"We need to find a way to wake Elton up."
After picking up his competition pass, Ethan rushed to the hospital to meet with Dr. Braun, who updated him on Elton's condition. While Elton was no longer in immediate danger, he remained in a coma, and his recovery depended entirely on himself. He had been moved to a general ward in the neurology department.
"Talk to him about things he holds dear; it might help him regain consciousness," Dr. Braun advised.
Back at Elton's small house, Ethan and Aria sat together, trying to recall what might be most precious to Elton. Suddenly, Aria thought of something.
"Ethan, I've got an idea. Elton was so passionate about racing and won so many honors. Maybe if we play some videos of his victories, it could help." Aria suggested.
"That's a great idea, Aria, but where are we going to find those tapes? A lot of his stuff was wiped out after he fell from grace."
"I don't think so. Elton treasured racing more than anything. He probably kept those memories close. They might still be here in this house." Aria got up and started searching the small room. The space was tiny, barely 30 square meters. She meticulously went through the couch, the small coffee table, the wardrobe, even the dining table, checking everything over and over.
"This is strange. The room's so small, yet I can't find anything." Aria scratched her head in confusion. Ethan stood nearby, silently pondering where Elton might have hidden something valuable.
"Maybe we should check under his bed. He always stashed his treasures in that bedside cabinet." Ethan suggested, heading straight for the wardrobe.
The wardrobe was a mess, filled with odds and ends Elton had collected: keys, scissors, bottles of shampoo, half a pack of cigarettes, and an old sock. Ethan wrinkled his nose against the musty smell as he rummaged through the first drawer. Then, he noticed a second drawer, partly hidden under some junk, secured with an old cross-shaped lock. He found the matching key in the first drawer and opened it, revealing a small metal box inside.
Ethan carefully opened the box, revealing a clean handkerchief neatly covering the contents. He had a hunch that this was it. Under the handkerchief were a few gleaming gold and silver medals, and beneath those, several CDs. Ethan gently lifted them out and called Aria over.
"This has to be it. These CDs must hold Elton's racing memories." Ethan said confidently.
"Yeah, I agree. But these are CDs, and we need to find an old player that can still play them." Aria pointed out.
By evening, Ethan returned, carrying an old CD player he had found at a second-hand market. It was from the estate of a man who had passed away at the age of 90. As soon as he walked in, he called Aria, and they hurried to the hospital. They entered Elton's room, and Ethan plugged in the player, flipping the switch. To their surprise, it began playing one of Elton's race recordings. Ethan held the screen close to Elton and turned up the volume.
The race was a 2022 qualifying match, and Elton's car was number 24.
"Huh, same number as my pass. Maybe that's the connection between me and the old man." Ethan said with a smile.
In the footage, Elton's start was swift, and his control around the bends was impeccable as he shot into the inner lane, leaving his competitors far behind. The commentator's voice was filled with excitement as the race intensified.
"Elton, number 24, has made it to the qualifiers with the fastest time in the preliminaries. He's still going strong! Number 7, Emil; Number 32, Popomiton; Number 35, Alix—they're all far behind! Elton, just three laps to go! Come on, Elton!! Unbelievable, he's like a rocket! Elton! He's crossed the finish line! It's nothing short of a miracle…"
Ethan and Aria watched the screen, their hearts racing along with the footage. Ethan held onto Elton's hand, which was connected to the heart monitor. Elton's face remained unchanged, and the life support machine showed no signs of improvement. Frustrated, Ethan grabbed another CD, which contained footage of Elton's championship race. In the video, Elton was being interviewed amidst the cheers of the crowd.
"I'm so happy to win the 2022 NASCAR Championship. I want to thank the organizers, my fans, and most importantly, my wife, Lucy. Thank you, I love you." In the video, Elton blew a kiss at the camera.
But still, Elton showed no signs of waking up. Ethan and Aria went through CD after CD, but there was no response from Elton. Disappointed, Ethan placed the player on the cabinet and walked out of the room, feeling dejected. He sat on a bench in the hospital hallway, his mood sinking.
Aria carefully put the precious CDs back into the metal box, covering them with the handkerchief. She left the room and sat next to Ethan, gently trying to comfort him.
"Maybe we can try something else. How about recreating the day you met Elton?" Ethan didn't say a word, and Aria quietly stayed by his side.
The next day, Ethan went for his usual run, weights strapped to his legs, and returned home sweaty and tired. Aria was waiting for him, insistent on making another trip to the hospital.
"Ethan, I've written down the lines from the day we met Elton. You just need to read them to him," Aria said, tugging on his sleeve as they walked towards the car.
When they arrived at the hospital, the nurse had just finished changing Elton's medication. Everything appeared normal. After the nurse left, closing the door behind her, Aria cleared her throat, standing beside Elton's bed. She gave Ethan a nod, signaling him to start reading.
"Hello, please wake up. Here's 800 dollars. It's all the money we have. Find yourself a warm place," Ethan read from the script, his voice hesitant, his delivery awkward.
Aria, inheriting the natural acting talent of her true form, slipped into character effortlessly, her voice rougher, taking on Elton's persona. "I don't take money that's been touched by a woman. Get off my property."
"How can you say that? We gave you everything we had left. We need some for ourselves too. You're ungrateful," Ethan read, stumbling slightly over the unfamiliar words.
Aria couldn't help but chuckle at Ethan's clumsy attempt, his mouth working as if he were learning to speak for the first time. Despite the seriousness of their situation, the room filled with laughter as the two of them continued their makeshift play, exchanging lines back and forth. But even with their best efforts, Elton remained motionless, his face as still as ever. The lightheartedness in Ethan's heart dimmed, the weight of disappointment settling back in.
"Maybe... maybe Elton really is tired," Ethan finally said, his voice barely above a whisper. "Maybe he doesn't want to wake up. If that's the case, it's okay. Let him rest."
With only three days left before the race, Ethan was giving it his all, preparing for the upcoming competition. He repeatedly went through Elton's training routines—strengthening his endurance, improving his reaction speed, and practicing on the winding mountain roads. The intense training over the past few days had left him exhausted, but he knew how crucial this race was. There was no room for mistakes.
As he focused on his practice, he suddenly saw Aria on the mountain road, which caught him off guard. What was she doing here? Ethan stopped the car, noticing the worried expression on her face. It was clear she had been waiting for quite some time.
The moment Ethan stepped out of the car, Aria rushed over, breathless and urgent.
"Ethan..... Ethan....Stop your car ,Please, there's another layer in that metal box! We missed it before, but there's a CD at the very bottom—just one."
Ethan was taken aback, feeling a twinge of surprise. He looked at Aria, who was still catching her breath, and realized she must have come running, not wanting to waste a second.
Aria, trying to steady her breathing, continued, "I don't know what's on it, but I'm deeply sure it's one of Elton's most precious memories…"
A sense of urgency gripped Ethan. He and Aria quickly headed to the hospital, a mix of emotions swirling inside him as they placed the CD into the player.
At first, the screen was completely black, with only faint, blurry shapes appearing, making it hard to make out anything. Ethan frowned, staring intently at the screen, trying to figure out what it was. "It sounds like a conversation… I think I hear a doctor talking," It was as if something was moving in the picture, what the hell was it, Ethan and Aria were confused.
Suddenly, he noticed Elton's life monitor. The needle on the screen started to move erratically, something wasn't right…
Ethan stared wide-eyed at Elton's life detector...