After Natalie issued themand, everyone fell silent, not even daring to breathe loudly. Once she assumed the persona of Dr. Elim and began her work, her presence became somanding that no one could defy her.


    Eventually, Connie was the first to break the silence. "Yes, I understand," she said.


    Sheldon soon snapped out his daze and quickly nodded in agreement. "Rest assured, Elim. We willply with your instructions precisely."


    Marcus then picked up his phone, stating, "I''ll send the document to everyone now." He immediately added Wesley and Laura to a group chat and uploaded the document there.


    Natalie continued, "I''ll be staying in Mrs. Holden''s room on the second floor. I need to observe her for three days first, then get the necessary preparations done."


    She turned her attention to Connie. "Connie, during these three days, assist Sheldon in calming Mr. Holden''s nerves."


    "Yes, I understand," Connie replied.


    Confident in Connie''s capability, Natalie then addressed Laura. "Mrs. Holden, let''s head upstairs. You can go first. I want to grab something."


    "Alright."


    Laura remained tightly bundled up, not wanting Marcus and Charles to see her appearance and fearing she might identally infect them.


    Laura went upstairs first. After grabbing her backpack from the third floor, Natalie quickly followed and joined her in the windowless room on the second floor. This room was equipped with a bathroom and washroom, allowing them to shower and use the toilet.


    They could either have meals delivered or go out to eat together. Laura anticipated that she might suffer an attack of her illness in a day or two, possibly as soon as the next morning.


    Once Natalie joined Laura in the room, Wesley knocked on the door, carrying some change of clothes and food-the clothes were for Laura, and the food was for Natalie.


    "Elim, I''m counting on you," he said. "During these three days, my wife will be in a lot of pain and difort. If she struggles, please call me. I''ll be right outside the door."


    Wesley''s eyes were red with emotion, and his voice was filled with concern as he looked at Laura on the bed, full of worry, wishing he could stay with her. However, Charles had insisted that no one interfere with Elim''s ns.


    "Mr. Holden, rest assured. With me around, Mrs. Holden will be just fine," Natalie assured him with a determined look. "These three days will pass in the blink of an eye."


    "Alright," Wesley reluctantly moved back, stepping out as Natalie closed the door behind him.


    "Mrs. Holden, now that it''s just us, there''s no need to keep yourself bundled up so tightly."


    "Alright."


    Laura removed the outeryer of her clothing and took off her veil and sunsses. The room was dimly lit with just a soft floormp since she couldn''t be exposed to bright light. The temperature was also carefully regted, neither too warm nor too cold, to ensure Laura''sfort.


    Natalie suggested she lie down and rest while she continued to review the materials provided by Federrick.


    At midnight, Laura, lying on the bed, began letting out muffled cries of pain. Hearing this, Natalie set aside her materials. She pulled out a pair of specially crafted gloves from her bag, slipped them on, and approached Laura.


    Laura''s eyes were a fiery red, and fine hairs began sprouting on her almost translucent, pale face. Beneath the skin of her neck, something small started to squirm and shift.


    Lifting Laura''s skirt, Natalie discovered that this unsettling movement wasn''t confined to her neck. It was nearly everywhere on her body. The activity was most intense and noticeable around her heart.


    Natalie hesitated to act hastily. She gently lowered the skirt and continued to watch Laura''s transformation with keen attention.


    "It hurts! It really hurts," Laura cried out, curling into a ball and repeatedly striking


    her head against the wall. "It hurts so much, it hurts so much!"


    Suddenly, Laura let out a piercing scream. Her teeth elongated, and she leaped from the bed onto the floor, instantly morphing into a creature covered in white fur. Then, she lunged at Natalie.


    Natalie quickly sidestepped and watched Laura''s transformation carefully.


    "Go! Just leave!" Laura urged, her voice strained as she twisted her head. She still had a grip on her sanity and was holding back from harming Natalie.


    "Hurry, get out and lock me in," she pleaded.


    "Just hang in there, it''ll be alright," Natalie tried tofort her. "All will be fine." Laura continued to cry, her voice filled with agony. Despite the intense pain, she clung to the fact that she was human and couldn''t harm anyone.


    "Go, just go," she repeated.


    "I''m not leaving," Natalie said firmly. She rifled through her bag, pulled out a small white bottle, and poured out two pills. Approaching Laura, she pinched her cheeks and pushed the pills into her mouth.


    "Swallow them," Natalie instructed.


    With a quick pinch and push, the pills were down Laura''s throat before she could react. As the pills hit her stomach, it felt like it was being scorched by fire. In agony, she opened her mouth and coughed up a mouthful of blood.


    "It hurts, it hurts..." she groaned.


    Natalie grabbed Laura and hoisted her up before tossing her back onto the bed. Quickly, she used a small bottle to collect the liquid that Laura had expelled.


    What Laura spat out wasn''t exactly blood. While typical blood is red, this was a clear liquid, akin to water.


    On the floor, the liquid appeared ordinary, but once Natalie collected it in a bottle, she struck a match and tossed it inside. The me met the liquid with a sizzle, erupting into a fierce burn. Then, the bottle shattered.


    Natalie took another bottle, opened it, and poured its contents over the remains. A cloud of ck smoke rose as the bottle and its contents were reduced to ashes. She poured a bit more of the liquid onto the spot where the clear liquid had been.


    Again, a hissing sound urred, and ck smoke rose. What remained was a


    red stain on the floor, finally revealing the traces of blood within the transparent liquid.


    "It hurts, it hurts!" Laura continued to writhe on the bed, yet her awareness was bing sharper.


    The once overwhelming urge to harm others had vanished. Apart from the pain,


    an inexplicable burning sensation radiated from her abdomen through her entire


    body.


    Natalie approached and carefully inspected Laura. However, Laura''s body was now enveloped in white fur, obscuring her blood vessels. Natalieremainedposed and focused on the transformation in Laura''s eyes. The medication had intensified their redness.


    Despite her cries of agony, Laura clung to herself, resisting any impulse to harm


    others. "It hurts so much! It hurts so much!"


    Natalie reached out and seized a clump of the white fur. The moment she applied pressure, Laura emitted a piercing, shrill scream.