Chapter 2 — The Thing Inside the Cast
Daniel stepped aside.
"Do it."
Marissa's face turned pale.
"You can't be serious."
Evelyn was already kneeling beside Noah.
"I'm going to cut through the plaster," she said softly. "You'll feel some vibration, but I won't touch your arm."
Noah nodded, trembling.
The medical cutter buzzed to life.
Its small blade vibrated against the cast.
Dust drifted onto the hospital blanket as the thick plaster slowly separated.
Halfway down the forearm...
Everyone heard it.
Scratch.
Scratch.
Scratch.
The sound came from inside the cast.
One nurse gasped.
Daniel looked at Marissa.
She refused to meet his eyes.
Evelyn carefully spread the cast apart.
A foul smell escaped immediately.
Then something black shot out.
One nurse screamed.
A large centipede hit the floor and raced beneath the hospital bed.
Noah burst into tears.
"I told you!"
Evelyn gently lifted the remaining plaster.
Hidden against Noah's swollen skin were several dead insects, patches of mold, and tiny sharp pieces of fiberglass that had been deliberately packed between the padding and his arm.
His skin was covered in infected scratches.
The orthopedic surgeon rushed into the room.
"What happened here?"
He stared in disbelief.
"This cast was tampered with."
Daniel's voice became dangerously quiet.
"What do you mean?"
"The padding was removed after the cast was applied. Someone opened it, inserted these objects, then resealed it."
Silence filled the room.
Only one person had stayed alone with Noah after the hospital visit.
Marissa.
She suddenly laughed nervously.
"This is ridiculous. Maybe insects crawled inside."
The surgeon shook his head.
"Impossible."
Daniel slowly turned toward his wife.
For the first time...
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He wasn't looking at her with love.
He was looking at her like a stranger.
