“Sir Crane!” Ezra shouted. His voice was filled with urgency as he rushed to Theodore’s side.
But as they gathered around Theodore, they witnessed an alarming transformation. His body convulsed uncontrollably, blood streaming from his nose, and a look of terror in his eyes.
“What’s happening to Sir Crane? Could he be possessed?” Eleanor’s eyes widened with shock. Theodore’s condition had changed abruptly. He was fine before, but now, he was convulsing strangely. It was utterly perplexing.
“Quick, to the hospital!” Panic swelled in Ezra’s voice as he gave orders to his assistants. They carefully carried the stricken Theodore out and rushed him to South City Hospital.
After all, Theodore wasn’t any ordinary person. He hailed from the enigmatic Mystic Arts Order. So, his untimely demise within the Swanson family’s estate could bring them huge trouble.
The night deepened as they arrived at South City Hospital. The doctors fought to stabilize Theodore in the ward. Ezra paced back and forth in the room, his unease palpable.
Meanwhile, Eleanor appeared relaxed. She calmly peeled and ate a banana, appearing as though she had no care in the world.
She seemed more concerned with whether Theodore’s mission had been accomplished than his well-being.
“Ezra dear, no need to fret. Sir Crane is a master of his craft. Nothing could go wrong,” she commented in her usual calm manner.
While Ezra acknowledged her words, the earlier events were nothing short of unnerving. What if Theodore met an untimely end on their watch? It would complicate matters significantly. This possibility weighed heavily on Ezra’s mind.
“What kind of trouble could there be? He’s just an occultist. With the power of the Welch and Swanson families, we can easily secure others if needed.” Eleanor dismissed Ezra’s concerns.
In South City, these two prestigious households held unmatched influence. But he was quick to refute, “Eleanor, things may not be as simple as you think-”
Just as he began explaining the complexity of the situation, Theodore coughed twice on the hospital bed.
Slowly, he opened his eyes.
“Sir Crane, you’re finally awake!” Ezra’s face lit up with hope as he rushed to Theodore’s side.
“How are you feeling? Do you remember what happened earlier?” he hurriedly asked.Theodore was still groggy. “Where am I? How did I end up here?”
“Sir Crane, don’t you remember? You were bleeding and collapsed earlier,” Ezra asked, his confusion deepening.
“Bleeding? Collapsed?” Theodore furrowed his brow. He tried to recollect the recent events. As he dug deeper into his memory, his expression shifted from bewilderment to fear.
“Oh my god!” Theodore suddenly exclaimed. He flung the blanket aside and jumped out of bed. Hastily fleeing the room, he stumbled as he went. His frantic behavior made it appear as if he’d seen a ghost. They were astonished by his reaction.
“What’s going on?” Ezra stood frozen, watching Theodore’s bizarre escape. Why are you running, Sir Crane?”
“Should I stay and face doom?” Theodore yelled back, his eyes wide with terror.
“Ezra, you have no idea what you’ve brought upon us. You don’t know who we’ve just crossed. A being of overwhelming power, capable of snuffing us out with a finger!”
“What?” Ezra was dumbfounded, his expression one of sheer disbelief. “Sir Crane, this can’t be real.”
“Look at me, Ezra! Do I seem like I’m joking?” Theodore’s voice trembled with fear.
Memories began to flood back, reminding him of the intense backlash he’d suffered earlier. The incident was unlike anything he’d ever experienced.
