The Spare's Second Chance in Apocalypse-Chapter 236: Ch : Get the Doctor- Part 3

Dr. James Alden stood frozen as his eyes landed on the two figures in the corner.

Nora and Noah Vale.

His heart skipped a beat.

The Vale family.

Even in the crumbling world, their name carried weight—dangerous weight. And if the twins were here, it wasn’t by accident.

"Is this... some kind of mission from the Vale family?"

Dr. James’s voice was quiet, but the tension behind his words was thick.

Silence.

Noah’s expression was unreadable, his arms crossed as he leaned against the wall. Nora sat beside Selene, her hand lightly brushing against her unconscious friend’s arm.

Neither of them spoke.

That told James everything he needed to know.

"Right. I won’t ask."

His throat felt dry as he swallowed.

If the twins weren’t answering, it meant the situation was beyond anything he wanted to get tangled in.

Focus on the patient.

James turned his attention back to Selene.

At first glance, she looked fine.

Her face was pale, her breathing steady but shallow. There were no visible wounds, no signs of trauma that explained her condition.

But something felt... off.

James frowned, leaning closer as he checked her pulse.

Normal.

Her skin was cold to the touch, but that could’ve been due to shock or blood loss—

But there was no blood.

He gently lifted her eyelids, checking her pupils.

Responsive.

"Strange..."

"What’s wrong?"

Noah’s voice was calm, but there was a sharp edge to it.

"I don’t know yet. Everything seems normal so far."

James kept his tone neutral, not wanting to set off any alarms.

But it wasn’t.

James could feel it. Something was wrong with her.

Something he couldn’t explain.

"Let me try something."

James was an awakened.

A healer, but with a rare ability that allowed him to connect with a person’s life force—to see their energy, feel their aura, and diagnose conditions beyond normal comprehension.

If something was wrong with Selene, he’d find it.

James placed his hand gently on her forehead and closed his eyes.

Focus.

He pushed his energy toward her, trying to establish a connection.

And that’s when it happened.

Pain.

Blinding, searing pain.

James’s eyes snapped open as a sharp, burning sensation shot through them. It felt like molten fire pouring into his skull, like staring directly into the sun.

"Ahh!"

James recoiled, yanking his hand away as he stumbled back, clutching his eyes.

’What the hell was that?!’

Everyone noticed.

"What happened?"

Nora’s voice was sharp with concern as she leaned forward.

James blinked, trying to clear the blinding afterimage from his vision. His eyes burned, his mind struggling to make sense of what he had seen—

If he had seen anything at all.

"Doctor?"

Nora’s tone was more insistent now.

"What did you see?"

James opened his mouth, but no words came out.

How could he explain it?

He hadn’t seen anything.

He had felt something.

Something vast.

Something inhuman.

James took a shaky breath, his hands still trembling.

"Is... your companion... human?"

The room went deathly quiet.

Noah straightened from where he leaned, his eyes narrowing dangerously.

Ethan’s expression darkened, his jaw tightening.

Even Nora’s gaze turned ice-cold.

"What the hell kind of question is that?"

Ethan’s voice was low, but the threat was unmistakable.

James’s stomach twisted.

Shit.

"I... I didn’t mean...It’s just..."

James’s voice faltered.

He forced himself to take another breath, his pulse pounding in his ears.

"When I tried to connect with her...Her energy... it wasn’t like anything I’ve ever encountered. It wasn’t..."

He hesitated, choosing his words carefully.

Human.

James didn’t say the word, but the implication hung in the air.

Ethan’s patience snapped.

A loud crack echoed through the room as Ethan’s fist smashed into the wall beside him, creating a deep fracture in the concrete.

"Stop spouting nonsense and fix her."

His voice was a growl, barely restrained fury radiating off him.

"If you value your life, Alden, do your damn job."

James’s heart pounded in his chest, fear making his limbs heavy.

But—

"I can’t."

His voice was barely above a whisper, but it echoed in the silence.

"She’s not sick. She’s not injured. Her body is... fine. I can’t fix what’s not broken. And whatever is happening to her..."

James’s hands clenched at his sides.

"It’s not something a medic can fix."

Ethan’s eyes darkened.

His fingers flexed, his body tense as if he was seconds away from tearing James apart.

"You’re saying there’s nothing you can do?"

His voice was dangerously calm.

James nodded slowly, swallowing hard.

"She needs to wake up on her own."

The tension in the room was suffocating.

Ethan’s muscles coiled, his knuckles whitening as he clenched his fists.

James braced himself, prepared for the worst—

A soft sound broke the silence.

A quiet, barely audible murmur.

"What’s... going on?"

Selene.

All heads turned as Selene’s eyes fluttered open.

Her gaze was hazy, unfocused as she blinked, trying to clear the fog clouding her vision.

"Selene!"

Ethan was at her side in an instant, his anger evaporating as concern flooded his features. His hand gently cupped her face, his touch careful, almost afraid.

"You’re awake..."

Selene blinked up at him, confusion swirling in her gaze.

"Ethan...?"

Her voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper.

Noah and Nora moved closer, their eyes filled with relief, but a shadow of worry still lingered.

"What happened?"

Selene murmured, her brow furrowing as she tried to sit up.

"Whoa, easy. You’ve been out for a while."

Ethan’s hand pressed gently on her shoulder, keeping her from moving too quickly.

"How... long?"

"Almost two days."

Selene’s eyes widened slightly, but she didn’t say anything.

"How are you feeling?"

Noah’s voice was soft, but his gaze was sharp, watching her closely.

Selene paused, her lips pressing together as she closed her eyes briefly, feeling the faint hum of something...

Something different inside her.

"I feel..."

Her words trailed off.

Her body felt fine. Her strength was returning, but—

Her core.

It wasn’t the same anymore.

And she knew it.

But Selene didn’t say that.

"I’m okay."

Even though she wasn’t sure if that was the truth.