It's been a week since Red and Leo were brought to the hospital following their accidents. Sophie, Shane, and I have been in and out of the hospital, trying to help them in any way we could by simply being here.
When they were brought to the hospital, Sophia said I had a mental breakdown after the doctors informed us that both Leo and Red had slipped into comas and they didn't know when they would wake up. As a result, the doctors had to sedate me so that I wouldn't hurt myself.The news of my close friends, Leo and Red, falling into comas was devastating. Leo and Red were more than friends – they were like family to me. So I find myself constantly praying for their recovery, hoping that they will wake up soon and that everything can return to the way it used to be. Because the idea of losing them is incredibly difficult to bear.After the doctors assessed me and confirmed I was in the right state of mind, they released me. However, due to my recent breakdown, Sophie and Shane have been constantly checking in on me. I understand their concern given the scar I gave them.On the other hand of my worries, my mother hasn't bothered to visit Red and Leo, which I find selfish. These are the same people who supported me when she was hurt and in a coma. What angered me the most was her shameless and selfish behavior, repeatedly calling and asking when I'll be coming home to seeDoesn't she realize that my choice to stay here by their side will never change? Despite her memory loss, that selfish aspect of her still lingers, causing me to yearn for distance from her because of her behavior, at least until Leo and Red regain consciousness. Despite the doctors' assurances of their well-being, doubt persists within me. A persistent inner voice continues to lay blame on me, echoing that this situation was my fault. If only I hadn't let them out of my sight, we wouldn't find ourselves tangled in this mess. Instead of being in this hospital, we could be at Rudy's, eating ice cream and laughing our butts off at my playful antics.As the days went by, my mother's calls increased, becoming more frequent than I felt comfortable with. Feeling overwhelmed, I decided it was time to address the situation directly and tell her that the constant calls were becoming too much for my sanity to handle and she should stop. While I understood her worry, the frequent calls were starting to annoy me.Upon sharing my decision with Sophie, she immediately supported the idea. However, I couldn't help but feel that she might want me to return home and rest, given that I had not left this hospital since Leo and Red were hospitalized except for quick trips to the apartment to freshen up.Before I left, I gave Shane and Sophia quick hugs, assuring them that I would be back once I resolved the issue with my mother.Upon arriving home, I was met with my mother's furious gaze as she swung open the door. Despite her anger, I was too drained emotionally and physically to be bothered by it. "Do you know how worried I was when I heard about what happened at your school? I haven't seen you for weeks, Austin, and you didn't even bother to call," she exclaimed."Mum, I really don't want to argue right now. I just came to check on you and find out why you were calling me before I head back to the hospital," I explained, my tired body moving slowly across the living room floor as I made my way to the fridge for some water. Unfortunately, my mother didn't seem to register my lack of willingness to engage in an argument, as she continued to press on."You still want to go back there, what about me?" My mother yelled, making my already aching head hurt even more."Mum, please, for the love of God, stop yelling. My head hurts, and I won't stay away like before. I will try to visit once in a while, but don't expect me to stay home and do nothing while my friends and their families are struggling with them being in a coma.""What about your own life? Will you put your life on standstill because of them?" My mother continued to yell, and I turned to face her, angry at her indifference to my friends getting hurt."Yes, mother, I'm willing to put everything on hold for them. They were there for me when I had no place to stay, when school was a nightmare, and they protected me from anyone who tried to bring me down. They even stood by me when you were hurt," I exclaimed, frustration and anger coursing through me. Running my hands through my hair, I muttered a string of expletives, struggling with my emotions.My mother began to speak, "Austin-" but I cut her off, raising my hand to silence her."Just stop, mother, please. If you continue speaking, I will leave and you won't see me again.""But Austin, I need you here too—" my mother attempted to reason with me, but I was resolute in my decision."I won't abandon my friend when they need me the most, mother. Let me explain how much they mean to me," I said with a disappointed look. "Mother, my life feels like it's on hold since they went into a coma. It's as if my life paused, and it will only resume when they wake up.""But—""I'd prefer if we don't discuss this any further. Continuing might just make me angrier than i already was. Let's both take some time to cool off. I'll head to the store to pick up groceries," I explained, awaiting her response. When she remained silent, I walked out, leaving her in the living room.After a refreshing shower and a change of clothes, I quietly left home, heading straight to the grocery store. I picked up a few items for Mom, and I couldn't resist grabbing some snacks for Sophie and Shane to brighten their moods because everything was quite depressing to be honest.As I returned home, I noticed the front door was slightly open, and the sound of raised voices emanated from the kitchen. Distinctively, one voice was my mother's, but the other belonged to an unfamiliar man. My heart raced, and I hurried inside, fearing for my mother's safety. However, upon entering, I was taken aback to see my mother in the arms of the unknown man, her face stained with tears."Get away from my mother! What the hell did you do to her?" I exclaimed, hastily dropping the groceries as I moved to separate them. But my mother stepped in between us, her actions bewildering me."What are you doing mother, he hurt you right? That's why you were crying" I inquired, my uncertainty evident as I observed the scene before me."No, he didn't hurt me, Austin. He was actually comforting me," my mother replied, attempting to clarify the situation."Why?" I pressed, still struggling to grasp the circumstances unfolding in front of me."Because you've stopped paying attention to me," my mother whined, her frustration apparent."I'm an adult now, mother. I don't have to listen to you all the time to do what you ask," I retorted matter-of-factly, accompanied by an eye roll. Her penchant for dramatics when things didn't go her way was something I was all too familiar with.My gaze then shifted to the man who seemed to be studying me intently, his gaze fixed as if he were trying to decipher my thoughts. Judging by his appearance, he didn't fit the mold of a drug addict or gang member. In fact, he appeared well-off. So, what was someone like him doing in this situation, I wondered, maintaining my steady gaze in response to his probing stare."I might not know who this man is, but I see he poses no threat to you. Because if he were a danger, you wouldn't be seeking comfort in his arms, shedding tears like a child. So, if you'll excuse me, I'm returning to the hospital," I stated firmly, noticing my mother's eyes welling up once again. Seriously, this woman is really getting on my nerves."See, I told you all he's only concerned about his friends," she remarked, directing her gaze towards the man who had been holding my gaze just moments ago.I could feel my anger building up as I questioned, "Why are you blowing this out of proportion? Yes, I'm sorry for not informing you about being at the hospital, but you never bothered to call or even consider going to the police if you were genuinely worried. You knew that the injured students were my friends, so why didn't it occur to you that I might be at the hospital?""I—" my mother began, but I cut her off."Save your excuses and drop the act. I'm not interested in your fake concern. I'm leaving. I got some groceries for you. If you need anything else, text me, and I'll figure out a way to get it to you," I asserted, turning to head out. Just as I was about to leave, the man finally spoke up."Austin, wait," he called out. I turned to face the man who had been silently observing me all day."And you are?" I inquired, eyeing him skeptically."Silas Anderson. It's a pleasure to meet you, Austin," Silas greeted."Alright then. Are you my mother's new boyfriend? If you are, just remember, if you hurt her, I won't hesitate to come after you. She doesn't have the best track record with men," I warned, causing my mother to shoot me an irritated glare."No, I'm not her boyfriend. Should I tell him, or are you going to?" the man named Silas turned to face my mother, who wore a guilt-stricken expression."He can't find out like this, Silas.""Find out what? What the heck are you two going on about?" I demanded."Austin, I'm your father," Silas confessed, his voice steady."You must be joking, because that bastard called my father died a long time ago," I retorted angrily."He wasn't your father. Tell him, or else, because I'm losing all my patience," Silas urged my mother, his eyes fixed on her."Mum, what is he talking about?" I asked, bewildered."Austin, I didn't mean to hide it from you, but he's telling the truth. Silas is your real father. I got pregnant really young and ran away from home. That's where I met your stepfather, Malcolm," my mother explained, her voice shaky."If this is some twisted joke and you're recording or something, both of you need to cut it out. I'm not in the mood for games," I exclaimed, my gaze locking onto my mother, who remained evasive."Austin i-" my mother tried to say something but she stopped mid way"Mum, please, tell me this isn't true," I pleaded."I'm sorry, my son. I was young, scared, and didn't know how to handle it. I ran away from home because I feared my father's reaction because I was pregnant in high school," my mother's voice trembled with remorse.My anger surged. "So you're telling me that the bastard, Malcom, wasn't my real father? But you watched him brutalize me day after day."Tears welled up in her eyes. "I know it's hard to understand, but I felt helpless, and he was the only lifeline I saw."Fury consumed me. "He beat me to the brink of death, while you drowned your troubles in drugs and alcohol. And you're saying it's because he was your only 'hope'?"My mother's expression crumpled, a mix of guilt and pain etched on her face. "I'm sorry, my actions were selfish and unforgivable."The weight of the truth hung heavy in the room, a tangled web of hurt and betrayal that no words could easily mend."I apologize, Austin, but please understand that staying with him was the only option," my mother said.I couldn't bear to look at her; frustration overwhelmed me. I turned to Silas, my anger directed at him. "And you, if you're hoping to reconcile, that ship has long sailed. I don't need a father, so Mr. Anderson, you can go back to wherever you came from.""I can't just leave, Austin," my so-called father responded with a sorrowful expression."Why on earth not?" I shouted, glaring at him."Because I'm dying," he admitted, his eyes filled with sadness."I can't believe this, Silas. This must be some twisted joke to get back at me, isn't it?" I heard my mother say, her voice filled with a mix of disbelief and anger but my focus was on my father who just revealed that he was going to die.Silas appeared unaffected by her emotional outburst, his gaze locked onto me. He took a deliberate step in my direction, pausing a couple of feet away. The soft glow of the light cast his silhouette, revealing his presence. As he stood there, the undeniable truth was clear: he was my father. The resemblance between us was striking—our eyes held the same hue, the lines of our noses mirrored one another, our hair colors complemented, and our physical builds were eerily similar.He broke the silence, his voice steady yet full of emotion as he began to speak, "I've been diagnosed with stage three lung cancer. The chemotherapy hasn't yielded any results, and the doctors have given me just a few years to live.""Are you here to ask for forgiveness?" I que
The persistent beeping sounds beside me filled the air as I slowly began to wake up. I blinked my eyes open, revealing a sterile setting with white walls. As the beeping grew more intense, I tried to sit up, only to be greeted by a searing pain in my abdomen that elicited an involuntary groan.So I decided to remain still, scanning the room with my eyes. There, I saw Shane peacefully asleep in Sophia's embrace on a large couch at the foot of my bed. Meanwhile, Austin appeared uncomfortable, dozing off in a chair nearby. Fighting through the discomfort, I managed to croak, "Hey, Austin... What happened?" Since he was the lightest sleeper, I hoped to catch his attention first.I wondered where I was as I tried to wake up Austin, who seemed fast asleep. My eyes searched the room for clues, and when my mind became clearer, I realized I was in a hospital. But the question remained: why was I here?I called out for Sophia, and her eyes opened instantly, locking onto me. Tears welled up as
"Your father? I thought you said he was dead, " I asked as I stared at Austin in disbelief as I tried to make sense of the revelation."Well it turns out the one who died was not my biological father but my stepfather who was used as a means to an end because my real father's family didn't want me" Austin explained, his voice filled with emotion."Wow," I responded, unable to find the right words. It had only been a few days since I woke up, and so much had happened in Austin's life that I wasn't aware of. "How are you taking all this? Be honest with me, Austin.""I don't even know how to feel about all this," Austin said as he ran his hands through his hair in frustration, "the fact that she lied to me my whole life isn't what is pissing me off. it's the fact that she let that bastard who she called my father beat me up to the point that i had to go to the hospital every other week. ""I'm sorry, bro. That must have been tough. It takes someone who was raised by an abusive father to
"It all started when I was very young, we had a happy family, everything was going well, then eventually my mother gave birth to Shane, and it was the happiest day of my life. I swore that protect the kid" I explained as a smile made it's way to my face as my thoughts went back to the day Shane was born I was so fucking happy"I would be happy if I had that kid as my little brother. He is the best little brother ever," Austin commented as a smile made its way to his face"Yeah, he is," I added, my voice heavy with emotion. "As I was saying, everything was going great until my father lost his job when I was ten, and that's when our picture-perfect family came crashing down.""Damn," Austin cursed."My father began drinking to the point where he would pass out cold on the couch until the next day," I said, my hand clenched at my side as I remembered coming home from school and seeing him passed out on the couch. I took a long breath before continuing to talk. "My mother who would always
"Wait, so you're telling me the guy who owns the illegal fighting ring you where once a fighter at may be responsible for you getting shot," Austin repeated as he stared at me in shock"I'm not sure, but I think he might be responsible or might have something to do with it," I explained "Why do you think he might be the one? You said you were fighting in the void. You must have made one or two enemies who wanted revenge because you beat the shit out of them, " Austin said"That's another way to look at it. That's why I said I wasn't sure," I said as a frustrated sigh left my lips, then my thoughts went back to the strange texts I've been receiving. Austin probably needed to know about those, too, because they might be connected."You look like you might have something else to tell me," Austin said"Why do you think so?" I asked, causing him to roll his eyes at me"Maybe because you look guilty and are avoiding my gaze," Austin said in a matter of fact tone, "I hate and like the fact
Later that day, as Sophia and Shane came to the hospital to visit Athena and Leo, I took the opportunity to tell them about my father and extend an invitation for dinner, hoping they would like to meet him and help me decide if he truly was worth all the stress."How are you feeling, Leo?" Sophia asked as she took a seat on one of the empty chairs the nurses had provided for us in Athena's room"I'm doing well. How was your day at work? I hope Shane isn't causing you any trouble. I really appreciate you keeping an eye on him while I'm in here," Leo inquired while Shane cheekily stuck his tongue out in response."Work went well, though a bit stressful. Shane, on the other hand, behaved perfectly and even assisted me with some tricky documents. He is a smart kid; babysitting him helps take my mind off things," Sophia explained with a smile, casting a glance at Shane, who had a smug smile on his face"See bro, she called me an angel and said I'm smart. Maybe you should take som
"Did you really think we wouldn't be interested in meeting this man who suddenly appears and claims to be your father?" Sophia asked, her curiosity evident in her tone and eyes "I don't know what to believe about all this Sophia, so I need your help because I have no one else to turn to. But I also don't want to inconvenience you guys, or make things awkward, if you don't want to meet up you with him, i will understand" I said as Sophia glared at me but it's wasn't angry one, it was more like the 'are you kidding me' look "Of course we are going to help you through this, because we are your family and also I don't trust your mother as far as I can throw her and I trust this stranger even less, so until i can trust him, i don't want acting like you owe him something" Sophia said as she walked up to me taking my hands in hers, "because from the day you guys walked into my life and made Athena's life better, i swore to myself that I would take care of all of you like my own to the bes
I knocked on the door as soon as I reached the room with the tag, 303, I waited a few minutes before the door opened up and Silas was standing on the other side of the room with a surprised look on his face.The fact that we looked so much alike freaked me out, there was no doubt that he was my father but I just couldn't accept it, maybe I might later on but now he is just a stranger to me and nothing more."Well, this is a surprise, Austin. What are you doing here?" Slias asked as he watched me, us curiosity evident in his gaze"I'm here to see you, Silas. Can I come in?" I asked, "Sorry, you can come in," he replied, and he moved out of the way for me to enter into the room "Thanks, how are you doing? Sorry for coming without sending a text first but it was a last minute thing and I didn't have time to tell you'' I said as I walked into his room, and he closed the door behind him."I'm doing fine, it's not that I'm not happy you came to see me, but why are you here?" He asked as h
After a moment of silence, Silas spoke. "I just want to get to know him before it’s too late. I won’t justify my actions by saying I really didn’t know he existed because his mother never told me about him," he answered, a small smile forming on his face."What do you mean by 'before it’s too late?'" I asked, curious about his statement. Was something wrong? Was he leaving?"I have cancer, and I'm not responding to treatment. Like I said, I wasn't a good man, and it cost me everything, so I’m using the little time I have left to atone for my sins," Silas said, a pained smile tugging at his lips as the table fell silent again."I'm sorry you're sick, but if you hurt that boy again, the cancer won’t be what kills you—I will," Sophia threatened, and it was clear she meant what she had just said."I will keep that in mind, but I swear on my life, I won’t hurt Austin on purpose. I’ll do my best to be there for him and for all of you because he sees you as his family, which means you’re my
Lisa's father glared at Austin and Silas before snapping his gaze to his daughter and her friend. "We're leaving. Now. Don't question me, young lady!" His voice left no room for argument, though beneath the sharpness, there was a flicker of fear—Silas’s threat to report him as a crooked cop had clearly made him fear for his life.Lisa stared at him in disbelief. "Dad, you can't be serious! We can't just walk away. I'll be the laughingstock at school if people find out I ran from this freak of nature. You don't need to be scared of them. I’m sure he's just bluffing," she spat, her words dripping with disdain.Silas's frown deepened as he turned toward her, his eyes hardening. "You might be their age, but you're nothing like the kids standing beside me. You and every other kid here are nothing but demons, thriving on making life hell for kids like Austin and Athena. I promise, whatever you throw at them, I’ll give it right back—just give me a reason.""You can't threaten our kids. That'
"Damn, Red! That slap was so unexpected and funny," Austin started laughing, and the others joined in, filling the diner with our laughter. "Well done, the bitch deserved it.""You filthy whore! How dare you hit me!" Lisa's voice cracked as she screeched, her eyes burning with fury as they locked onto mine."I did it because I can, and if you don't get out of my face, I'll do it again," I said with a satisfied grin spreading across my face. Her anger shifted to shock as she stared at me. Does this dumb bitch think I'm bluffing? "Five, four, three—by the time I finish counting, if you're still here, I will slap you again, Lisa.""You wouldn't dare. My father's a policeman; he'll have you and your pathetic group thrown in jail," Lisa threatened, clearly expecting me to back down.But she was so wrong.Without a word, I slapped her again, harder this time. Her shock was priceless. "Tell your dad he can go fuck himself," I said, my grin growing wider as Lisa held on to her swollen cheeks.
"None of you have seen it?" Barney asked, his eyes narrowing in confusion."Seen what? We've been too busy to read anything, let alone newspapers," Sophia replied, her voice tinged with worry."I don't think she needs to see it, Sophia. It's irrelevant," Rudy interjected, her voice shaking slightly."I'm okay, Rudy. I need to know," I insisted, my heart pounding with confusion.Rudy sighed, her eyes darting between Sophia and me. "You need to be seated for this," she said, her voice heavy with concern."You're scaring me, Rudy," Sophia murmured as we all moved to the booth at the far end of the diner.We could feel the stares of the other customers, their eyes piercing and judgmental. My skin prickled with discomfort. Before I could say anything, Austin's voice cut through the tension, filled with irritation and anger. "If you assholes keep staring, I'll give you something to stare at. Mind your fucking business, we're not here for your amusement."The customers quickly looked away, a
A few days later...Red and Sophia were finally able to get discharged from the hospital. The doctors and Stephen did all the necessary tests to ensure they were okay before giving them the all-clear, and I couldn’t have been happier. She can finally leave the four walls of that room. But the thought terrifies me. I can't tell anyone how I feel. I don't want to scare them or add to our worries. We've got enough on our plate already.On some bad days, when I look at her, I can still see her body covered in blood from that terrible night. The memory gives me nightmares, but I'm glad she's okay now. My main goal is to help her get revenge on those who hurt her, so my conscience can be at peace. I know it's not my fault she got hurt, but if I had protected her better, she wouldn't have gone up to that roof that night.Sophia and Red were talking to the doctors when Riley arrived to pick up Xavier. "Hey guys, what are you up to? Are Sophia and Athena done?" she greeted, her smile lighting
"Austin, please take the boys to the cafeteria. I want to talk to Athena alone," Leo said, his voice steady and devoid of emotion. Austin nodded without hesitation, turning to the boys with a mischievous grin on his face."Come on, let’s go spoil your dinner," he joked. The boys laughed as they followed him out of the room. The door clicked shut, leaving Leo and me alone for the first time since I got hurt.I’d missed him, but there were more pressing matters at hand. I needed to know what happened and why he got hurt."I didn’t want you to know while you’re still getting better, but since the cat’s out of the bag, I have to tell you." Leo sat beside me, his fingers interlocking with mine, placing a gentle kiss on my hand."The same day you got hurt, Austin and the others said I was shot." His voice wavered slightly, eyes searching mine. "I don’t remember anything, but when I get my memories back, I will find whoever did this and make them pay for almost taking me from the people I lo
"I don't want any trouble," Tommy said, his fear evident in his eyes and tone as he took a step back."You just found it," Leo growled as Tommy's eyes darted nervously, avoiding Leo's furious gaze."You didn't answer his question. What the hell are you doing here? And why are you bugging Athena, you bastard?" Austin demanded, his voice thick with anger as he glared at Tommy."I came to see someone. I swear, we met by coincidence. And I wasn't bothering her," Tommy's voice trembled, his eyes wide with fear."That's not what I saw when I walked in on you two." Stephen crossed his arms, his angry gaze fixed on Tommy."I-I," Tommy stammered, staring at the floor, avoiding my gaze."Are you fucking kidding me? Did he try to hurt you, Athena?" Leo asked, his eyes scanning me, checking for signs of damage."I'm fine. Let's just go back to my room. He's not worth you guys getting worked up over," I said, clutching Leo's hand and tugging on his sleeve."You're very lucky she wants to let this
"I might have heard wrong, but did you just say someone pushed you off that roof?" Sophia asked, her lips pressed tightly together as she stared at me, her expression a mixture of anger and a hint of curiosity. "Yes, you didn't hear wrong. Someone pushed me off that roof that night, and that person is Dylan Thompson," I answered, causing the frown on her face to deepen. "That asswipe! I've tolerated him and his friends for so long because you told me not to make it a big deal, but this is different. He tried to kill you, and there is no way in hell I'm going to let this go. That bastard is going to pay for this," Sophia said, her body visibly tense as she stared back at me. "I'm not letting this go, Auntie Sophia. I'm going to make sure they pay. I have a plan, and it involves me destroying all their lives. I just wanted to tell you everything after we left the hospital because I will probably get in trouble later because of my plans and would need you to help me out," I explaine
Morning came sooner than I expected. The soft light filtered through the hospital room's curtains, and I woke up feeling slightly refreshed. There was a knock on the door, and a nurse entered with a cheerful smile, bringing my breakfast and some containers that held medication that I assumed were mine. "Good morning, Athena. How are you feeling today?" she asked, placing the tray on the table beside me. She then took out an infrared thermometer and held it a few centimetres from my head to check my temperature. Once she had it, she moved on to check my pulse, jotting down each piece of information as she took it. "I'm feeling better, thank you," I replied, sitting up and taking the tray. The smell of the food reminded me how hungry I was. Even though it was hospital food and might not taste as good as what I usually ate, I still wanted some. "That's good to hear. After eating, make sure to take your medication. I will be back later to take the tray and check on you," she said war