The Alien Within

Chapter 31: The Last 30 Minutes

The tension in the hospital was suffocating. Tessa lay motionless on the hospital bed, her chest rising and falling slowly, each breath seeming more fragile than the last.

The once lively, unstoppable "Beast of Riverdale" was on the brink of death, her superhuman abilities failing her against the invisible poison now racing through her veins.

Outside, the scene was surreal. Students from Riverdale Academy had gathered in droves. What had started as whispers of disbelief and concern soon erupted into a massive rally, a spontaneous march of support and love.

Posters, hand-drawn with words like "Save Our Beast!" and "Tessa, We Believe in You!" flooded the streets leading to the hospital. Hundreds of students, dressed in their uniforms, chanted her name with fierce determination, their feet stomping in rhythm as they surged forward, a force of hope and defiance.

In one corner, Oxlade, ever loyal, led chants with a tear-streaked face, his voice hoarse from shouting.

"They think Riverdale's beast can be put down by food poisoning? Hell no!" he roared, pumping his fist into the air.

"Yeah, she's only napping! Let her wake up, and they'll see what she's made of!" Karl added, though his voice betrayed the fear gnawing at his insides.

But as the seconds ticked away, there was an unmistakable sense of dread in the air.

Tessa had only 30 minutes left, and every moment was slipping away like sand through clenched fingers.

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Inside the Hospital

Mr. Rudbick, wearing a sharp, menacing scowl, stormed down the sterile corridors of the hospital, followed closely by a squad of SSG agents. His fury filled the air like a storm cloud about to break, his sole purpose now clear: to lure Adrian out using Tessa as bait.

He didn't care for the girl's life; to him, she was expendable, a pawn in the larger game of catching the elusive alien boy.

"Place agents at every entrance, and no one gets in or out without my order," Mr. Rudbick commanded, his voice a cold, hard whisper.

The agents spread out like shadows, taking their positions with a silent efficiency that unnerved the hospital staff.

In one of the operating rooms, the doctors were struggling against time. Sweat beaded on their foreheads as they tried everything they could to stabilize Tessa. But Rudbick's interference was hindering their work.

The life-saving equipment was continuously interrupted by the SSG's "security measures," and the looming presence of the agents was suffocating.

"We need to get the machines running again!" Dr. Pierce snapped, glaring at the agents who stood like statues by the door.

"She doesn't have time!" one of the nurses cried, her voice cracking under the pressure.

But the agents didn't move. They were under strict orders to prevent any unauthorized personnel from interfering. To them, Tessa's life was merely a tool to extract Adrian from hiding.

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Outside, on the Streets

The chants outside grew louder, but the energy was turning grim. Riverdale students stood, fists clenched, eyes burning with frustration and anger. They knew something was wrong inside that hospital.

It wasn't just the poison that was killing their friend—there was an external force at play.

"Man, this feels off," Oxlade muttered, pacing nervously. "Why aren't they letting anyone inside?"

Karl, who had been standing by his side, shared the same unease. "They're blocking us out. Something bigger is going on."

Oxlade punched the air with frustration. "If Tessa dies because of these… idiots... I swear—"

"She's not going to die!" someone shouted from the crowd.

But even the boldest words couldn't mask the fear now creeping into everyone's hearts.

---

Meanwhile, Somewhere Far Away

Adrian felt it.

His blood, usually calm and steady, now pulsed with an intensity he couldn't ignore.

A deep, primal rage tingled through his veins as if something ancient within him had awakened. He didn't know exactly what had happened, but he knew one thing for sure: Tessa was in danger.

He clenched his fists, his usually cool demeanor slipping as the anger bubbled up. His alien bloodline roared inside him, begging for release, for justice.

This was no longer just about hiding—this was about saving Tessa, the only human who had ever seen him for what he was and didn't flinch.

And now… she was dying.

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Back in the Hospital

Ms. Caldwell stood by Tessa's bedside, her heart breaking as she watched the girl struggle. Mr. Thompson, who had been hovering near the door, finally approached, gently placing a hand on Ms. Caldwell's shoulder.

"They're not letting us help her," Ms. Caldwell whispered, her voice barely holding back tears.

"They can't keep us from her forever," Mr. Thompson said softly, though his voice was heavy with doubt.

He squeezed her shoulder for a brief moment of comfort. In a rare act of chivalry, he handed her his thick jacket, aware of the rain threatening to pour outside. But she barely noticed, her eyes fixed on Tessa.

Mr. Rudbick watched from across the room, a smug smirk playing on his lips before he got up and walked around to survey other parts of the hospital. His plan was unfolding just as expected. Adrian would come—he was sure of it.

Yet, as each minute ticked away, Tessa's breathing grew shallower. The doctors continued to work feverishly, but they were running out of options.

The beast of Riverdale was slipping away, and no one, not even the brilliant medical staff, could stop it.

---

Outside the hospital, the Riverdale students continued their vigil, unaware that inside, a cruel game was being played with Tessa's life.

And all Adrian could think about, as his rage grew with every passing second, was how quickly he had to get to her before it was too late.

Got it! Let's refine the chapter for more tension, drama, and humor while keeping everything consistent with the established dynamics.

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The hospital courtyard buzzed with Riverdale students in a mix of anxious excitement. Their cheers for Tessa had turned into murmurs of unease as they waited for news.

Suddenly, in am unexpected fashion, a gust of wind blew through them, and they blinked, disoriented.

In the middle of the crowd, Adrian appeared—faster than anyone could follow. He stood there, chest heaving, looking less human and more like a beast.

His muscles seemed to ripple under his shirt, his eyes glowing with a blue fire, and his expression was terrifyingly calm. The students paused, staring at him, not out of fear but awe.

For a moment, no one said anything. Then, Oxlade's voice pierced the silence, "Adrian! He's here to save Tessa!"

"Yo, he's like some superhero!" another student shouted from the back, which stirred the crowd like a match to dry hay.

"Adrian, get them! Save her!" The whole Riverdale Academy erupted into cheers as though they had just scored the winning goal in a final.

Somehow, in their panic and desperation, they decided Adrian was their savior, a mythical hero come to deliver Tessa from certain death.

But that wasn't the only chaos brewing.

---

Across the courtyard, Mr. Rudbick, standing with his SSG agents, clenched his jaw. His cold gaze locked on Adrian, the boy he had been hunting.

Without a word, he signaled to the SSG agents.

"Shoot him," Mr. Rudbick snarled, stepping forward. His voice was low but carried a venomous edge. "Take him down. Now."

The SSG agents didn't hesitate. In a heartbeat, the sound of gunfire exploded in the air. Bullets flew toward Adrian like angry bees, sharp and fast, aimed to kill.

---

Then something bizzare happened with Adrian:

Adrian didn't flinch. In an almost eerie calm, he stepped forward, placing himself between the students and the hailstorm of bullets.

He knew he would be exposed, he knew things would only get worse, but every since he appeared here, me made his peace with whatever complication arose.

His body became the barrier. Each shot slammed into him with heavy thuds, ricocheting off his body and living tiny bullet holes which healed like ripples to water.

That didn't come without pain, but Adrian endured it.

Adrian winced, his alien blood roaring through his veins, but he stood tall, protecting everyone behind him.

The students gasped, their eyes widening in disbelief.

"Did he just take all those bullets?" one kid whispered, his voice trembling.

"He's… invincible!" shouted another.

"Bro, he's got to be like some… alien or something!" one kid exclaimed, half in shock, half in excitement.

Oxlade, always ready with a quip, smirked and shook his head. "You know, I always had a feeling the guy wasn't from Earth. You don't kick a ball that well without some kind of alien magic."

Some students came to their senses and stepped back, some started to record the event. One way or the other, this adventure seems like it was going to end up with a serious complication.

Adrian, now pulsing with energy, let out a guttural roar and shot forward, fists like battering rams. He crashed into the agents with the force of a hurricane, bones snapping under his hits like brittle sticks.

His hands moved and slammed an agent across the side, breaking a few ribs, he hit the one flanking the other agent on the jaw, breaking it, and rendering him unconscious.

He sped forward to meet three more agents who were speeding at him, he spun with intense energy, as his outstretched legs kicked at three of them through the air on their chests. Their chest caved in .

Six more agent sped towards him, like flies following raw meat, but Adrian was equally furious as he charged at them.

One by one, they fell. The courtyard filled with groans of pain and cries of agony.

The Riverdale students stood frozen, watching in shock as Adrian dismantled the SSG agents with raw, brutal power.

The air around him crackled with energy as he fought, and even though it was terrifying, none of them could look away.

"He's a monster…" one girl whispered, awe mixing with terror in her voice.

"No, he's an alien," someone corrected, staring at Adrian's glowing eyes.

Oxlade snorted, shaking his head. "Dude, if he's an alien, then I'm the Queen of England. The guy just works out a lot. Probably eats five protein shakes a day. Ever see his lunchbox?"

"No one eats that much protein, bro," Karl muttered, eyes wide.

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