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.