The announcement wasn't just on TV—it was everywhere.
Radios, billboards, live streams, street screens—all carried the urgent news. The whole country seemed to freeze, everyone stopping whatever they were doing to listen. A one-minute countdown ticked on screens, and hearts beat faster with anticipation.
What could it be? A global pandemic like COVID-19? A notorious criminal on the loose? Or had war broken out, forcing citizens to prepare for evacuation or lockdown?
No one wanted to guess, but deep down, everyone knew: when this kind of interruption happens, it's rarely good news.
As the countdown hit zero, emergency sirens blared across the cities—a signal that this announcement was serious.
The BBC news anchor appeared on every screen. Her voice was calm but firm:
"Joker is active again after seven years. All citizens are advised to stay vigilant. Anyone who spots him should report immediately to the police. Verified reports will be rewarded with £10,000 in cash."
---
### **Back at the Williams' Home**
Jack's eyes locked on the screen. The moment past images of Joker flashed across it, memories started flooding back—fragments of a life he hadn't known he had.
Pain struck immediately. His head throbbed, every nerve screaming. Muscles cramped, his chest tightened, and an intense pressure filled his skull.
He didn't understand what was happening—he was trying to recall memories that his own mind had locked away. But a lock mechanism inside of him resisted it . Every attempt strained his body and brain, forcing him to work harder than he could handle.
The family called his name, tried to touch him, but it was useless. Jack couldn't hear them. Couldn't feel them. He was trapped inside the pain and the struggle of unlocking memories.
He faltered. His body couldn't take it. He went pale. Breathing became shallow.
Mrs. Williams fainted, unable to watch. Jack's father tried to steady her, but even his presence couldn't reach Jack.
Lisa's panic overwhelmed her as she ran to him, tears streaming. "Jack! Please… breathe! Just breathe!"
Her hugs were frantic, but Jack couldn't respond.
Kai—Hume—moved faster than anyone else. He knelt beside Jack, analyzing the situation in an instant. He could see the strain, the locked mechanism overworking Jack's mind and body.
"Lisa, step back! Give him space!" Hume commanded.
He positioned Jack's head gently, supporting it with his left hand while exposing the right side of his neck. Calm and precise, he pressed a trained pressure point—not to harm, but to temporarily knock Jack out, giving his body a chance to reset.
Jack's body went limp. Relief washed through the room.
"Thank God," Lisa whispered, collapsing beside Hume. Together, they lifted Jack onto the couch and covered him with a blanket, gently stroking his hair to calm him.
Even in the chaos, Hume stayed alert, watching Jack carefully. Any subtle twitch, any change in breathing, he was ready to react. His protective energy was quiet but unyielding,like a silent promise saying: *I've got you.*
Lisa smiled at him softly. "He's like the youngest in the family, isn't he?"
Hume nodded. "Yeah. Seeing him like this… it makes me want to protect him even more."
They laughed quietly, watching Jack sleep, for the first time safe and still.
The distant wail of an ambulance grew louder. Jack's father, having put his wife to bed, hurried downstairs to meet the paramedics and explain the situation.
Even as the professionals approached, Hume stayed close, vigilant and ready.