The second car carrying Alvano and the girl sped through the night, slicing through the now-quiet city streets. The engine roared, as if urging time itself to move faster. Alvano kept staring out the window, his mind filled with worry for Theo's condition.
In the front seat, the girl's driver received a call from the driver of the first car.
"The main car reports that the lady's friend has been taken straight to the emergency room. His condition is quite severe, but there's still a heartbeat. Emergency treatment has already begun," the driver reported firmly.
Hearing that, the girl immediately turned, her face serious. "Increase the speed. We have to arrive before the doctors decide on the next course of action."
"Yes, Miss," the driver replied without hesitation, pressing the gas pedal deeper. The car accelerated even faster, weaving deftly past the few remaining vehicles on the main road.
Alvano glanced sideways at the girl, his face filled with growing curiosity. She was definitely not an ordinary student—that much was clear. From the way she spoke, commanded the situation, to the mysterious aura she had radiated earlier—everything about her felt foreign to Alvano.
But amid the tension and fear, he stayed silent. The only thing that mattered now was Theo's safety. He clenched his fists tightly, trying to suppress the restless anxiety that gripped his chest.
"Please hold on, Theo… please, hold on…" he whispered weakly.
Alvano bowed his head in silence, his trembling fingers gripping the fabric of his pants. His face was pale, his eyes swollen, his breathing uneven. Inside the speeding car, his mind was flooded with images of Theo's blood-covered face. Every second felt suffocating, and his heart was heavy with guilt. He couldn't forgive himself for standing by helplessly while his friend was beaten unconscious.
Beside him, the girl observed closely. She could sense the immense emotional pressure surrounding Alvano's aura—like a dark fog hanging heavily above his head. Her gaze softened. She knew that if it continued any longer, Alvano might fall into a deeper mental collapse.
Slowly, she reached out and placed her hand over his. Her fingers were warm, soft, and calming against Alvano's cold skin. He flinched slightly, turning to her, but said nothing. The girl closed her eyes and placed her other hand over her chest, as if focusing something from within herself.
Suddenly, a warm sensation began to flow from the girl's palm into Alvano's body. Warm… gentle… like a thin blanket wrapping his soul, shielding him from fear and despair. Alvano closed his eyes, and his previously erratic breathing gradually steadied. His chest felt lighter, as though the burden pressing on him had slowly melted away.
"What… are you doing?" Alvano murmured, still immersed in the warmth.
"I'm just trying to calm you," the girl answered softly. "You need peace, not fear. If you get consumed by panic, you'll destroy yourself."
Alvano said nothing. He truly felt a strange comfort—an unexplainable serenity that soothed his heart like a mother's embrace comforting her frightened child.
"Thank you…" he whispered faintly, almost like a breath.
The girl smiled faintly. "Don't thank me. Keep praying. We still don't know your friend's condition yet," she replied.
They finally arrived at an elite hospital called Solace Medic Hospital—a prestigious private facility that only treated important patients and had the city's most advanced medical equipment. As soon as the car stopped in front of the emergency entrance, Alvano flung the door open and jumped out without waiting for a word.
The girl followed from the other side, her expression still calm, though her steps quickened to keep up with Alvano, who was already running into the hospital corridor. They ran down the hallway toward the ER, ignoring the receptionist who called after them.
Alvano's mind was focused solely on one thing—Theo. His heart couldn't rest until he knew his condition. They entered the elevator, panting heavily. As the doors slid shut, Alvano stared blankly at the reflective metal wall before him. In silence, he prayed—again and again, wordless yet fervent.
When the elevator doors opened, they rushed out immediately. Several nurses and visitors turned their heads, startled by their hurried steps. But there was no time for explanations.
When they reached the waiting area outside the ER, Alvano's eyes locked onto the LED screen on the right wall. Bright red letters glowed vividly:
[EMERGENCY PROCEDURE IN PROGRESS.]
In that instant, Alvano's world went blank. His legs could no longer support his weight. He collapsed onto the floor, sitting helplessly with his hands covering his face. His breathing was heavy. His eyes could no longer hold back the tears. They streamed freely down his cheeks, unstoppable.
Meanwhile, the girl beside him watched with a different expression. She looked at Alvano, utterly broken and powerless to stand. Silently, her heart ached too.
"I've… never seen someone hurt this much…" she thought. "For the first time, I feel useless… disappointment, helplessness, anger—they're all crashing in my chest at once. Even my power… couldn't stop any of this pain."
She clenched her fists tightly.
"If only I'd come sooner… if only I could've done more…" she thought bitterly.
Her gaze shifted to Alvano again. The boy looked so fragile, so unlike the bright, spirited face she had seen before.
Without a word, she knelt beside him and gently placed a hand on his shoulder. "Alvano…" she said softly. "Your friend is fighting in there. We can't fall apart. We have to believe in him…"
Alvano only sobbed. But slowly, he nodded. His hands still trembled, but the girl's touch gave him a faint strength to hold on.
"Please… Theo… hold on…"
And for the first time, they both fell silent in the same prayer—holding onto hope behind wounds too deep to heal.
Suddenly, Alvano's phone vibrated in his jacket pocket. The faint hum broke the silence of the waiting room. At first, he didn't even notice, his mind still fixed on the ER door. But the vibration persisted, pulling his awareness back.
With trembling hands, he pulled the phone from his pocket. The screen was cracked, lines of fracture spreading like spiderwebs, but it still worked. On the screen, one familiar name appeared—Joshua.
Alvano stared at it for a moment, wiping his tears before pressing the green button. He lifted the phone to his ear.
"Alvano?" Joshua's voice came from the other end. "Where are you? Did you find Theo? I was going to come over, but if you're already home, maybe I'll just—"
Joshua stopped mid-sentence.
There was no reply from Alvano—only the sound of heavy breathing and an occasional choked exhale. Joshua frowned, pressing the phone tighter to his ear.
"…Alvano?" he called again.
But all he heard was a faint, trembling voice—soft sobs, barely restrained. Even though Alvano wasn't crying loudly, Joshua, who had known him for years, instantly understood something terrible had happened.
Then came a single, broken sentence, choked by grief and fear.
"...Theo… he's critical…"
Joshua froze. His eyes widened.
"What?" he whispered. But he didn't wait for an answer.
In seconds, Joshua was on his feet. He grabbed his jacket and bolted for the door. Without asking for details, he acted immediately. "Send me the address now! I'm coming!"
On the other end, Alvano still couldn't speak. But his fingers reflexively sent the hospital's location to Joshua.
Joshua received the message and sprinted out. There was no time for hesitation. He knew—if Alvano was crying like that, then the situation was truly dire.
And as he stepped outside, the sky was overcast, as if the world itself shared in the chaos raging within their hearts.