Chapter 1 - The Glitch in the Plan
The hospital room air grew thin. Victoria stood over the bed, her face a mask of practiced sorrow that barely concealed her mounting irritation. The monitors were shrieking, and Dr. Harris was pushing past her to check Jonathan’s vitals.
“It’s just a reflex,” Victoria said, her voice smooth but dangerous. “His nervous system is misfiring. Disconnecting him is the only humane choice left.”
But the doctor wasn't listening. He watched as Jonathan’s eyes, which had been glassy and vacant for three years, focused with terrifying intent. Jonathan wasn't just “reflexing”; he was staring directly at Andrew, his business partner.
Inside his mind, Jonathan felt as if he were waking up from a drowning nightmare. He couldn't move his limbs yet, but the fog was lifting. He heard Victoria’s words. Disconnecting him? The betrayal tasted like bile.
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“He’s awake,” Dr. Harris whispered, his voice trembling. “Victoria, look at his eyes. He is tracking me.”
Victoria’s composure fractured. She glanced at the notary, then at Andrew, who had turned pale. They had minutes before the court-ordered euthanasia authorization became irreversible. “Doctor, you are overstepping,” Victoria snapped. “This is a post-traumatic spasm. Do your job and end this farce.”
