Astraea walks across the pavement of the convenience store and through the alleyway. As she opens the door Bill handed her a necklace.
"Take this... This necklace is given by my late mother when she was ill. She told me that this was given to her by my father when she was giving birth to me."
"She said that this necklace is very important to her. I want you to give this to my son Jacob because he's important to me as well.", Bill added.
"I understand Mr. Bill I will take this..." (paused silently) Astraea gestured.
"Come.. Come inside the van. I will take you there. I know that Jacob is waiting for us.", Bill responded.
Astraea entered the van and fastened her seatbelt. She noticed that the van is littered with junk and signs of Lord Garm's insignia. She began to doubt that this guy might be firm worshipper of Lord Garm.
"Lord Garm?", Astraea asked.
"Uh? Oh.. Yes I worshipped Lord Garm and a devotee to his cause. After all, he freed us people from total annihilation. He restored humanity and bring us life.. Some people say that Lord Garm is still alive and one day will save us all from perish.", Bill replied.
"Why would you believe such things?" Astraea asked.
"There is nothing wrong on believing a God. Faith brings good tidings to a person even with harsh diversity. Even some people would not accept Lord Garm's teachings and prophecies, he's still our savior. After all, he's the one who created us all and it's our duty as his creations to fulfill his wishes.", Bill said.
Astraea went silent.
Astraea is clearly not paying much attention. She already had a concrete ideology in religion and no matter how anyone would persuade her, she simply doesn't allow it.
"We arrived, there it is... I'll be going back to the store now.", Bill said.
"What? Why are you leaving now? Why can you just face him?", Astraea said.
"Yeah, I will but.."
"It's just Jacob might not talk to me anymore or worst case scenario. His injuries might be worse than I would expect.", Bill added.
"Nonsense! Your son would totally hate you for abandoning him with times like this. You should be more of a father figure and man up.", Astraea said.
Bill got completely went silent after what she said. Both of them looked upon the old dilapidated building.
"What a place..", Astraea said.
The hospital is clearly shown its age. The rusty window bars and the broken mirrors falling apart, like it got torned from a war. Despite its flaws, the government tried it's best to renovate the old building.
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Bill opened the hospital's entrance door and approached the nearby hospital counter. Meanwhile, Astraea noticed that the hospital were filled with swirling mists. Seems like they are alive.
"I haven't seen such mysterious smokes before.. Is someone been smoking here?", Astraea thought.
After several seconds the fumes immediately faded away.
"Odd.." Astraea said.
Bill proceed to go over the counter to seek for his son. A tall female nurse was checking on her monitor when suddenly interrupted by Bill.
"Nurse.. I'm looking for my son... 14 years old wearing a school uniform."
"Mr. Bill I have been expecting you. Your son is currently admitted at room 67, 4th floor and he's expected to have a surgery this evening", the nurse said.
"Surgery? What surgery? What happen to him? What are his...", Bill sputtered confusedly.
"Sorry sir... classified information. The doctors will inform you with further information.", the nurse replied.
"Hurry Astraea! Come with me..", Bill said.
As soon as Bill opened the door to his son's hospital ward. He was shocked of how much injuries that this criminal done to his son. Both of his arms are ruptured and broken, same with his right leg. His ribs were heavily fractured as well.
"What on God's name they had done, this is sickening. Why would someone try to murder a mere child. This is unacceptable.", Bill said sobbingly.
"Poor boy... If only I was there beside him, things would not turn this way,", Bill said.
"Jacob? Jacob, my son? It's dad..."
Jacob was still unconscious when suddenly the door opened and the doctor arrived.
"Mr. Bill, are you the parent of Mr. Jacob?", the doctor asked.
"Yes? Why..?", Bill replied.
"Sir, I need you to be calm okay? We will do the best of our abilities to make sure that Jacob would recover from this but I cannot assure that I can heal the emotional traumas that he might suffer. But with modern medicine I can firmly believe that your son will heal from physical injuries in no time.", the doctor said.
"Whoever did this will pay for his life... I hope that they will rot in hell...", Bill said angrily.
"I would love to talk about this more but we need prepare for the operations. I'm sorry that you had to deal with this, sir. The city is rampant with crime lately.", the doctor responded.
The doctor left and leaving Bill sobbing and feel hopeless. Astraea rubbed his back and comfort him. Several hours later, the nurses rushed to room and took Jacob for the operation. In obvious distress, Bill is still hoping that Jacob is in the right hands.
After several minutes, Astraea began to doze off. Meanwhile, Bill cannot manage to fall asleep. He is wondering why is this girl staying up with him. So, he waked her up.
"Astraea..." (Astraea look on Bill's eyes while half asleep) "Why are you still here? Aren't you suppose to be home right now?", Bill asked.
"What? What's the time?", Astraea asked.
"It's almost 10:30 in the evening.", Bill answered.
"Can I borrow your phone Mr. Bill?", Astraea asked.
"Sure..", Bill responded.
"Mom? Mom.. I'm currently at the hospital right now.. I'm with the owner of the convenience store.", Astraea said.
"No... It's just his son got injured.. Don't worry I'll be back tomorrow morning.", Astraea said.
"Astraea, you should go home now. I'll ride you home. I'll be fine..", Bill said.
"No, you're not. As my future boss, I need to tend your personal issues as well. Whether you like it or not.", Astraea responded.
Bill was silent after hearing that from her. But it shows that he appreciates her company.
Hours later, the sun began to rise illuminating through the rusty window pane. Momentarily, someone knocked at the door.
"Mr. Bill? I need to talk to you..", the doctor said.
Bill quickly got up and goes outside the room to accompany the doctor. Astraea heard the commotion, after they left she slightly open the door to hear the conversation.
"Mr. Bill, the surgery is quite successful but unfortunately... The bones on his fibula are severely damaged and the nerves connecting the joints are damaged as well.", the doctor said.
"The muscles tissues are rapidly began to rot away. If we don't immediately cut the affected muscles his whole body may rot."
"We never seen such injuries before and are quite overwhelmed of what's going. His nerves and tendons are severely damaged and basically we have to cut his left arm and right leg."
"I'm afraid that your son may not walk again.."
"I'm sorry, sir...", the doctor said.
Bill's face began to show no emotions at all. He felt like he got numb from all of this. He began to think that this might be a nightmare, all just a terrible dream. He's in denial.
"I- I need to take this all in... I need water..", Bill whimpered.
Bill left Astraea and Jacob alone as he wanders around aimlessly. Astraea watched Jacob and how terrible that this kid might go through growing up. She took the necklace that Bill gave him and wear it on his neck. When suddenly, a strange glowing light began to appear out of nowhere.
"Jacob? Can you hear me something is happening in your arms and legs...", Astraea yell.
No signs of Jacob's consciousness. Might be the cause of sedatives that injected to his system. As soon as Astraea touched the strange glow, the muscles that torn apart from his body began to regenerate. Flesh by flesh, they began to merge and recreate. Blood, tendons and bones began to shape.
Astraea stumbled to the ground after what she had saw. And quickly ran away from the body. Panicking and tripping across the corridor, falling down the staircase. She ran and ran and left the hospital.