Page 26 of For Mercy

Something was very, very wrong.And as Michelle lay there, surrounded by the eerie beeping of machines and bathed in that sickly, sterile light, she couldn't shake the feeling that her ordeal was only just beginning.

Michelle's head throbbed as she tried to process her surroundings.The nausea intensified, churning her stomach like a violent sea.She gritted her teeth, fighting the urge to retch.

"Got to...get up," she mumbled, her words slurring slightly.With monumental effort, Michelle pushed herself into a sitting position.The sudden movement sent the room spinning, and she swayed dangerously, gripping the edge of the bed to steady herself.

"What...what's happening to me?"she gasped, her breath coming in short, panicked bursts.The dizziness was overwhelming, worse than any hangover she'd experienced after late nights closing deals.This felt...wrong.Unnatural.

As her vision slowly stabilized, Michelle's gaze fell on the medical equipment surrounding her bed.Something about it nagged at her foggy mind.She squinted, trying to focus.

"Wait a minute," she muttered, leaning closer to examine the heart monitor.The numbers on the display didn't fluctuate, remaining perfectly static despite her elevated heart rate."That's not right."

Her eyes darted to the IV stand, then the ventilator.Each piece looked convincing at first glance, but upon closer inspection, they were clearly not functional medical devices.

"Props," Michelle whispered, a chill running down her spine."They're all props.But why?What kind of sick game is this?"

Michelle's heart raced as she yanked at the wires and tubes attached to her body.They came away easily, revealing adhesive pads instead of proper medical connections.Her hands shook as she tossed them aside, the plastic clattering against the tiled floor.

Gritting her teeth against the dizziness, Michelle pushed herself upright.Her muscles felt like lead, responding sluggishly to her commands.Still, she managed to swing her legs over the side of the bed, surprised to find she wasn't restrained.

"Hello?"she called out, her voice echoing in the sterile room."Is anyone there?What's going on?"

Silence answered her.Michelle's eyes darted around the room, searching for cameras for any sign of who might be watching her.The walls were bare, save for a single mirror that she strongly suspected was two-way glass.

She was about to attempt standing when a voice suddenly filled the room.It was low and mechanical, distorted beyond recognition, sending chills down her spine.

"Welcome to your worst nightmare, Michelle Knox," the voice intoned, emotionless yet somehow menacing.

Michelle's breath caught in her throat."Who are you?What do you want from me?"

The voice continued, ignoring her questions."Your skills have served you well in the cutthroat world of finance.But how will they fare when your life is on the line?"The mechanical voice cut through her racing thoughts like a knife."You have been poisoned."

Michelle froze, her body suddenly rigid with fear.Her breath came in short, rapid gasps, her pulse hammering against her ribs so violently she could feel it in her throat.

"In three minutes, your heart will stop," the voice continued, its robotic tone a stark contrast to the devastating message it delivered."The antidote is hidden somewhere in the room."

Michelle's mind reeled, struggling to process the information.Poison?Antidote?This couldn't be real.But the nausea churning in her stomach, the dizziness clouding her thoughts – they felt all too genuine.

"This is absurd," she hissed through clenched teeth, even as her eyes began frantically scanning the room."You can't just – this has to be illegal.I'll sue you for everything you're worth!"

Her bravado crumbled as another wave of nausea hit her, more intense than before.Michelle's stomach clenched in terror, her fingers trembling as she gripped the edge of the bed, trying to steady herself.A cold sweat broke out along her skin, her designer blouse now clinging uncomfortably to her back.

"Oh God," she whispered, the reality of her situation sinking in.Her heart was racing too fast, too erratically.What if it was true?What if she really only had minutes left to live?

Panic overwhelmed her carefully cultivated composure.Michelle's throat constricted, and a raw, desperate scream tore from her lips."HELP!Somebody help me, please!"

Her voice bounced off the cold, sterile walls, swallowed by the oppressive silence of the room.

But no matter how long Michelle called out, no response came.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

The soft glow of the desk lamp cast long shadows across Morgan's living room, illuminating the stacks of case files spread across her coffee table like miniature skyscrapers of manila and white.Morgan's eyes burned, her vision blurring as she stared at the documents before her.The weight of exhaustion pressed against her like a physical force, but she stubbornly refused to give in to sleep.

"Just a little longer," she muttered to herself, rubbing her temples."There has to be something here I'm missing."

Morgan shifted, uncrossing and recrossing her legs on the hardwood floor.Beside her, Skunk's rhythmic breathing was the only steady sound in the otherwise silent house.The big dog's presence was comforting, a warm, solid weight against her thigh.

She glanced across the room to where Derik lay sprawled on her couch, one arm draped over his face.His chest rose and fell in the slow cadence of deep sleep.A pang of guilt twisted in Morgan's gut.She should have sent him home hours ago, but a selfish part of her had wanted him to stay.

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