Joseph kept answering Jonathan's questions without lifting his eyes from the phone.
Joseph:
"…Church. 😐
Meeting. 😐
Reunion. 😐
With Justin. 😐
Don't know. Maybe outside. 😐"
Jonathan's eyebrow twitched.
Finally—
Jonathan:
"Give. Me. The. Phone. 😤"
He snatched Joseph's phone.
Joseph:
"WHAT THE— brother!! 😤
I was—"
But Joseph abruptly stopped talking.
Because his eyes finally noticed the small figure half hidden behind Thomas.
Joseph:
"…Who is this new face? He looks so beatifu— huh? 😶"
He instinctively reached his hand forward to pat Eric's head—
like adults do when they see a beautiful, delicate child.
But Eric immediately stepped back and hid behind Thomas, clutching his shirt tightly.
Everyone froze.
Even Jonathan.
Jonathan:
"He's a friend of the others. His name is Eric. 😊"
Joseph:
"Ohhh… I see. 😮"
He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.
Jonathan cleared his throat.
Jonathan:
"Where's Justin?"
Joseph:
"Probably in his room with Megan. 😊"
Jonathan:
"Alright. Let's go."
---
🏃♂️ Upstairs — Chaos
As they climbed up the stairs, a faint sound echoed from the hallway.
A soft sob.
Then another.
Then— a loud hiccup.
Jonathan's heart dropped.
He pushed open Justin's door.
And the scene hit him like lightning.
Megan was unconscious on the floor.
Her head bleeding— blood on the table edge.
Justin was kneeling beside her, crying uncontrollably, unable to breathe properly.
Jonathan:
"Oh my— MEGAN! 😨
Justin!!"
He rushed to Megan.
Checked her pulse.
Still alive.
But badly hurt.
Jonathan:
"Joseph!! CALL THE AMBULANCE! NOW! 😨"
Joseph panicked and bolted to the living room.
---
Inside the room, the kids gathered around Justin.
Lussy (crying):
"What do we do? 😨"
Emily:
"Sis Amber always touches his chest when he gets like this. Maybe— maybe try that? 😨"
Thomas:
"But we're not Amber… what if we make it worse? 😨"
Eric listened silently.
His hands trembling.
His breath uneven.
But Justin's cries…
they sounded the same as his own cries from years ago.
Same pain.
Same fear.
Same type of broken sound.
His feet moved on their own.
Eric stepped forward.
Jonathan turned just in time—
Jonathan:
"Kids— DON'T GO NEAR HIM—!! 😨"
But Eric didn't stop.
He reached Justin.
Slowly…
Gently…
Eric placed his small hand on Justin's chest.
Everyone froze.
Jonathan's eyes widened.
The kids gasped.
And then—
Justin's sobs weakened.
His breathing eased.
The wild trembling in his body calmed.
His eyes slowly blinked open.
The black marks that had begun to rise across his chest…
…reversed.
Fading back the same way they always did when Amber touched him.
Room fell silent.
Jonathan felt cold run down his spine.
Joseph ran back into the room.
Joseph:
"Brother! Ambulance is here—!! 😨"
He stopped mid-sentence seeing the scene.
Jonathan lifted Megan to carry her out for treatment.
Joseph moved to pick up Justin—
But Eric kept his hand gently on Justin's chest.
And Justin leaned into it like it was the only thing keeping him alive.
The whole room stared.
What Amber usually did…
Eric had somehow done.
Something impossible.
Something none of them understood.
And Jonathan's shock only grew.
---continue