Kelvin covered his mouth as tears flowed down his cheeks. He was outside, sitting in an ambulance, with his head wrapped in bandages and his white shirt torn. His appearance was miserable, bruises scattered everywhere, making him look like he had been through a war.
He stopped the paramedic from giving him further treatment and stood up from the ambulance, determined to be strong and not let his emotions make Louis and Maria feel hopeless.
The paramedic tried to stop him, but understanding the gravity of the situation, her words caught in her throat.
Tears streamed down Kelvin's face, glistening under the harsh lights as he struggled to find the right words. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," he said, his voice breaking as he cried openly, his sobs those of a grown man shattered by grief.
Louis and Maria were rooted to the spot, their faces pale. Maria's eyes widened with a mix of fear and desperation as she demanded, "What's wrong? Tell me, where is my husband?"
"No, no, this can't be happening," Louis whispered, his voice trembling as tears filled his eyes.
Kelvin took a deep breath, forcing himself to continue despite the lump in his throat. "He didn't make it out alive," he said, each word a dagger to his heart. "He was killed by the sinners. It was all my fault. I apologize.
He saved my life. I was the one who was supposed to die, not him." His legs gave out, and he collapsed to the ground, sobbing uncontrollably. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Please forgive me, please."
Louis's tears streamed down his face, his hands covering his mouth as he struggled to contain his anguish. "Why has this happened to me again?" he thought, his mind flashing back to the deaths of Karen, the young girl, the old cop, and now his dad. Each loss was a weight on his soul, a failure he couldn't bear.
The phone cut off, the screen displaying "NO NETWORK," a cruel reminder of their isolation and helplessness.Maria collapsed to the floor, her body wracked with silent sobs as the reality of the situation crashed down on her.
Louis knelt down, tears streaming down his face. "Mom, please!" he shouted at the top of his lungs, his voice breaking with desperation.
Someone help, I beg you!" The anguish in his cry was palpable, a heart-wrenching plea that seemed to echo through the room. He touched his mom's hand, feeling its coldness like a stab to his heart. It was so cold that it hurt him to touch her.
"Mom, stay with me," he begged, his voice trembling. He fumbled with her phone, his fingers shaking as he dialed for an ambulance. His heart pounded in his chest, praying there wouldn't be a "NO NETWORK" message. Finally, the call went through.
"What's your emerg—"
"I need an ambulance!" Louis interrupted, his voice trembling with urgency. "Please, sir, what's your emergency?" the operator asked.
"It's my mom. She has collapsed from her sickness, Melegtomo-measis. She's so cold, I can't even touch her."
"What's your address?" the operator asked.
"Ravenhurst-Down Town Street, House E-21," Louis said in a hurry. There was a pause on the other end of the line, and Louis's heart sank.
"I'm sorry, sir. Our ambulances don't operate in such filthy areas," the operator said, her voice harsh and icy.
"Please, ma'am, I beg you. I just lost my dad. I can't lose my mom too," Louis pleaded, tears streaming down his face, his voice cracking with desperation.
"I'm sorry. I can't do anything. That's how the system works. You should have known before calling," the operator said, her voice cold and mocking.
The call ended abruptly. Louis's heart felt like it was being torn apart. Anger and despair surged through him. He screamed, his voice raw with pain and frustration. The unfairness of it all was too much to bear. He cried out loud, the sound echoing the deep, piercing pain in his heart.
---
"No, I won't let my mom die like this," Louis vowed, wiping his tears. Sorrow still filled his heart, but a newfound confidence steeled his resolve.
He carefully carried his mom to her room. As he entered, he felt the bitter cold emanating from her body, freezing him as well.
The room was small and poorly maintained, with a bucket in the corner catching water that dripped from a leaky roof. Louis placed his mom on the bed, which creaked under the weight, and covered her with all the blankets they had.
Louis sat by his mother's bedside, his heart heavy with fear and determination. Her body shivered uncontrollably under layers of blankets.
Melegtomo-measis, a cruel illness that froze the body from within, had taken hold of her. Without access to the advanced medical machines of a hospital, Louis knew he had to find a solution on his own. It was just him and his mother now.
His mind raced through everything he had learned in school, desperately searching for a way to help. Suddenly, an idea struck him: Leonip, a rare substance known for its incredible heat-generating properties.
Leonip was used in everything from advanced military weapons to powerful tools for the Guardians, and it was incredibly expensive, worth around $600,000 for a small amount. His father, Thomas, a miner at the Aleca Company, had mentioned stepping on it every day in the mines.
Louis hurried to the corner where his father's old mining boots sat, covered in dirt and grime. Just as he reached out to take them, he paused, a wave of emotion crashing over him. Tears welled up in his eyes as he remembered his father's strong hands and reassuring voice.
The boots were a painful reminder of the man who had always been there for him. But now, his mother needed him. Swallowing his grief, Louis took a deep breath and grabbed the boots, determined to save her.
He carried the boots to the kitchen, his hands trembling. He carefully scraped off the dirt and mud, revealing the faintly glowing crystals of Leonip embedded in the soles. His basic knowledge of chemistry and physics guided him as he separated the Leonip crystals from the dirt.
Louis filled a pot with warm water and stirred in the crushed material. The dirt and mud began to dissolve, forming a murky suspension. He then poured the mixture through a fine cloth, filtering out the larger particles while the Leonip crystals remained. He repeated this process several times until he had a clear solution with shimmering crystals at the bottom.
He boiled the solution to evaporate the water, leaving behind purified Leonip crystals. He carefully collected them, their faint glow more pronounced now. The next step was to activate the Leonip to generate the necessary heat.
His hands trembled slightly as he mixed the Leonip crystals with a small amount of vinegar from the kitchen. The reaction was immediate; the mixture began to warm up, radiating heat. He dissolved the crystals in a fresh pot of warm water, creating a potent solution.
With the solution ready, Louis rushed from the kitchen to his mother's side. He gently lifted her head and brought the cup to her lips. "Mom, you need to drink this," he said softly, his voice filled with both hope and fear. "It's our only chance."
Louis made her sip the solution, and watched anxiously, praying that it would work. Slowly, the warmth spread through her body. Her shivering lessened, her breaths becoming steadier. Color started to return to her cheeks slowly.
"Please, hold on, Mom," Louis whispered, his heart racing. "You're going to be alright."
Hours passed as Louis stayed by her side, monitoring her condition and ensuring she drank more of the solution as needed. The night wore on, but Louis refused to sleep. He couldn't afford to miss a single moment.
As dawn broke, his mother's eyes opened fully. She looked at Louis, her gaze weak but filled with sadness as tears streamed down her cheeks. "Louis," she murmured, her voice barely audible. "Is your dad home? Tell me this is a dream."
Tears of pain streamed down Louis's face as he gently hugged his mother. "Mom, I'm sorry. I wish I could…"
The first rays of sunlight streamed into the room.