The rhythmic, hollow beep of the heart monitor filled the sterile hospital room. Maya lay trapped beneath heavy blankets, her body aching from head to toe. Her face was dark with bruises, and an oxygen mask pressed tightly over her mouth and nose.
Eleanor: You think you can hide in this bed forever?
Maya: Please... let me rest.
Eleanor: We don't have time for your drama, Maya.
Eleanor stood over the bed in her emerald green sweater, her eyes cold and sharp. She held a thick stack of legal documents in her manicured hand.
Eleanor: Your father's estate belongs to this family, not to a girl who ruined everything.
Maya: My father left the trust fund to me.
Eleanor: You'll sign those papers right now!
A sharp slap cracked across the quiet room. Maya's head jerked to the side as pain flared across her bruised cheek. Tears welled up in her eyes beneath the plastic mask.
Maya: No... I will never sign.
Eleanor: Look at you. You have no money, no power, and no one coming to save you.
In the doorway, David stood completely frozen. He wore a dark suit, his hands trembling at his sides as he watched his mother corner his wife.
David: Mother, maybe we should come back later...
Eleanor: Shut up, David! If she doesn't sign today, the bank forecloses on the mansion tomorrow!
Maya: That mansion was built by my mother.
Eleanor: Your mother is dead! And if you don't sign this waiver, you'll be joining her soon!
Maya's breathing grew rapid and shallow. Her fingers trembled against the white hospital sheets, searching blindly for the plastic control panel beside her hip.
Eleanor: Don't look away from me while I'm speaking to you!
Maya: I'm not looking away.
Maya's fingers locked around the red plastic casing. With one swift press, her thumb slammed down on the emergency call button with a heavy mechanical click.
Eleanor: Stop, don't do that!
Maya: The camera...
Eleanor's head snapped upward toward the bright white ceiling tiles. High above the bed, a white dome security camera blinked steadily with a tiny red recording light.
Maya: It recorded everything.
Eleanor stared in terror at the flashing red light, but the sound of urgent footsteps was already echoing down the hallway.