After their conversation, Ethan finally understood why they had ended up at the clinic.
The three of them—Leeroy, Ryan, and Evelyn, had grown up together, bound by shared history rather than blood. Leeroy and Ryan had been taken in by Evelyn's father, who had given them their names, but they were still young when they were sent away to live at the Mercer Wellness Center.
Evelyn's parents had vanished without a trace. Their mentor—her grandfather, Dr. Aldric Mercer, was the real mastermind behind the clinic. A year ago, he had suddenly disappeared, leaving the three of them to fend for themselves.
Dr. Aldric had always been an odd man. He would only see three patients a day, and he refused to treat anything that wasn't rare or uniquely complex. Over time, fewer and fewer people came to the clinic. After all, how many strange, inexplicable illnesses could there really be? Still, his reputation had carried weight, and those desperate enough sought him out from far and wide.
