Chapter 4

"Handle it, or don't bother coming back." The estate's steel gates slid open, revealing a tall male figure with crimson eyes and short white hair. The man, appearing to be in his late 40s, wore a white coat that gleamed under the afternoon sun. A pair of muscular men, dressed in black suits, stood by his sides, standing upright. At a glance, anyone could tell this was no ordinary persona. A black jeep, with a neat and polished exterior, pulled up in front of him. He slowly picked out a pack of cigarettes from his coat's pocket, picking one with an elegant swing, and lit it. He took a long drag, the smoke curling from his lips as he exhaled heavily. The serene atmosphere was broken by the insistent ringing of his phone which he found annoying. He furrowed his brow, "This better be something relevant, or else..." As he took a glance at the screen, he recognized the caller and murmured, "I guess they must have taken care of that." "Albert?" He spoke into the receiver. "Uhm... Sir... , I just deemed it necessary to bring it to your awareness that—" "Just cut to the point Albert," he interrupted, his voice carrying a bit of irritation. "He's awake, sir," The voice on the other end of the line informed him. As these words sunk into his mind, the man's eyes widened, and the cigarette slipped from his mouth. Without a word, he hung up, exhaled heavily once more, and muttered, "Some people are just too stubborn to die." He stubbed out the cigarette beneath his shoe, ensuring the embers were extinguished. Straightening up, he scoffed, "So when it comes to death, he becomes a cockroach." *** Back at the hospital, the sudden change in Riley's demeanor left the group stunned and questioning the reality of the situation. The boy who was in a state of panic earlier desperately seeking escape from them like a prey trying to escape the clutches of its predator now stood before them, his mood calm and composed. Without giving their evident confused state attention, Riley walked past them, seemingly unflustered. "What the hell is up with him?" Sarah said under her breath as she looked at her brother with disdain. Riley paused briefly, casting a glance over his shoulder. "Are you guys just going to stand there or follow me?" The doctor, still adjusting the situation, stammered a response. "Oh... Y... Yes," he said, adjusting his coat, and straightening himself as he followed Alexander, a sense of unease settling in. "Oh Lord, what kinda bad luck streak am I on..." The others were equally perplexed as they trailed behind the doctor. Upon reaching the room, Riley stepped inside, his back still turned to the group. "Uhm... The doctor's the only one I want to see," he stated in a gentle and carefree tone. Yet, they couldn't shake off the unease they were feeling, like something was breathing down their necks. "The rest of you can wait outside." Riley concluded. Exchanging glances, they struggled to process his request. Before anyone else could respond, Sarah scoffed unable to mask her irritation, "Just get it over with," She stormed out. "You heard him, Albert!" She added, referring to the butler. "I'm right behind you Miss Sarah," Albert said before departing. Left alone with the doctor, Alexander waited as the man hesitantly stepped into the room, closing the door behind him. "I'm just going to run some minor checks to confirm the results from earlier," the doctor said, as he prepared to examine Riley. "Sure sure, do your thing doc," Riley responded, his attention drifting elsewhere. Fragments of memories kept trickling into his head as the doctor proceeded with his examination—memories belonging to Alexander Sinclair. He saw different scenes;scenes where Sarah insulted him and bullied others at school. A bitter laugh escaped his lips. “So this is Sarah’s true nature. I really was blind, wasn’t I?” The doctor paused, eyeing Riley cautiously before continuing with his task. “What was that?” “Nothing,” Riley replied with a faint smile, his attention drifting back to the visions swirling in his mind. After checking Riley's heartbeat, he concluded, "That's a wrap." "We'll need you to stay here for some days, just to monitor your recovery process before releasing you." "Just... Try not to do anything crazy," he laughed, tapping Riley gently on the shoulder. Maybe this was his way of being cautious, not to offend the son of Mr Sinclair. Ignoring the doctor's remarks, Riley inquired, "What year is it, doctor?" The doctor gave him a confused look, "2013..." He responded. "So I was taken 11 years back..." Riley whispered to himself. The doctor looked at him weirdly, "okayyy?" The doctor felt more at ease now that he was done handling the boy in front of him. At least he could work more freely with other patients. "I'll come check up on you later, okay?" As the doctor turned to leave, another question from Riley froze him in his tracks. "They asked you not to do anything, didn't they?" Riley lowered his voice. The doctor's feet became heavy, shock evident on his face. In Alexander's body, Riley possessed not only his own memories but also Alexander's. As a result, he remembered the real reason why Alexander was hospitalized in the first place. He had suffered from a sudden heart attack the previous night and was rushed to the hospital; his father, however, had instructed the doctor not to intervene, effectively letting him die. Thanks to this access, Riley was also aware of one information none of his medical attendants knew. The cause of the heart attack. It was no coincidence, but it was orchestrated by the very people who were supposed to care for him. The heart attack was a result of a poison mixed with his food, by his sister. To everyone who was now aware, of him being awake, Alexander Sinclair miraculously survived. However the only miracle which took place was Riley Smith's rebirth. He observed the doctor's reaction. "I assume your shocked silence means I'm right," he staged calmly The doctor, trying to maintain his composure, laughed nervously. "What are you talking about, why would they—" Riley persisted, "There's no need to pretend, doctor." He continued, clearing his throat, "'Our lives are saved'—is what you said earlier, correct me if I'm wrong." With a gentle smile, Riley added, "Add that to the nurse's shock earlier when she saw me awake, and the equation becomes balanced." "You were all scared because if I died, it would damage your careers greatly..." "A professional being unable to save the son of the famous Mr. Sinclair from a mere heart attack.... Your career would be in shambles." The doctor's fists tightened, as sweat gathered on his forehead. Whether he denied it or not, he knew the child in front of him had already figured everything out. But rather than playing it cautious like he had been doing, the bottle of frustration he had been keeping inside him burst open. "Look, I don't know what messed up internal freaking conflict is going on in your family, or what fucked up mindset you all have, but please, I just want to be left the fuck out of it!" As if receiving a sudden shock reminding his mouth of who he was ranting to, his hands rushed to cover his mouth. Riley, amazed by the doctor's sudden gutsy outburst, began to laugh. The doctor on the other hand felt ridiculed with this display. "I've heard rumors of what he's capable of. Please... I just want to continue my peaceful career." The doctor pleaded. Riley exhaled heavily, bringing a pause to his laughter, "There's no need to eat yourself up, doc. I just wanted to confirm what I had in mind, that's all," he assured him. As he finished speaking, Riley noticed a shadow beneath the entrance of the room. A smirk crept onto his face as he remarked, "Looks like he's here." "What?" The doctor asked, following Riley's gaze to the room's entrance, his stomach sinking as the door creaked open. A man wearing a white coat entered, closing the door on two muscular men in black suits outside. Recognizing the figure in front of him, the doctor hastily moved aside and stood up straight, stammering, "I... I wasn't aware you were coming, sir." He bowed respectfully, "W... Welcome," but the man paid him no attention, his gaze fixated solely on Riley. Smiling, Riley addressed the newcomer, "I'm surprised you had the time to come..." "Father..." Note: From the next chapter, Alexander Sinclair would be referred to as Riley in the story's narration.