"Two murders have taken place in the downtown area within the last twenty-four hours," the anchor said, her voice crackling through the old radio speakers. "The suspect remains at large, and authorities are urging the public to stay vigilant. More details—"
The radio cut off as Orion reached over and twisted the volume knob down, pulling his mother's attention away from the static-laced broadcast.
"Alright, Ma. I'm heading to work." He tried forcing a smile but stretched his mouth into a straight line. "I'm already running late. I'll be back on time."
His mother lay propped against thin pillows, blankets pulled up to her chest. The afternoon light through the curtains made her skin look paper-thin.
She gave a slight smile and moved her frail lips. "Be safe."
Instinctively, Orion returned her smile with a larger smile, grinning ear to ear.
He had not seen her smile in months. After the disease, her body was mostly paralyzed, and these rare moments were his hope. He gave a slight nod, turning the volume knob back up before she could say anything else that might make leaving harder.
He rushed out the door of the private room into the hall, grabbing his foldable bike. A woman dressed up in a black suit stood in front of the door, agitated with someone on the phone.
"Pick the phone up, dammit," she said.
"Hey, Rosalie," Orion said. "Is there a problem?"
Orion had known Rosalie since they had moved to the Hex. She was their lawyer, who had helped them fight and win a settlement into the Hex after the war had destroyed everything and everyone they had.
"Nothing," she said, her stern expression becoming softer, "just... Ron, my assistant, is late."
"If there is a problem, you can let me know—" Orion said.
"No, none," Rosalie responded quickly, cutting him off. "Where you headed to?"
"Especially if it's about my mother," Orion completed his sentence. "I am heading to work."
"I have told you many times, if you need money just ask me," she said, her expression going soft again. "You are like family, and I want you to focus on your studies."
"Thank you, I am going to head out then," Orion said.
As Orion headed out of the hospital, Rosalie said, "Your mother knew this would eventually become a problem." She lowered her head a bit. "So she never kept out of touch."
Orion spun back now that his attention was caught.
Her shoulders sagged, and there was a slight quiver in her voice. "They want to take her in for research."
"They can't do that!" Orion shot back.
"They can't, until we have a medical infrastructure for the patient," she said.
"The hospital is kicking us out?" Orion asked in disbelief.
"Yes," she said.
"They can't just refuse her treatment, that's illegal," he said, as he gauged her face for reassurance, but when he didn't get any reaction, his heart dropped.
"Shouldn't it be?" he asked, but Rosalie didn't reply, and her expression saddened.
"Don't worry, though. I am trying to find a loophole." She fidgeted with her phone. "If I could just get some files from Ron."
Orion remained silent as she worked on her phone. "Give me his address," Orion said.
"You're still a kid. I want you to be focused more on your future instead of being under pressure," she said.
"I survived a whole freaking war, and you think this would put pressure on me?" Orion said.
"I don't want to just sit idly. You have to understand, she's my mother," he said, lightly tapping his chest.
"I guess I don't have a choice," she said, typing into her phone. "I just sent you his address. He lives a bit far, so the fastest way to get there would be through the subway."
"Subway?" Orion asked, surprised.
"Yep, they are still in service, although they might be shut down soon," she said.
Orion grabbed the subway card and left without saying another word. "There's a train coming in five minutes," she yelled after him. He exited the building, weaving through the incoming traffic of people.
He had seen the subway station many times, although he thought it was just abandoned architecture. He knew his way, and to him, five minutes were more than enough.
The subway station was empty, with the only thing filling up the space being the lights and the news channel on the TV.
"The assailant was last recorded underground and has not been found since then. Officials have issued a warning for all citizens to remain in s—s—af—"
The TV began to crackle, and the lights began to flicker as he got to the waiting area. He felt vibrations travel up his spine, indicating the arrival of the train.
He stood up as the train screeched to a halt, doors sliding open with a groan.
A lone man came out of the train and stood in front of the entrance doors, looking at Orion, who gave the man a single glance before averting his eyes and moving past him into the train.
As he entered, he saw red splattered in the cart before he felt a jab in his back followed by a burning sensation which grew stronger by the moment.
A cry left his mouth as he stumbled to the ground, a pool of blood forming around him.
The man walked inside, looking at Orion with eyes that looked like they had not gotten rest in a long time.
"Stay away from me," Orion shrieked, looking around frantically for help, but all he saw was Ron, on the other end of the cart, looking at him lying on the floor while clutching a yellow file in his hand. That yellow file. It was the whole reason he was in this situation.
His eyes were wide, looking directly into Orion's eyes. Dread settled in Orion as the dark, blank eyes just stared coldly at him, and just underneath his chin was a red streak.
I don't want to die, Orion thought.
I can't die, he thought, looking at the yellow file crushed in Ron's hands.
He put all his energy into getting up, but it had been sucked into the wound. With every movement he made, it felt like someone was beating his back with a hot metal rod.
The man lowered down to Orion and pulled out another blade. Orion flailed his arms at the man, but he held both of them in one hand as he made a quick slash at Orion's throat and then let go.
Orion covered the wound with both of his hands, but blood trickled through them. He felt as though a whole building had been put on him as his lungs gasped for air.
"Hey, let's try this one, it's fresh," the man said. As Orion slowly lost his grip, he looked at the man carefully. He wanted to remember him. If he ever became a ghost, the least he wanted to do was make him miserable. As everything around the man began to blacken, Orion's eyes shut down.