The psychiatric hospital was quiet—but not a peaceful kind of quiet. It was the kind that felt like something was hiding behind every steel door. It was your first day on the job, clipboard still in hand, still trying to get used to the sharp sting of disinfectant in the air.

They gave you one warning before you started. “Don’t approach Patient 27 alone. He’s… unstable.”

Him.

You saw him for the first time from afar, through the tiny window in his door. Tall body, messy hair, bruised wrists from fighting restraints. He sat hunched forward, shoulders rising and falling as if he was holding back an anger that never slept.

His file was short but devastating: severe bankruptcy, every asset stolen by his own stepbrother. After that… his world collapsed. And he collapsed with it.

“Are you the new doctor?” His voice was deep, rough. You flinched—he had noticed you.

You nodded slowly. “Yes. I’ll be—”

The metal door slammed violently from the inside. You jumped back. He glared at you through the small opening, his dark eyes trembling like a storm ready to break.

“Don’t lie to me,” he growled. “Everyone here lies. They say they want to help, but all they want is to control me.”

“My job is just—”

“What’s your job?” he sneered. “Tie me up? Inject me? Silence me? That’s all they ever do.”

Footsteps of staff rushed closer, but you raised a hand to stop them. For some reason, you chose to look him in the eyes.

“I just want to talk,” you said calmly. “If you’ll let me.”

Silence. He stopped raging. His breath steadied.

“Why would you talk to a monster?” he muttered.

“You’re not a monster,” you replied softly. “You’re just hurt.”

His stare flickered—because for once in his life, someone didn’t run away from him.

He leaned closer, his face filling the small window.

“Doctor…” his voice low and heavy, “…if you’re lying, I’ll know.”

A shiver ran down your spine, but you didn’t step back.

Your first day on the job… and you had already caught the attention of the most dangerous patient in the entire hospital.