop across the floor.
Two nurses walked past, discussing tomorrow's schedule.
Near the nurses' station...
A paper cup waited beside the computer.
Still warm.
Still untouched.
Zihan reached for it.
"Coffee?"
"It was."
He looked up.
Nurse Meera didn't bother hiding the disappointment on her face.
"You remembered the coffee..."
"...but forgot dinner."
Zihan took a careful sip.
Cold.
He made a face.
She noticed.
"I made that almost an hour ago."
"I'll pretend it's fresh."
"You're a terrible liar."
"I know."
For a second...
Neither of them spoke.
The silence wasn't awkward.
It was familiar.
Meera glanced at the digital clock hanging above the corridor.
12:49 AM.
"You were supposed to leave at 9:30."
"I know."
"So why are you still here?"
Zihan looked through the glass window toward the emergency ward.
Inside...
A resident doctor adjusted an oxygen mask while another checked a patient's pulse.
He watched them for a moment.
"Someone needed help."
"Someone always needs help."
He smiled.
"And that's why we're here."
Meera couldn't argue with that.
Instead...
She picked up his helmet from the chair and placed it in his hands.
"Go home."
"This time I actually will."
"I'll believe it when your bike leaves the parking lot."
The automatic doors slid open.
A cool breeze greeted him.
Outside...
The world felt different.
The traffic had disappeared.
The shops were dark.
Only the hospital remained awake.
Zihan stopped beside his bike.
For a moment...
He simply looked at the building behind him.
Another ambulance rushed through the gate.
Its siren faded into the night.
His fingers tightened around the helmet.
Almost by instinct...
He turned toward the entrance.
Meera's voice echoed from behind the glass doors.
"Don't."
He looked back.
She folded her arms.
"They've got enough doctors."
A quiet smile crossed his face.
"Yeah..."
He finally wore the helmet.
The engine came to life.
As the bike rolled out of the parking lot...
The first drop of rain landed on his visor.
Then another.
Within seconds...
The empty road disappeared beneath the rain.
Zihan slowed down.
A flash of lightning tore across the sky.
For less than a heartbeat...
Something stood near the roadside.
He blinked.
Darkness.
Nothing.
"...Must've imagined it."
He rode on.
Not knowing...
that this ordinary night had already chosen him.
End of Chapter
"The beginning is really interesting! It already has me hooked. The suspense is building perfectly, and now I'm excited to know what happens next. Great writing