Page 119 of Ruthless Kings of Obsession

"Hannah?" I straighten slightly, concern immediate. "Is something wrong?"

She closes the door with her usual silent efficiency, though something in her posture seems more alert than usual. "Negative, Miss Prescott. The uniform was necessary for blending in during certain investigations."

Sia and Ishya exchange loaded looks, clearly uncertain about discussing sensitive matters in front of someone they don't know. But Hannah, ever observant, catches their hesitation.

"This room has already been secured," she states matter-of-factly. "All surveillance equipment has been disabled, whitenoise generators are active, and I've implemented additional countermeasures to ensure nothing discussed here leaves these walls." Her lips twitch slightly. "I took the liberty of arranging this when I learned which study room you'd reserved."

A smile tugs at my lips despite the gravity of our situation. "Always three steps ahead, aren't you?"

"At minimum," she agrees mildly. "Though recent events have required increased vigilance."

"Sit," I gesture to the empty chair beside me. "Tell us what you've found."

Hannah takes the offered seat with her usual grace, though I catch the slight tension in her shoulders that suggests whatever she's discovered isn't good.

"There has been a statistically significant increase in reported illnesses across all three universities," she begins, her tone clinically detached though her eyes carry real concern. "Student attendance has dropped by approximately fifty percent in the past month alone."

"Fifty percent?" Sia whistles low. "That's fucking insane."

"They'll blame it on the holidays," Ishya mutters, running a hand through her hair. "Say everyone's just taking off early for break."

"Correct," Hannah confirms. "The official stance is that the approaching holiday season has prompted many students to depart campus earlier than usual. However," her expression grows more serious, "the medical records tell a different story."

"What kind of story?" I ask, though something cold settles in my stomach at her tone.

"One of systematic targeting," Hannah says carefully. "The patterns suggest calculated distribution rather than natural disease progression. Different dormitories experiencing different symptoms, specific social groups being affected while others remain untouched."

"Like test groups," Sia realizes, horror dawning in her expression. "They're using different populations to test different... products."

Hannah nods once, sharp and precise. "The evidence suggests multiple concurrent trials, each targeting specific demographics with unique pathological agents."

"In English?" Ishya requests, though her pallor suggests she already understands more than she wants to.

"They're testing different poisons on different groups," I translate grimly. "Seeing which ones work best on which populations."

"But why?" Sia demands, genuine anger coloring her tone. "What's the fucking point of all this?"

"Control," Hannah answers simply. "Fear is an excellent motivator, but the threat of watching loved ones suffer slow, painful deaths?" She shakes her head slightly. "That's an entirely different level of psychological warfare."

The clinical way she describes it somehow makes it worse. Because this isn't just violence or power plays anymore – this is calculated cruelty on an institutional scale.

"The timing can't be coincidental," I say, watching Hannah carefully. "With the event coming up after New Year's..."

"Indeed." Hannah's expression gives nothing away, but something in her tone suggests deeper concerns. "The current hypothesis is that these incidents are meant to demonstrate capabilities. To show exactly what kind of consequences await those who fail to comply with whatever new regime is being established."

"Like Scarlett," Ishya says quietly. "Making an example of her for failing their task."

"Precisely." Hannah reaches into her bag, pulling out what looks like a tablet. "Though Ms. Barbieri's case appears tobe merely a prototype. The new variations are far more... sophisticated."

"Sophisticated how?" I ask, though part of me doesn't want to know.

"The latest cases show evidence of highly targeted delivery systems. Diseases that affect specific genetic markers, that can be activated or deactivated at will." Hannah's fingers move across the tablet's screen with practiced efficiency. "Some victims appear to be experiencing symptoms that shouldn't be possible according to current medical understanding."

"What do you mean?" Sia leans forward, tension evident in every line of her body.

"Cellular degeneration that occurs in patterns rather than random deterioration. Organ failure that follows precise timetables. Blood disorders that manifest in mathematically perfect progressions." Hannah looks up from her tablet, real concern breaking through her professional mask. "These aren't natural diseases – they're engineered weapons."

The implications of that hit like physical blows. Because if someone can create diseases this precise, this controlled...

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