37-38

Chapter 37: The Attack

"Texas Ranger."

Texas, City Hospital.

Amanda showed her credentials to the officer managing the scene and then entered the hospital with Robin.

"Can you tell us what’s happening here, Officer?"

Outside a restroom, they found the officer in charge of the case.

The law enforcement system in the United States is notoriously complex, so much so that even many ordinary Americans struggle to distinguish between the various branches.

Amanda’s division, the Rangers, is part of the same law enforcement system but specializes in investigating cases like homicides, political corruption, and fugitive tracking—distinct from urban police departments.

"I don’t understand why your division is so interested in such a straightforward case. We can handle this ourselves," the officer said, his tone slightly dismissive of the Rangers Amanda represented.

Nevertheless, he briefed her on the case:

"An assault occurred. A healthcare worker attacked his colleague in the restroom. The motive is unclear, but it’s likely drug-related. It took significant effort to subdue him..."

The officer led Amanda and Robin from the crime scene to a hospital room. Pointing at a bandaged Black man speaking to another officer, he said, "That’s him—the victim of the attack."

He knocked on the door, signaling to a subordinate inside, then gestured for Amanda to enter.

---

"Sir, could you recount the events of the assault in the restroom?" Amanda asked.

"I’ve already told you everything," the injured healthcare worker said, his gaze briefly flickering toward Robin before resting back on Amanda. He clutched his wounded arm.

"We just want to ensure we don’t miss any details, sir," Amanda reassured him.

"Can you describe your relationship with the attacker? Did you have any conflicts in the past?"

The man glanced at the bandages on his arm, licked his lips, and finally responded.

"No, Jess and I got along fine. In fact, just recently, we worked together on a rescue near the forest by Devil’s River."

At the mention of the familiar location, Amanda exchanged a meaningful look with Robin.

"Could you elaborate on that rescue?" Amanda asked.

The injured man hesitated briefly before answering.

"There’s not much to say. It was a routine job. The hospital got a call about an injured person found by the roadside. We picked him up and brought him here for treatment."

"Was anything unusual during the transport? Did the patient say anything strange?"

"Unusual?" He lowered his head, thinking, then replied, "He kept groaning and occasionally muttering about the forest and monsters. But that’s probably just because he was attacked by a wild animal in the woods. He was lucky to survive."

Forest. Monsters.  

The words confirmed Amanda's suspicions—the patient was likely connected to Mr Johnson’s death.

"Right, about that patient—while in the ambulance, he suddenly went berserk. He lunged at Jess, acting like..."

The injured man trailed off mid-sentence.

"Like what?" Amanda pressed, stepping closer to his bedside.

But before she could get an answer, the healthcare worker suddenly lifted his head, revealing pitch-black eyes devoid of whites, and lunged at her.

"Look out!" Robin shouted.

---

"What’s going on here?"

Hearing the commotion, the officer from outside rushed in, finding Robin restraining the man while Amanda handcuffed him to the bed.

"I wish I knew," Amanda said, breathing heavily.

"I was just asking him about the case when he suddenly went berserk and attacked me."

If not for Robin’s quick reflexes, Amanda might have been seriously hurt.

"Like the other healthcare worker?" the officer muttered, shifting his gaze to the restrained, thrashing man. His pitch-black eyes reminded the officer of the earlier assailant.

"Notify the precinct. This is no ordinary assault case!"

---

The hospital buzzed with activity after the second healthcare worker’s violent outburst. The local police acted swiftly.

"So, this patient is the one who escaped from the forest?" Amanda asked.

Because of sedatives, the patient didn’t display the same violent tendencies as the others. However, Amanda informed the officer in charge of the situation, who prudently had the patient moved to an isolated room.

Given the earlier incidents, caution was paramount.

"Multiple abrasions on the arms and a fatal chest wound. Initial assessment suggests a wild animal attack. Wounds have been stitched and stabilized," Robin read aloud from the medical report.

"The injuries match those found on Mr Johnson," Robin added.

"Then who—or what—attacked them?" Amanda wondered aloud.

Despite uncovering crucial leads, Amanda felt no sense of relief. Staring at the patient lying silently in bed, she only sensed deeper mysteries ahead.

"Huh?"

As Amanda’s mind raced, her eyes caught something odd on the patient’s hand.

Looking closer, she noticed black hair slowly growing on the back of his hand—resembling animal fur.

It looked disturbingly like the hide of a wild beast.

---

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 38: Action

“I originally thought this was just an ordinary attack case.”

“But suddenly, it escalated into a group incident!”

“And then you told me the entire case might be connected to a murder in Devil’s River Forest, making it a special case.”

At the hospital, outside a patient’s room, the officer stared at the black hair growing from the injured person’s hand, his face filled with shock.

“So, can someone tell me what’s going on? Is this some kind of unknown contagious disease?”

“We’re still investigating the specifics,” Amanda replied, her thoughts mirroring the officer’s questions.

Everything seemed to point back to Mr Johnson’s death in Devil’s River Forest.

“If possible, I hope you can resolve this quickly. Otherwise, once the media finds out about what’s happening in the hospital, I can’t guarantee how they’ll spin the story,” the officer warned, glancing again at the unconscious patient, his gaze lingering on the black hair sprouting from the person’s hand. Adjusting the belt around his waist, he added, “I’ve already reported everything to the Mounted Police Headquarters. Their department will be taking over soon.”

“That would be for the best.”

After everything that had happened, the officer was more than willing to hand off this troublesome case to the Texas Rangers.

Relieved but curious, he looked at Amanda and cautiously asked, “So, is this connected to some kind of supernatural event? Does the Mounted Police have a special division, and are you part of it?”

Amanda could understand his curiosity. After encountering these bizarre events—especially the strange symptoms on the patient—even she was beginning to wonder.

But she managed a wry smile and replied, “Unfortunately, the Mounted Police doesn’t have a so-called special division.”

“I see,” the officer nodded knowingly, his expression shifting to one of understanding. “Classified, huh? I’m familiar with that.”

“This isn’t about classified—” Amanda began, only to be interrupted by her subordinate, Robin, calling her name.

“Boss…”

Ending her conversation with the officer, Amanda stepped over to Robin, who lowered his voice as he spoke.

“The Mounted Police just pulled up files on a missing persons case from a few years ago. They found a photo of a little girl.”

Robin turned his phone around and held it out to Amanda. She looked at the blurry, aged photo on the screen. Despite its quality, she could make out a little girl, no older than three or four, with a head full of golden hair.

“Notify the town sheriff immediately. We’re heading into the forest!” Amanda ordered, handing the phone back to Robin.

---

From the hospital in the city to the remote town near Devil’s River Forest, it was a long drive.

By the time Amanda and her team arrived, the sun had set. The last rays of twilight faded, and darkness blanketed the town.

The sheriff, visibly relieved at their arrival, hurried over. “I called every officer in town as soon as I got your message.”

“Thank you, Sheriff,” Amanda said, nodding. She scanned the small group of officers gathered nearby. In a small border town by Devil’s River Forest, expecting a large police presence was unrealistic.

“The upcoming operation could be dangerous,” Amanda warned, her voice low. Recalling the grim details of the investigation, she addressed the officers, “Stay vigilant during the operation. If you notice anything unusual, report it immediately. And if you encounter a threat, don’t hesitate—shoot on sight. Is that clear?”

“Yes, ma’am!” the officers answered, exchanging uneasy glances.

“What exactly are we up against this time?” the sheriff asked nervously, stepping closer. “A dangerous criminal?”

Amanda couldn’t confirm her suspicions yet. Instead, she met his gaze and replied in a grave tone, “You could say that. But the target might be far more dangerous.”

The sheriff’s face paled. “Maybe we should contact the state government and wait for reinforcements before acting.”

His hesitation wasn’t cowardice—it was practical. He knew his small-town officers couldn’t handle a dangerous situation.

“We don’t have time,” Amanda said firmly. “Two people have already been attacked, and Mr Johnson lost his life because of this. If the target makes it to town, it’ll be catastrophic.”

Remembering the gruesome deaths in the forest, Amanda’s expression hardened.

“Two people?” the sheriff asked.

“We just came from the city hospital. There’s another injured victim there,” Amanda said but withheld details about the patient’s strange condition to avoid panic.

“I understand,” the sheriff said, realizing the gravity of the situation. He turned toward the town and clenched his fists before giving the order. “Gear up, everyone! We’re going into the forest to drag that bastard out!”

(End of Chapter)