CHAPTER 5 – THE FIRST ENCOUNTER

The following afternoon, Xyrus returned to the training facility, determined not to let yesterday's examination distract him.

He was halfway through a demanding skating drill when an uncomfortable sensation suddenly tightened across his chest.

He slowed down.

For a moment, his breathing became uneven, and a strange wave of weakness passed through his body.

"Xyrus! Are you okay?" one of his teammates shouted.

Xyrus placed a hand against his chest.

"Yeah. Just give me a second."

He tried taking a deep breath, but the uncomfortable sensation lingered longer than expected.

Something wasn't right.

After several moments, he finally straightened his posture.

"I'm going to see the doctor."

Inside the medical office, Oliot was reviewing confidential documents when someone knocked.

"Come in."

Xyrus entered, looking visibly irritated.

"I need you to check something."

Oliot immediately put down his documents.

"What happened?"

"I experienced that strange discomfort again during training. This time, it felt worse."

Oliot stood.

"Sit down. Tell me exactly what happened."

Xyrus sat on the examination bed.

"It started while I was skating. My chest suddenly felt tight, and I had trouble catching my breath."

"When did it begin?"

"About ten minutes ago."

"Are you still experiencing it?"

"A little."

Oliot's expression became noticeably serious.

He immediately prepared the medical equipment and began assessing Xyrus's condition.

"Does the discomfort spread anywhere else?"

"No."

"Are you feeling dizzy?"

"A little."

Oliot continued checking his vital signs.

For the first time, Xyrus noticed something unusual about the doctor's behavior.

Oliot wasn't simply concerned.

He looked genuinely alarmed.

"Doctor, what's going on?"

"Please remain still."

"You're not answering my question."

"I need to finish the assessment first."

Xyrus frowned.

"Why are you acting like this?"

Oliot glanced at the readings.

His jaw tightened.

The results were not what he had expected.

"Have you experienced anything similar before your initial examination?" he asked.

"No. This only started recently."

"Are you certain?"

"Of course I'm certain! Why would I lie about something like this?"

Oliot fell silent.

Xyrus noticed the hesitation.

"What's wrong with my results?"

"I need to examine the information more carefully."

"That's not an answer."

"Your symptoms require further evaluation."

Xyrus stared at him.

"Yesterday, you told me everything looked relatively stable. Now you're acting as if something terrible has happened."

Oliot looked directly at him.

"I never said there was nothing to worry about."

"Then what exactly are you hiding?"

The question caught Oliot off guard.

For several seconds, neither man spoke.

Oliot stepped toward his desk and opened Xyrus's official medical record.

He compared the latest readings with the previous assessment.

The numbers confirmed that something had changed.

His eyes briefly shifted toward the locked drawer containing the confidential documents.

He quickly looked away.

"Doctor?"

Oliot turned around.

"What?"

"You're doing it again."

"Doing what?"

"Looking at me like you know something I don't."

Oliot remained silent.

Xyrus slowly stood from the examination bed.

"I came here because I trusted you to help me understand what's happening to my body. But every time I ask a question, you avoid giving me a straight answer."

"I'm trying to determine the cause of your symptoms."

"Then tell me what you know."

"I don't have a complete explanation yet."

Xyrus shook his head.

"You're supposed to be the medical professional. How can you expect me to trust you when you can't even explain what's happening?"

Oliot approached him.

"Xyrus, listen carefully. Until we understand these symptoms, you should stop strenuous training. I also need to arrange further medical evaluation."

"You're taking me off the ice?"

"Temporarily, yes. Your health comes first."

Xyrus's expression hardened.

"You realize hockey is my career, right? I can't just stop playing because you suddenly decide something is wrong."

"I'm not making this decision to inconvenience you."

"Then prove it. Tell me what's happening."

Oliot opened his mouth but couldn't bring himself to answer.

He knew exactly why the situation was becoming complicated.

And he knew that telling Xyrus the truth would expose everything.

Xyrus collected his belongings.

"I don't like this, Doctor. Something about you isn't right."

Oliot watched him carefully.

"I understand that you're frustrated."

"Frustrated? I'm worried about my health, and you're treating me like I don't deserve to know what's happening."

"That's not what I want."

"Then stop keeping me in the dark."

Oliot remained still.

Xyrus reached for the door.

"One more thing," he said without turning around. "If I discover that you're hiding something about my medical condition, I won't forgive you."

The door closed.

Oliot stood motionless.

For the first time, he realized that Xyrus was beginning to question him seriously.

Later that afternoon, Oliot returned to his desk.

He unlocked the drawer and retrieved the confidential folder.

The documents contained information about the unauthorized experiment and its expected effects.

He examined the latest observations.

The physical complications were developing earlier than anticipated.

His phone suddenly vibrated.

An unknown number appeared on the screen.

UNKNOWN NUMBER: Has the subject experienced another reaction?

Oliot stared at the message.

OLIOT: Yes. The symptoms are becoming more noticeable.

UNKNOWN NUMBER: You were warned that complications were possible.

Oliot tightened his grip on the phone.

OLIOT: I need more time.

UNKNOWN NUMBER: You don't have much time left. If he discovers what you did, everything will be exposed.

Oliot slowly lowered the device.

He looked at the confidential folder.

The situation was no longer under control.

Meanwhile, Xyrus sat inside the locker room, staring at his phone.

Benny had sent him another message.

BENNY: Are you coming home soon? I miss you.

He forced a small smile.

XYRUS: I'll be home soon, beautiful.

BENNY: Is everything okay?

He hesitated before responding.

XYRUS: Just a little tired. Don't worry.

He put his phone away.

But his thoughts remained with the medical examination.

He remembered Oliot's expression when he checked the results.

That wasn't the expression of someone dealing with an ordinary medical concern.

Something was happening to his body, and his doctor seemed to know more than he was willing to admit.

Xyrus clenched his fists.

He needed answers.

And he was determined to get them.

Back in his office, Oliot closed the confidential folder and locked it away.

He stared at the empty examination bed.

"You're getting too close to the truth, Xyrus," he whispered.

Then his phone vibrated once more.

UNKNOWN NUMBER: Don't let him find out what you did.

Oliot read the message twice.

This time, he didn't respond.

He simply stared at the screen, realizing that the biggest threat to his secret was no longer the experiment itself.

It was the man who had unknowingly become its subject.