The next morning, it was already noon when Vicky returned from picking Emily up from school.
"Let me do my homework quickly before we leave. It's just numbers," Emily said, scooching onto the couch in the small living room as she took out her books.
Vicky walked straight to Evan's room.
"Evan… Evan…"
She called several times before he finally woke up, startled and disoriented.
"Hey, geez. Calm down," Vicky said, noticing his strange behavior.
Evan took a long breath, holding his chest.
"What's wrong? Are you feeling okay?" Vicky asked, concern in her voice as she sat beside him.
"Yeah… what time is it? I have a presentation," Evan said, pushing the sheets away as he got up and grabbed a white shirt.
He stopped when Vicky didn't respond and was just staring at him.
"What happened? Why are you looking at me like that?" he asked.
"It's 2 PM, Evan," she said carefully.
Her brother had missed school because he wouldn't wake up in the morning, and somehow he still looked confused.
Evan held his head in regret and confusion.
At Central Hospital, the building was swarming with people. Nurses pushed patients in wheelchairs while others moved quickly through the halls, attending to patients and making their rounds.
Vicky arrived with her siblings. Today was exactly six months since their mother woke up.
She was suffering from a heart disease that was getting worse due to lack of funds. A deposit of N$2.5 million was required before any procedure could begin.
Vicky had tried everything to get the money, but to no avail. They were poor, and no one was willing to loan them such a large amount. It was simply too risky.
To survive, Vicky had opened a small eatery while keeping her mother under the doctors' supervision. They kept Magano in an induced coma most of the time. She only woke up once every six months so they could talk, catch up, and give Vicky time to gather the money needed for surgery.
It had been four full years. And the struggle was real.
Tears began falling down Vicky's cheeks as she walked toward her mother's room. When she saw her awake in bed, she broke into a run.
Her siblings followed.
They embraced her in a warm hug that, although short, felt like a lifetime.
"Oh, my babies," Magano said with tears in her eyes as she tried to sit upright.
She was still on a drip, with tubes and cables attached to her chest.
The doctors had made her comfortable enough to see her family because she would only be awake today. If Vicky didn't come up with the money soon, Magano would have to go back into another induced coma.
"You're all so grown and healthy. Evan, Emily… I'm so proud of you, Victoria," she said, tears falling as she hugged them tightly.
All three children wrapped their arms around her in one big embrace.
"Okay, Mom… I came with a book this year. I wrote down everything you missed," Emily said, pulling out a thick notebook from her bag.
They all laughed together.
Evan sat on a chair beside his mother, while Vicky sat on the bed next to her.
"So… catch me up," Magano said, flipping through Emily's book. "I don't see a ring on your finger."
"Mom… it's not easy," Vicky said, ignoring her mother's yearly question. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm getting by," Magano replied softly.
"I see how you've mothered your siblings… taking care of them in my absence. And now I can't help but feel like a burden. Vicky, please… let them pull the—"
"Mom, I'm almost at 50% of the deposit they asked for," Vicky interrupted quickly. "If you sleep today, it will only be for a few months. Then you won't have to be induced into a coma anymore."
"Vicky is right, Mom. We're not giving up on you," Evan said, standing up.
"I know, my children… but I'm just a burden. Your sister is at the age to get married and start her own family. She deserves happiness," Magano said gently.
"You want me to be happy, Mom? Then get well," Vicky insisted.
Suddenly, blood began flowing from Magano's nose.
Everyone panicked.
They called the doctor as nurses rushed in to attend to her.
The siblings stepped outside while the medical team worked quickly inside the room.
"Ms. Victoria."
Vicky heard the doctor call her name while she stared intensely through the glass window at her mother.
She followed him into his office.
Evan sat outside on a nearby bench, with Emily on his lap leaning against his chest.
Vicky closed the door and wiped the tears from her face before turning to the doctor, who gestured for her to sit.
"Your mother is getting worse," the doctor said. "Each time she wakes up, even if it's only once every six months, her heart loses too much energy. If this continues, I'm afraid she might not wake up next time."
"So surgery is the only way?" Vicky asked quietly.
"Yes," the doctor replied. "How much have you managed to gather?"
"I have approximately N$2.3 million right now."
The doctor sighed.
"I'll tell you what. Gather as much as you can. If you can reach N$2.4 million, I will add N$100,000 myself. That's all I can give. But it must be within this year."
He paused before continuing.
"Even the hospital matron is starting to complain. They're already leaning toward the idea of pulling the plug."
"I will manage," Vicky said as she stood up.
She didn't want to hear any more harsh truths.
She already knew the risks she was taking with her mother's life.
But deep down, Vicky believed she could still save her.
At AID Headquarters.
Simon entered the building covered in blood and cuts. His team rushed over immediately to help him.
"I guess finding Jonas is starting to turn ugly," Roberts said as he helped his boss into a chair.
"This wasn't about Jonas," Simon said.
"My brother just got kidnapped."
Natasha began cleaning and dressing his wounds.
"What?!" Roberts asked in shock.
"Harvey is missing… and the surveillance in his office has been completely wiped," Simon said.
"Natasha, I don't have time to feel pain right now. The vigilante is quick. Get me the serum… the healing serum."
Natasha quickly rushed out of the room.
Roberts leaned closer to Simon.
"You think the vigilante kidnapped him?" he asked, confused.
"Yes. Years ago, Harvey was convicted of multiple murders because of bombs he created. But he left that life years ago."
Roberts frowned.
"Is it just me… or is the vigilante killing the guilty and kidnapping those who actually redeemed themselves?"
He paused.
"Oh, and something strange came by the precinct this morning."
Simon looked up.
"What is it?"
"The Boss resurfaced."
Just then Natasha ran back in, shock and disbelief written all over her face.
"There's something you need to see," she said.
The entire group rushed down into the basement.
When they reached the underground laboratory, they froze.
Their internal weapons lab — the one that held their most advanced gadgets, experimental serums, and classified technology — had been broken into.
The storage chamber stood open.
Empty.
The most valuable weapon ever created by Paig,
AID… was gone.
Everyone stared in stunned silence. Simon slowly stepped forward.
"Where is AID?" he asked.
But no one answered. Shock, panic, and disbelief filled the room.