Jason's shoes clicked against the sterile floor of the hospital as he pushed his way past the lobby doors. The air smelled of disinfectant, sharp and clinical, a scent that always made his stomach tighten. It wasn't the first time he'd walked these halls, and it probably wouldn't be the last, but it never got easier.
He was still wearing the clothes Sam had carefully chosen for him the night before—the pressed shirt, the sharp black trousers, and the polished shoes. To strangers in the waiting room, he probably looked like a man on business. Only Jason knew the truth: he had left the mansion of a rich woman hours ago with pockets full of cash, and now he was here, hoping to trade that money for something far more precious.
Sophie's life.
He marched to the front desk where a nurse sat flipping through a clipboard, her eyes half-focused on the papers. Jason cleared his throat and asked in his deep voice, "How is she?"
The nurse blinked up at him, confused. "Sorry, sir, who did you come to see?"
Jason felt his temper snap like a rubber band. He clenched his fists. "Don't you remember me?" His tone was sharp, his eyes burning with frustration. "You nurses these days can't keep anything in your head. I've been coming here for weeks."
The nurse, caught off guard, looked a little embarrassed. She shuffled through the small file in front of her. "I—I apologize, sir. May I have the name, please?"
Jason exhaled through his nose, his voice dropping to a low growl. "Sophie. My sister, Sophie."
Recognition sparked in her eyes at last. She quickly flipped to a file, nodded, and said, "Yes, she's in ward C. Please, come with me."
Jason didn't thank her. He didn't have the energy for pleasantries. He just followed, his long strides swallowing the hallway. Every step made his chest tighten. His aura was heavy, calm on the outside, but inside his heart raced.
The nurse opened the door.
There she was.
Sophie sat propped up on the hospital bed, her frail frame wrapped in a loose gown. She looked smaller than before, as if the sickness was shaving pieces of her away day by day. But her eyes—those same soft, familiar eyes—lifted the moment she saw him, and she smiled weakly.
Jason's composure cracked. He rushed to her side, dropped into the chair, and leaned in.
"How do you feel now, Soph?" His voice broke slightly as his hand brushed hers.
She shrugged gently. "Better than yesterday. They gave me medicine that doesn't taste horrible for once."
Jason laughed, though it sounded forced. "Everything's going to be okay." He said it with conviction, not because he believed it fully, but because she needed to hear it.
Then, like a flicker on the edge of his vision, the system interface popped up before him. Blue digital lines scanned Sophie, revealing her stats.
Her health condition bar… had risen. Barely. Just a fraction. But it was higher than before.
Jason's breath caught. Relief flooded through him. His sister was still weak, but the numbers told him something was working. Maybe his efforts, the sacrifices, weren't meaningless after all.
"See that?" he whispered under his breath, more to himself than her. "We're getting there, Soph. Slowly, but we're getting there."
Sophie tilted her head, confused. "What did you say?"
Jason smiled quickly, covering. "I said I'll get you something nice to eat."
And he did. He walked back out, found one of the orderlies, and arranged for proper meals from the hospital's cafeteria. He wasn't about to let his sister eat the bland mush they usually served. If he had to pay, he would. And he did—reaching into the bundle of bills Mariana had given him that morning.
The money cut deep into the roll in his pocket. It was more than he liked to admit. Jason hated relying on anyone, let alone money gifted by a married woman who didn't fully know him. But Sophie came first. Always Sophie.
When he returned, Sophie was nibbling on the warm food, her eyes brightening just a little. Jason sat with her, watching silently. That alone was enough to ease the storm in his chest.
Later, he went to find the doctor. The man was busy scribbling notes on a clipboard when Jason approached. "Doctor," Jason said firmly, "tell me straight. How is she?"
The doctor adjusted his glasses, glanced at the chart, then looked up at him. "She's improving. Slowly. With proper care, we're seeing progress."
Jason exhaled heavily, a weight sliding off his shoulders. "And when can she go home?"
The doctor smiled faintly. "Tomorrow. We'll discharge her tomorrow, provided nothing changes overnight."
Jason nodded slowly. He forced himself to stay calm, to keep his aura collected. But inside, the relief spread like fire. Tomorrow. He could take her out of here tomorrow.
But then the system window glowed faintly again. His gaze darted to it.
[Time Remaining: 4 Years, 0 Months, 3 Days.]
[Objective: Raise Sophie's stats to 100 across all fields.]
Jason swallowed. The countdown hadn't moved. No matter how much he did, no matter how much he paid, the reality was still looming. Four years. That was all he had.
He forced a smile anyway, turned to the doctor, and said calmly, "I'll clear her bills today. Make sure everything is in order."
The doctor raised an eyebrow. "It's a significant amount, sir."
Jason pulled the folded stack of cash from his pocket, slapped it on the counter, and pushed it forward. "Count it. I'll be back tomorrow for her discharge papers."
The doctor blinked in surprise at the sheer amount, then nodded. "Very well, sir."
Jason turned away, his jaw tight. He didn't like losing that much money in one go, but this wasn't about him. It never was.
He walked back to Sophie's room. She was finishing her food, smiling faintly at the tray. When she saw him, her eyes softened.
"You paid again, didn't you?" she asked quietly.
Jason smirked, ruffling her hair gently. "Don't worry about it. That's my job as your big brother."
She giggled softly. "One day I'll pay you back."
Jason looked at her for a long moment, then shook his head. "No, Soph. Just focus on getting better. That's all I want."
As the night drew on, Jason sat by her side, watching her breathe, watching her chest rise and fall. The hospital hummed quietly around him, nurses moving through the hallways, machines beeping faintly in the background.
For the first time in a long while, Jason let himself feel peace. Even if just for a moment.
Tomorrow, Sophie would be home.
And tomorrow, his fight would continue.
---