I don't know how many days I've been unconscious.

When I woke up again, there was a strange nurse beside me.

My head was throbbing, and the bandage that bound me had been untied.

"What have you done to me?"

The nurse looked at me with cold, emotionless eyes.

She answered expressionlessly, "You have been transferred from the intensive care unit to Ward 14. Your vital signs are stable, and there are no signs of bleeding or brain swelling. The surgery was successful."

I raised my hand and touched the layers of gauze wrapped around my head.

They actually disguised it as a "mental asylum" and treated patients as guinea pigs?! They even deceived me into thinking the surgery was an illusion?

I must expose their crimes!

"Where's my phone? Where's my bag?"

I scanned the room and found that everything I carried with me was gone.

The nurse didn't answer.

She took out a hardboard and placed it in front of me.

"This is the patient's guide. Please abide by it."

Clear black words were written on the white paper:

【Rules for Patients in the Mental Asylum (Latest Version)】

【Congratulations, you have officially joined the mental asylum family.】

【The hospital is devoted to public welfare. Failed surgery patients voluntarily donate their internal organs.】

【Successful surgery patients take medication at 6 a.m. daily and have their blood samples collected by nurses at 6 p.m. daily.】

【For any questions, please consult the doctor. Nurses only follow orders and do not understand your condition.】

【Don't trust your fellow patients; they will kill you.】

【There are no communication devices in the mental asylum.】

【The director hates cell phones the most.】

【Your ward is absolutely safe.】

【Do not be afraid of hallucinations, auditory hallucinations, or visual hallucinations; they are all normal phenomena.】

【Your family has abandoned you; you are alone.】

【The mental asylum will always be your home.】

I looked up and found that the old version of the rules that used to be posted on the wall had disappeared.

There was only a square mark on the wall, which was a different color from the surrounding wall, proving that the rules had existed.

I remembered the old version mentioning "routine check-ups," but the result was a horrific "surgical experiment."

The old version mentioned "trustworthy doctors and friendly nurses," but they turned out to be the "culprits" deceiving the patients.

Therefore, this 【Rules for Patients in the Mental Asylum】 should be the key to escaping.

I need to extract more useful information from the nurse.

"Since there are no communication devices in the hospital, how do you contact the patients' families?"

I asked tentatively.

The nurse calmly replied, "There is a landline in the doctor's office for making and receiving calls."

I felt a sense of joy in my heart.

If I could find the doctor's office, I would have a chance to call for help.

"Do all patients have to undergo surgery?"

The nurse shook her head and explained, "When you are admitted, you need to fill out a form and discuss the condition with your family. Patients who are designated to stay in the mental asylum and won't be taken away will be scheduled for surgery."

I understood. Those pitiful abandoned victims, no one cares about their life or death, naturally become the doctors' experimental subjects.

"Will I undergo a second surgery?"

I remained vigilant.

The nurse took out a bottle of blood-colored solution from the medical kit and handed it to me:

"As long as you take the medicine on time every day and don't violate the rules, you won't be subjected to surgical punishment by the doctor."

I looked at the transparent container the size of a medicine bottle, filled with viscous crimson liquid resembling thick plasma.

I dare not drink it.

I chose to refuse.

"The rules say to take the medicine at 6 a.m. daily, and I've already missed the time today."

I pointed to the clock, which showed that it was already past 6 a.m.

The nurse's expression remained unchanged as she replied, "It's your responsibility to take the medicine on time. Failure to comply with the rules will result in severe consequences."

Her words sent a chill down my spine.

I needed to find a way to escape this twisted place.

"Can I see the doctor? I have some concerns about the surgery."

I tried to sound calm and composed.

The nurse hesitated for a moment before responding, "The doctor is currently unavailable. I can relay your concerns to them, and they will respond accordingly."

Her response confirmed my suspicion that the doctor was intentionally avoiding me.

I had to take matters into my own hands.

Observing the surroundings, I noticed a ventilation duct near the ceiling.

It was small, but perhaps it was my only chance to escape.

"I understand. Please inform the doctor that I have important information to share with them. It's about the surgery."

I emphasized the urgency in my voice, hoping to get their attention.

The nurse nodded and left the room, leaving me alone with the patient guide.

I quickly scanned through the rules again, looking for any hidden clues or hints that could aid my escape.

As I read, one sentence caught my eye: "Don't trust your fellow patients; they will kill you."

The thought sent a shiver down my spine, but it also made me realize that there might be others like me who were wrongly imprisoned here.

If I could find allies among the patients, we might have a better chance of escaping together.

The sound of footsteps interrupted my thoughts.

The nurse returned, accompanied by a burly security guard.

"The doctor wants to speak with you," the nurse said, her voice devoid of any emotions.

I followed the guard down the sterile, dimly lit hallway, my mind racing with plans and strategies.

It was time to confront the doctor and uncover the truth behind this mental asylum.