Max and David, the reunited brothers had a lot of catching up to do. David told him almost every major incident that happened in the four years that he was gone. It was almost unbelievable yet endearing, to hear David talk about their family, in such a kind way. David always had a cold persona, but deep inside he was a lovable goofball. A trait he'd never show outwardly. But thanks to his wife, Sachika, he had become much more expressive.
David filled him in on the details in his room and after chatting for what felt like an hour, they walked down to meet the rest of the Troupe, who were doing what they pleased. But Max was deep in thought, visualizing everything about his family.
*****
The day Max was shot, was extremely painful for the family. David was the one nearby helping his classmates move houses. Sachika was one of them. He soon recieved a call from Vaishaali, and David's heart started beating fast, when he heard the news. He left everything and tried running to his brother's side.
Max was bleeding from his head, and was unconscious. The terrorists had fled with the ransom money and the police were trying to get them. But they never did find them. The rescue patrol had noticed that Max still had a pulse and had to rush him to a nearby hospital. David and Vaishaali were beside him, waiting...rather impatiently. Soon his family members joined, tensed.
The doctor gave them the news that....Max wouldn't wake up, due this brain going into a coma. That was one of, if not, the worst day of their lives. David still clearly remembered his mom breaking down completely in the kitchen. Alicia and Katie broke down multiple times too, whereas Lonnie and Denise, appeared saddened, but didn't shed a single tear.
Eventually they had to move on. The siblings and the parents took turns in looking after the comatose Max in The hospital, until a few months later, in which they were allowed to take him home.
In the home, everyone would take turns, sitting beside him, trying to talk to him, hoping he would wake up. Vaishaali visited him every week without fail, and always held his hand. David once walked in on her completely in tears, and mom had to step in to console her.
Alicia had nothing to say to him. She sat beside him, but couldn't come up with words to say. She was 19 years old, and had nothing to do. She decided, that she would be a doctor, shocking the entire family. She started studying medicine, hoping she can find ways to help people who are in an I'll situation, just like what Max was in.
David particularly, didn't have anything else to do too. He talked about his entire day, and hoped Max would wake up, day in and day out. He felt rage on the terrorists that were responsible and the incompetent officers who let them get away. All he wanted was revenge.
Katie used to tell him bed time stories, even though she herself was a kid. She was 8 years old when Max went to a coma. But she was adopted by another family before that, so she rarely was allowed to visit them.
Lonnie meanwhile, explained Max everything that were going on in the movies and games industries. He sometimes used to sit beside him reading out comic books. He was the most nerdy out of everyone, ither than Max himself.
Denise would rarely go in, being a classy brat to everyone. She used to get a lot of badmouthing from everyone that she doesn't care about her brother. And she would retaliate in the worst way possible, being an hormonal teenager. Even when she was beside Max, she would just be on her phone, not giving a shit, as she didn't have that great of a bond with him.
Throughout the years a lot changed. They used to occasionally cut Max's hair and the living costs grew larger. Mom and dad had to take in many jobs to sustain the family of seven.
Soon enough, Alicia became an intern in some medical Institute, but was secretive about the details. She always looked terrified and couldn't spend a lot of time with the family. But each time she came home, she used to be next to Max, singing him a song or brushing his hair.
David finally asked out his crush, Sachika, who immediately said yes. They started dating and Higurashi met him too. They all celebrated new years together, and soon enough, Sachika was welcomed as a part of the family. She used to take care of Max alongside her boyfriend too.
Denise had an outbreak when she was sixteen. She got a boyfriend who was an asshole that hated David. Denise's family didn't really enjoy her dating a cruel man like him. This led to so many fights in the family, and Denise ran away one day.
The family, despite being strict on her, got terrified and started searching for her. They were sure that her good for nothing boyfriend had taken her away. A week passed and she returned, crying, her eyes black with pain. She immediately hugged her mom asking for forgiveness. Something that she didn't deserve.
It was later brought to topic that her boyfriend, now ex boy friend was just a lust filled beast. Mark, the ex boyfriend, had just dated her to take her virginity. Despite her being young, they had done the deed, due to his manipulations, when they were in their runaway phase. As soon as he was done, he brought his friends along, asking her to do it with them. Terrified of them, she had to flee. She realised that what she felt was love, was just attention to her body.
She begged for forgiveness, but never recieved it. Soon enough, their kind mother accepted her back into the family and took care of her. She eventually left school and became a sheltered child, afraid of going outside.
Lonnie was sixteen, at that point. He was hanging out with a bunch of "his" folks in school. They were motor cyclists, who stole engines for a living. David hated the idea of him hanging out with a bunch of goons, but Lonnie didn't care. He actually kept them in line and minimalised their thievery, surprising David in the process. They raced all night, did graffiti and just enjoyed life. Lonnie didn't want alcohol, but just a fun time. He got braids done, dyed his hair white as it looked cool.
But when the brothers realised what Mark, Denise's ex had done, they couldn't handle their thirst for violence anymore. They always fought with their bratty sister, but it was STILL THEIR SISTER. And anybody that messed with her, ain't making it out unscathed.
Lonnie called in his fellow riders and David joined them to track down Mark and his rich buddies. And in a once in a lifetime display of violence destroyed his tiny mansion and his face. The police could never find the evidence.
Katie stayed with her adopted family, but always tried to visit whenever she could. Her new parents hated the idea, but allowed her once a month, which saddened her, yet was satisfactory enough for her. She always used to say that Max would get up one day, and be a a great hero one day.
But suddenly, one day, Max suffered a cardiac arrest whilst being in a coma. This shook everyone to their core. They rushed him to a hospital and Alicia had to return from London. In a rare event, Katie...(named Cassie by her new parents) was allowed to visit him. Everyone including the doctors believed this would be the end to Max. But Max's will to survive was too strong. He miraculously survived that.
The next two months was just them looking after him in the hospital. Their annoying uncle even asked them to "put him out of his misery", resulting in another huge fight. The entire family still wished and hoped for Max to wake up. After all, he had lost a lot. Katie....still knew...that Max would wake up one day.
Denise was in her house, with her mom. Dad was in his company. Lonnie had gone to the skate rink with his buddies. Katie was in a special school extra classes. Alicia was alongside Max in his hospital, tightly clenching his fist, closing her eyes, knowing what was to come. David was with Sachika and Higurashi having lunch. David looked out of the window to see multiple objects falling out of the sky. Every sibling saw it happen. And instantly in a minute, every human on the planet was frozen.
But Katie knew....Max would wake up one day. This wasn't supposed to be the end.
Soon enough, the Towers rose. The Domes were established. Almost two thousand years passed. And the ice cracked. The blue eyed incarnation of God woke up.
Just like Katie had stated, the hero, Maximus Augilleris Steefan, had opened his eyes.