"Mom just called," Ryan''s voice was trembling. "Some crazed woman attacked Quinn—stabbed him once and shed Mom''s arm. They''ve caught her now, but Quinn''s in aplete frenzy. Even though the stab wasn''t fatal, he''s been screaming non-stop."
ra was ready to rush to the scene but hesitated, worried about Johnny.
Taking a deep breath, she pieced together who the woman might be it had to be June. Quinn had destroyed June''s life; her husband had died in prison because of him. June must have been waiting for her shot at revenge, even if it meant risking her own life.
She wanted to pull Ryan aside to get more details, but Johnny''s hoarse voice interrupted.
"Go on, I''m listening."
Feeling a wave of helplessness, ra turned to Ryan, "How''s Naomi?"
"Just minor injuries, but Quinn''s lost it, cursing wildly in the hospital. He''s even scratched up a few doctors. It''s like he''s found some insane strength."
Three gunshots and now June''s stabbing, yet Quinn was still wreaking havoc― like an indestructible cockroach.
Ryan leaned in closer, whispering, "ra, the doctors have removed Quinn''s bullets. They say he might need to bemitted to a psychiatric hospital."
ra rubbed her temples and nced at Johnny lying on the bed, pressing her lips into a thin line. "Then let him go."
Ryan fell silent, his head drooping as if he''d done something wrong. He didn''t feel nothing for Quinn, but after everything Quinn did, he couldn''t look at him the same way anymore.
After several seconds of silence, Ryan hugged ra, his voice thick with unshed tears. "ra, please visit home more often..."
This neen-year-old was already feeling the weight of loneliness.
ra patted his hand and nodded in agreement.
By two in the morning, they were both exhausted from keeping vigil over Johnny. Ryan wiped his eyes with the back of his hand. "ra, I''m a bit hungry. Let''s go get something to eat."
Seeing the dark circles under his eyes, ra knew he hadn''t been sleeping welltely.
They went downstairs together, and ra saw there were still a few ingredients in the fridge. "I''ll whip up a quick sandwich for you."
"Great!"
Ryan perked up instantly, hovering around her like a puppy, eager to help.
ra''s mood lifted as well. She turned on the stove and got to work.
Halfway through, she heard a noise outside.
Ryan, holding a cup of still-warm soup, was about to drink.
She didn''t think much of the noise but quickly stopped him. "That soup needs more seasoning. Slow down! You might get a stomachache."
Just as she said that, she caught a whiff of smoke.
Ryan put down the bowl, smelling it too—not just smoke, but gasoline.
They both rushed out of the room to find the upstairs already aze.
ra''s heart sank, and she sprinted upstairs to Johnny''s room, but the gasoline had spread, turning everything into a sea of mes.
She kicked open Johnny''s door, only to find the fire too far gone. The room was where the fire had started.
Seeing the bed engulfed in mes, her heart shattered.
Ryan burst in, taking in the scene, and tried to run toward the fire.
"Dad!"
ra grabbed him tightly. "We have to go!"
"I''m not leaving! I''m not leaving! ra, Dad is dead, burned to death!" he
screamed, desperately trying to break free.
ra took a deep breath and pped him sharply.
Ryan calmed instantly, though tears streamed down his face.
Dragging him away, ra led them downstairs, where thick smoke filled the air.
Ryan followed her mechanically, like a puppet on strings.
Relying on memory, ra found the way out, but the front door was blocked.
She grabbed a chair and smashed the nearby patio door, pulling Ryan outside. Covered in soot, they stumbled into Naomi, who had just returned.
Naomi''s arm was still bandaged, and she looked at the scene in shock. "What happened?"
Ryan copsed to the ground, sobbing.
"Dad''s still inside. We couldn''t save him... we couldn''t... Are we ever going home again?"