IT WAS EARLY MORNING, AND THE EMERGENCY ROOM AT MEDICANA HOSPITAL WAS COMPLETELY PACKED—WITH HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.
SUDDENLY, AN AMBULANCE ARRIVED AT HIGH SPEED, SIRENS WAILING.
Nurse: "Clear the way! Clear the way! Stab wounds to the kidney and left thigh! He's lost a lot of blood—prep the OR immediately!"
THE SURGERY LASTED TWELVE HOURS. WHEN THE DOORS FINALLY OPENED, THE DOCTORS AND NURSES STEPPED OUT IN SILENCE. THEIR EYES WERE CAST TO THE GROUND.AND OUTSIDE, HEAVY RAIN HAD JUST BEGUN TO FALL.
ELSEWHERE, A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT WAS WALKING HOME FROM HIS CRAM SCHOOL, UMBRELLA IN HAND. HIS PHONE SUDDENLY BUZZED IN HIS POCKET—SOMEONE WAS CALLING.
Police Officer: "Hello, am I speaking to Noah Kade?"
NOAH FROZE. A CALL FROM THE POLICE SENT A CHILL THROUGH HIM.
Noah: "Y-yes, that's me, sir."
Police Officer: "Mr. Kade, you need to come to Medicana Hospital right away. Your brother, Liam Kade, has been critically injured."
Noah: "W-what...? I'm coming right now!"
NOAH'S EYES WIDENED IN SHOCK. THE RAIN SOAKED THROUGH HIS CLOTHES AS HE WALKED QUICKLY, ALMOST RUNNING TOWARD THE BUS STOP.
[MEDICANA HOSPITAL]
NOAH ARRIVED AT THE HOSPITAL, DRENCHED AND SHIVERING. HE RUSHED INSIDE—AND IMMEDIATELY STOPPED, STUNNED.ALL AROUND HIM, HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WERE LYING IN EMERGENCY BEDS, INJURED AND GROANING IN PAIN. THEY WERE ALL WEARING UNIFORMS—BUT NOT NORMAL SCHOOL UNIFORMS. THESE LOOKED MORE LIKE GANG COLORS.
NOAH APPROACHED THE NEAREST SECURITY GUARD.
Noah: "E-excuse me, I'm Liam Kade's brother, I—"
THE GUARD'S FACE FELL. HIS EXPRESSION TURNED GRIM.
Securıty Guard: "Follow me, son."
NOAH FOLLOWED. AS THEY WALKED DOWN THE CORRIDOR, CRIES AND WAILS ECHOED THROUGH THE HALLS. STUDENTS WEPT, SCREAMED, AND HELD ONTO EACH OTHER.NOAH COULDN'T STOP WONDERING WHAT HAD HAPPENED HERE... AND WHAT EXACTLY HAD HAPPENED TO HIS BROTHER, LIAM.
Securıty Guard: "Go on in."
NOAH ENTERED THE SURGICAL WING. INSIDE, DOCTORS AND NURSES WERE COVERED IN BLOOD, EXHAUSTED FROM HOURS OF NON-STOP WORK.
AS NOAH TRIED TO MAKE SENSE OF IT ALL, A DOCTOR APPROACHED HIM.
DR. Lee: "Are you Noah?"
Noah: "Yes, sir. That's me."
DR. Lee: "Noah... I don't want to alarm you, but your brother, Liam Kade... our team is doing everything we can. He's lost a tremendous amount of blood. He was stabbed five times in the kidney and thigh but..."
Noah: "Is there any chance he'll survive?"
DR. Lee: "W-well, yes, technically... but the damage to his kidney and the tendons in his leg is severe. One of the stab wounds may have even reached his lungs. He might need to be connected to a machine for the rest of his life... But there's still hope, don't worry—"
Noah: "Stop."
DR. Lee: "What? There's still a chance. Don't give up—he could make it!"
Noah: "If my brother has to live attached to a machine... he'd rather die. And I know that, because that's exactly what he would say."
DR. Lee: "Noah, you're still young. Don't you want your brother to live?"
NOAH TURNED TO THE DOCTOR WITH CLEAR EYES.
Noah: "I'm his only family. That makes this my decision. Please... ask them to stop the operation."
THE RAIN OUTSIDE HAD TURNED INTO A STORM. NEARLY A FLOOD. NOAH SAT ALONE ON THE HOSPITAL BALCONY, STARING AT THE STARS BREAKING THROUGH THE BLACK CLOUDS.THE WINDOWS WERE CLOSED, YET WATER STREAMED DOWN HIS FACE, DRIPPING STEADILY TO THE FLOOR.
A FEW MINUTES LATER, NOAH STOOD AND WALKED BACK INSIDE. DESPITE THE DOWNPOUR, SOME STARS STILL GLIMMERED IN THE SKY.
"ACCORDING TO OLD LEGENDS, THE SOULS OF THE DEAD RESIDE WITHIN THE STARS... AND THEY WELCOME THE NEWLY DEPARTED."
''THAT NIGHT, LIAM KADE'S HEART STOPPED''.