Echoes of Yesterday: A Rebirth Story

An hour later, Alex made his way to the backyard, his steps hesitant and filled with a growing sense of unease.

The sun had begun to dip below the horizon, casting long, eerie shadows across the ground.

The backyard was a secluded area, surrounded by tall hedges and a few scattered benches.

It was a place where patients could find some peace and quiet, but tonight, it felt ominous.

As Alex approached, he saw Marcus standing with his back to him, seemingly lost in thought.

Alex walked through a small passageway, the crunch of gravel under his feet echoing in the silence.

Just as he realized someone was standing off to the side, he felt a forceful push from behind.

His balance wavered, and despite his efforts to lower his center of gravity, he fell to the ground with a thud.

Looking up, Alex saw a familiar face—Tom.

His eyes were filled with malice, and his expression was one of pure hatred.

Before Alex could react, Tom's face twisted into a sneer.

Alex turned his head, hoping for some explanation or help from Marcus, but all he saw was a flash of movement.

Marcus's fist connected with his jaw, sending a jolt of pain through his skull.

Marcus leaned over him, his voice cold and menacing.

"Remember your colleague Sarah? I'm her brother." He spat the words out, his eyes burning with hatred. "Don't think you can escape justice by playing dumb. We all know she's dead because of you. You were clever, covering up all the evidence, but you can't fool me. Now, tell me the truth. How did you kill my sister?"

Alex's mind raced, trying to find the right words.

His heart pounded in his chest, and his palms were slick with sweat. "I... I don't remember," he stammered, his voice trembling. "I was unconscious. I didn't do it."

His words were met with another punch, this time to his stomach.

Alex doubled over, gasping for breath. Pain radiated through his body, and he felt bile rise in his throat.

"You're lying," Marcus growled. "Tell me the truth."

Alex tried to explain, but every time he insisted he had no memory of the event, another blow landed.

Desperation set in as he realized Marcus wasn't going to believe him.

His vision began to blur, and his limbs felt heavy and unresponsive.

After a few minutes, Marcus's patience seemed to snap.

He pulled out a stack of bills and tossed them to Tom. "Get out of here. Keep watch in the hallway and make sure no one comes in. I'll have the rest of the money wired to your account."

Tom nodded, his eyes gleaming with greed, and left without a word.

Marcus turned back to Alex, his expression cold and calculating.

He moved behind Alex and locked his arm around his neck in a tight chokehold."

You have a few seconds before you lose consciousness," Marcus whispered into Alex's ear.

"Tell me the truth." Alex's mind was a whirlwind of fear and confusion.

He tried to pry Marcus's arm loose, his fingers digging into the man's biceps.

But Marcus's muscles were taut and unyielding, and Alex's efforts were futile.

His nails began to break, his fingers bleeding, but Marcus didn't budge.

Gradually, Alex felt his limbs grow cold and numb.

His vision started to blur, and his breath came in ragged gasps.

The pressure on his neck was relentless, and he could feel his consciousness slipping away.

Desperation turned to despair as he realized he had no way to prove his innocence.

His last coherent thought was a plea for help, a silent cry for someone, anyone, to intervene.

But as the darkness closed in, he knew that his fate was in Marcus's hands.

The world around him began to fade, and the last thing he felt was the cold, unyielding grip of Marcus's arm around his neck, pulling him into the void.