Accueil / Mafia / WAS I TOO LATE? / Chapitre 1 - Chapitre 7

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7

Eight Years

Doctor Ariana! Doctor!"The scream cut through the quiet morning, sending birds fluttering out of the trees. I looked up just in time to see a young boy sprinting toward the clinic, his face streaked with tears."Please! Grandpa Ben collapsed!"My heart skipped."What?""He... he won't wake up!"I didn't wait to hear another word.Grabbing my medical bag from the counter, I rushed out of the clinic, following the boy through the narrow dirt road. Villagers were already gathering outside Grandpa Ben's small house, panic written across every face."Move!" I called, pushing through the crowd. "Give him some space!"The moment I reached him, my stomach tightened.Grandpa Ben lay flat on his back, his skin frighteningly pale. His walking stick rested beside him, and his chest barely moved."When did this happen?" I asked, kneeling beside him."Just now," Mrs. Martha answered, wringing her hands. "He was talking to us one minute, then he just... collapsed."I placed two fingers against his

Dernière mise à jour : 2026-07-01

The truth has a price

The stranger disappeared before Ethan could get a clear look at his face, his boots crunched against the gravel as he stepped toward the road, eyes narrowing at the empty corner where the man had vanished."Officer?"Grandpa Ben's granddaughter called, pulling him from his thoughts, Ethan turned back with a faint smile. "Everything alright?""Doctor Ariana is asking for you."He glanced toward the small house where Ariana was helping Grandpa Ben settle into bed. She was focused on checking his pulse, completely unaware that someone had been watching her only moments ago.Or maybe she was simply too trusting.Ethan looked once more at the road.Nothing.Not even footprints.His instincts rarely failed him, and right now, they were screaming that something wasn't right.---Three days later, Grandpa Ben had recovered enough to complain about being treated like an invalid."I'm telling you, Ariana, I'm perfectly healthy.""You nearly died.""I fainted.""You stopped breathing."He waved

Dernière mise à jour : 2026-07-01

Shadows don't warn twice

The words lingered in my mind long after Eleanor Briggs walked out of the clinic, some truths come with consequences, Doctor, I let out a slow breath before shaking my head."No," I muttered to myself. "She's grieving."People said strange things when they lost someone they loved. I'd seen it countless times over the years. Grief could make a person bargain with reality, deny the truth, or blame the wrong people.Surely, that was all this was.I picked up the next patient's file and forced myself to focus.By sunset, the clinic was empty.I locked the medicine cabinet, organized the patient records, and reached for my handbag. Just as I was about to leave, something caught my attention.The vase sitting on the windowsill had been knocked onto the floor.Glass covered the tiles.I frowned."I'm sure I left this here."Kneeling, I carefully picked up the larger pieces. It was the handmade vase the children had given me after I treated them during last year's flu outbreak.I smiled sadly

Dernière mise à jour : 2026-07-01

The hunter never misses

Morning arrived with a blanket of gray clouds hanging low over Ashwood Village. I stood outside the clinic, unlocking the front door as the familiar scent of damp earth filled the air. Normally, mornings brought me peace. Today, they only reminded me of the muddy footprints Ethan had found the night before.I pushed the thought aside.Fear wouldn't help my patients.Inside, I switched on the lights and arranged the files on my desk. It was my routine—one that somehow made everything feel normal, even when it wasn't. Before I could settle down, the bell above the entrance chimed."Doctor Ariana!"A little girl no older than eight rushed in, clutching a bouquet of wildflowers almost as big as her head.I smiled."Well, good morning, Lily."She beamed as she placed the flowers on my desk."These are for you.""They're beautiful.""My mama said you'll be leaving soon."I nodded gently."In two days."Her smile faded."Are you coming back?"The question caught me off guard."I hope so.""Y

Dernière mise à jour : 2026-07-01

No second chance

Rain began as a light drizzle just after checking up on my last patient. I glanced through the clinic window, watching the sky darken far earlier than usual, and sighed before closing the final medical file. The events of the past few days refused to leave my mind. Eleanor Briggs' warning. The muddy footprints inside my clinic. Ethan's growing concern. I wanted to believe they were unrelated, that I was simply letting fear cloud my judgment, but every time I reached for that comforting thought, something inside me whispered otherwise. I locked the medicine cabinet, switched off the lights one by one, and slung my medical bag over my shoulder. The village had already gone quiet. Most families were indoors, escaping the coming rain. Only the sound of distant thunder followed me as I stepped outside and locked the clinic door behind me.I had barely taken a few steps when I heard another set of footsteps.Slow.Measured, not trying to hide, i stopped walking, the footsteps stopped, too.

Dernière mise à jour : 2026-07-01

Goodbye isn't peaceful

barely slept. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw the assassin's knife flashing beneath the streetlight, heard his voice whispering that I wouldn't survive a second time, and woke with my heart pounding against my ribs. By sunrise, the bruises on my wrists had already begun to darken, reminding me that none of it had been a nightmare. Dressed quietly, tied my hair into a low ponytail, and forced myself to head for the clinic. Staying home would only give fear a place to grow, and I refused to let whoever wanted me dead steal the last days I had left in Ashwood.The moment I stepped outside, I knew something had changed. Conversations stopped as I walked past. Women who normally greeted me with warm smiles suddenly lowered their voices. Two elderly men standing outside the bakery looked at me before pretending to continue their discussion. A little boy waved at me, only for his mother to gently pull his hand down and lead him away. My footsteps slowed. The attack had frightened everyone

Dernière mise à jour : 2026-07-01

The man in the rain

The bus pulled away from Ashwood just after sunrise, carrying me farther from the only home I had ever known, sat beside the window with my fingers wrapped tightly around the stethoscope keychain Ethan had slipped into my palm before I boarded. The village had disappeared from sight, but the ache in my chest refused to leave. Eight years. That was how long I had lived there, treating broken bones, delivering babies, comforting grieving families, and believing that if I worked hard enough, life would eventually reward me. Instead, I was leaving behind a ruined reputation, unanswered questions, and a heart that still refused to believe Daniel could betray me after everything we had sacrificed together.The rain began less than an hour into the journey, drumming steadily against the windows as the bus climbed a winding mountain road. Most of the passengers had fallen asleep, their heads resting against the seats while soft music played through the driver's radio. I reached into my bag an

Dernière mise à jour : 2026-07-04

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