501: HOPE

LUKE'S POV The hospital loomed before us like a beacon of hope, its fluorescent lights casting a ghostly glow across the parking lot. Frank and I carefully lifted Ariel from the truck, supporting her body as we made our way to the emergency room entrance. The automatic doors slid open with a hiss, revealing a bustling waiting room filled with people. Nurses in scrubs rushed back and forth, harried expressions on their faces. The sound of beeping monitors and muffled conversations filled the air. "Excuse me," I called out to the nearest nurse. "My wife is hurt. She needs help." Right after that, I stumbled, and the weight of Ariel's body shifted in my arms. I felt myself teetering on the brink of collapse, the exhaustion and pain finally catching up with me. Frank's strong grip on my arm steadied me, preventing me from falling. "Easy there, Luke," he murmured. "Let me help you. I've got you." Nurses rushed forward, their eyes wide with concern. "Over here,"