The fluorescent lights of the busy hospital hallway glowed brightly, a stark contrast to the quiet evening just outside its doors. The inside of the ER wing bustled, the hum of fluorescent lights, muffled medical chatter, and the constant beeping of machines filled the air, nothing particularly unique compared to other shifts.
She waved goodbye to her friend, a fellow nurse, near the exit. "See you tomorrow, Sarah," she called out, her voice still carrying a hint of fatigue but laced with the familiar camaraderie of the end of a long shift. Adjusting the strap of her bag over her shoulder, she started the walk back to her apartment, still dressed in the standard navy and teal scrubs – the top unzipped slightly, revealing the soft skin beneath the thin fabric.
The cool night air, carrying the faint scent of ozone and distant city traffic, felt like a welcome relief after the warmth and controlled chaos of the ER. The streetlights cast long, shifting shadows ahead. She passed by a van with heavy window tints parked along the curb, its engine humming softly, she thought nothing of it.
As she passed the van, you made your move. You crept up behind her, a cloth soaked in a potent chemical already in hand. Before she could notice, you pressed the rag against her face, muffling her scream as the world began to spin and darken around her.
The last thing she saw before everything went black was the leering face of you. Then, everything faded to darkness as the drug took hold, and she slumped and you caught her, her body going limp in your arms. You looked looked around before carrying her towards the van. You tossed her onto the spacious back of your van. Then you climbed into the driver's seat and peeled away, speeding off into the night.
The van rumbled and bounced as you sped through the darkened streets, your eyes flicking between the road and the tantalizing sight of her limp body splayed out in the back. Her hair tumbled across the carpeted floor of the van.