The hospital room smelled of antiseptic and cold coffee. Rain tapped the window. Machines beeped.
"I remember when Harry was all fat and plumpy," Cecilia said. A grin pulled at her mouth. She elbowed him. "He used to be a crybaby. Anyone bullied him and he ran straight to me."
Their mother laughed. The sound was warm and tired. "Hahaha. Remember when that boy from school called him names? Harry curled up in his room for three days." She shook her head. Her eyes looked fond. "Wouldn't eat unless I sat on the floor with him. I had to promise the monsters were gone."
Harrison's ears burned. He stared at the blanket and tugged it higher. "Okay. Stop. Both of you." His voice came out flat. Embarrassed.
His mother reached across the bed. She pinched his cheek gently. Her thumb was soft. "My baby's all grown up now," she said. Pride lifted her tone. Her eyes were glassy. "You're more mature."
Cecilia leaned forward. Her smile softened into something serious. "Mom, it's true. He doesn't let people bully him anymore." She met their mother's gaze. "He stands up for himself now."
Their mother patted his head. Her palm rested there, warm. Harrison caught her hand. He held it between both of his. His jaw set. Guilt showed on his face.
"I'm sorry," he said. His voice dropped. It sounded rough. "About the armed men. About how I reacted. Seeing them try to hurt you… seeing them try to take from us… I lost control."
His mother shook her head. She framed his face with her hands. Her eyes were steady. Fierce. "No. Listen to me, Harry." Her tone left no room for argument. "You did a good job. You saved us. Without you, me and your sister would have been hurt. Worse." She brushed her thumb across his cheekbone. "Don't you beat yourself up about it."
Harrison exhaled. His shoulders dropped a little. He searched her face. "Mom. What happened that day? At the compound?"
She blinked. Her mouth opened. She looked down at their joined hands. "I closed the shop early," she started. Her voice was quiet. Thin. "I went home. They were at the doorstep. They ambushed me." Her fingers trembled. "And Otis…" She stopped. Her throat moved. Tears spilled before she could stop them. "I was so scared, Harry. So scared. He found me. He said he was looking for Cecilia. Said she had to work off the debt." Her voice broke. "I fought back. I told him your father paid the debt before he passed. But Otis didn't listen. He didn't care."
Cecilia cut in. Her face hardened. Anger sharpened every word. "I saw him. He threatened to kill me if I didn't pay. I tried to stop him. The men grabbed me. They overpowered me." She swallowed. Her hands curled into fists on her knees. "They beat me, Harry. Mercilessly."
Their mother drew a shuddering breath. "I never meant for any of this to happen," she sobbed. "Never."
Harrison moved. He wrapped his arms around her. He held her tight against his chest. "Stop talking," he whispered. His voice was thick. "Stop." He pulled back just enough to look at her. Resolve lit his eyes. Hard and clear. "I'll find a way out of this hell. I swear I will."
A few days passed after that short, fragile moment of warmth between Harrison, his mother, and Cecilia. That moment now felt distant. Almost unreal. Reality returned without mercy. The hospital bills piled up. They were cold and unforgiving. There was no money left to pay them. In those same days, Harrison had fallen lower than he ever imagined. He wandered the streets. He begged. He survived on scraps of pity.
On that evening, he walked alone through the outskirts of Voyage City. His figure was swallowed by the endless rain that poured from a darkened sky. Water clung to his skin. It soaked through his clothes. It dragged at his tired body.
"I'm tired," he whispered into the emptiness. His voice came out hoarse. Cracked. Barely alive. "I'm really struggling right now. I need help." A cough tore through him. It was sharp and painful. The cold settled deep in his chest. Fever burned beneath his skin. Sweat mixed with rain on his forehead. With trembling hands, he pulled out his phone. He turned into a narrow, shadowed alley. His steps were uneven. They were heavy with fatigue from days of endless walking. His fingers hovered over the screen before dialing. Alice. His final hope. "Maybe she'll help me… she promised…" he muttered under his breath. The phone rang. Once. Twice. Then the lifeless, mechanical voice answered. "Sorry, the number you're trying to reach is not available."
Silence followed. Harrison's face twisted. Pain and despair tightened every muscle. His stomach growled violently. Hunger clawed at him from within. "Fuck…" The curse slipped out. It sounded weak and bitter. He barely noticed the two figures approaching until they were already close.
One stood tall. He was lean and imposing. The other was shorter and heavier. His body was thick and sluggish. Both wore masks that hid their faces. Only hollow intent showed in their presence. The tall one stepped forward. His eyes fixed on Harrison's phone. "Nice cell you got there," he said casually. "Hand it over."
Harrison stiffened. He clutched the device. "No… stay away from me. I need my phone…" He turned to run. Desperation drove his legs. But he did not get far. The shorter man appeared behind him in an instant. A brutal uppercut crashed into his jaw. Pain exploded across his face. Blood sprayed from his mouth. The world tilted violently. Before he could recover, another blow followed. Then a kick drove into his ribs and stole the air from his lungs.
"Stay down, kid," the shorter man growled. He struck him again.
"Leave him," the tall one muttered with mild irritation. "We just need anything valuable, don't we, Alberto?" He crouched. He rifled through Harrison's pockets with quick, practiced movements. He took the phone, the little money left, anything worth carrying. He clicked his tongue in disappointment. "Tch. He's got nothing. Let's get out of here."
Harrison lay there. He gasped. The taste of blood was thick in his mouth. Then something snapped. Adrenaline surged through his veins. It was hot and uncontrollable. With a raw, desperate cry, he forced his battered body up and lunged toward them. "Give it back!" he shouted. He charged blindly.
A gunshot shattered the air.
The sound echoed through the alley. It was loud and final. Harrison's body jerked. Then he collapsed onto the wet ground. Blood spread quickly beneath him. It was dark and heavy. It seeped from his stomach into the rain-soaked concrete.
"I… I didn't mean to…?" Alberto muttered. He was frozen in shock. The gun trembled in his hand.
"Idiot!" the tall one snapped. Fury broke through his composure. "Who's going to deal with this now? I told you to calm down, not hurt the kid!" He rushed forward. He crouched beside Harrison and pressed fingers to his neck. A pause. Then a low exhale. "You're lucky. He's still alive."
"Then let's go!" Alberto hissed. Panic rose in his voice. "Before someone shows up."
Without another word, they fled. Their footsteps faded into the distance. They left Harrison alone in the cold, suffocating silence.
Minutes passed. Or seconds. Time blurred.
A weak groan escaped his lips. He forced himself to move. He dragged his body across the ground. One trembling arm clutched his stomach in a futile attempt to stop the bleeding. Each inch felt endless. Each breath burned. "I… don't want to die…" he whispered. His voice was barely more than air. His vision swam. Darkness crept at the edges. "I need to pay Mom's bills… get food for her… somebody… help me…"
His thoughts fractured. Fear seeped into every corner of his mind. What am I even doing…? Nobody helps people like us… His chest tightened. I'm scared…
He slumped against the wall. His head tilted upward toward the unseen sky beyond the alley. The rain continued to fall. It was indifferent. "Is this… what it feels like… to die…?" A weak cough shook him.
Then something inside him resisted.
A fragile, stubborn spark.
No… I refuse to die.
The thought came slow. It was heavy, yet unyielding. I refuse to let it end here. I have to survive… I have to grow past this pain…
His fingers dug into the ground. He forced his body forward. He shook violently. One step. Then another. "I… must…"
The world spun. His strength vanished. His legs gave out beneath him. He collapsed once more. He could not rise. His skin grew pale. His body went numb. The cold crept deeper.
"Somebody… help…" he murmured weakly. His voice faded into nothing.
His eyes closed.