Conan Morata

Chapter 2

"Conan, I heard that your mother is sick. I hope she'll get well soon. Here, this is some of our left over last night. Don't worry, it's still edible."

Conan took the styrofoam that Mrs. Jones was handling. He can say that she was their only neighbor who really have the heart to help others.

"Thank you, Mrs. Jones. This is well appreciated." Conan bowed his head in gratitude.

The lady waved her hand in the air. Everyone knows what happened days ago and Mrs. Jones felt sorry for the whole family.

"Go now and feed your mother and sister."

It was already dark when Conan arrived in their house. It was dark and silent. He felt a pang inside his chest. It's been almost a week when the cops came and declared the captivity of Garou Morata. They haven't heard any news yet if they had found him but that's likely to happen.

Since then, Agnes felt seriously ill and been staying in bed. Emma on the other hand was still in state of shock. She tends to cry whenever she remembered that she doesn't have a father anymore.

As for him, he felt sad too. He wanted to grief but crying will take him nowhere. He was now the head of the family so he needs to be strong for them.

Conan doesn't want to leave his mother and sister but he don't have any choice. They'll starve to death if he doesn't do anything. 

"Mom, Mrs. Jones gave us something to eat tonight. She's also worried about you and praying for your fast recovery."

Conan smiled when he smelled the aroma of the chicken tenders. It was a bit soggy but this will do.

His smile instantly faded when he heard sobs from his sister. He quickly went in the room and was startled when he saw the amount of blood that was flowing on his mother's nose. Beside her was a towel to which he assumed Emma used to wipe the excessive blood.

Conan was quick to assess his mother.

"She's been bleeding before you came! Her fever is high! Brother, I'm afraid. Father is now gone. I don't want to lose our mother too!"

Conan's eyes started to water upon hearing that. 

"Stay here, Emma. I'm going to ask for help."

With his thin body, he doesn't have enough strength to carry his mother.

Conan managed to call some of their neighbors. Everyone were in hurry to bring Agnes to the rural hospital.

Emma stayed in their house as she can't handle the chaos that was happening.

"I'm sorry but you need to at least pay half of the bill before we can attend the patient," one of the nurses informed.

Conan tightly clutched the wallet where all his saving was. Beside him was the stretcher where his mother was lying and her body was slightly shaking.

"H-How much should I pay?"

"Five thousand dollars then we can proceed to treat the patient."

Conan already knew that going to hospital was expensive but what he didn't anticipate was the down payment. He was confident that he can at least pay it and just find a way on how to settle the entire bill afterwards. But five thousand dollars? He didn't have that amount! He only have roughly thousand dollars!

The nurse's eyes started to get irritated when she saw that the boy can't pay.

"I'm sorry but you need to leave if you don't have the money to pay. We have a long line of patients that are waiting. Don't waste our precious time."

Conan's mouth gape with the blunt words of the woman. He was thinking that she will at least take consideration.

The nurse was about to leave but he was quick to hold her arm.

The annoyed face of the nurse turned into disgust. She shoved Conan's hand and pushed him hard. "Don't you dare touch me using your filthy hands! Who knows what kind of disease you'd bring!"

Conan felt embarrassed but he kicked that feeling aside as he started to beg.

"Please, my mother needs immediate assistance! I don't have enough money yet but I promise to settle it at once! Just please, treat my mother. I'm begging you!"

A mocking laugh was heard from the nurse. "We are not a charity. This is business. Money makes the world go round and if you don't have any, then you won't experience the privileges that it can't give and that includes hospital treatments."

"But—"

"Guard!" The nurse called the security. "Take this kid out and his sick mother. Make sure to get the stretcher and clean it thoroughly."

Conan started to cry in distress. "No, please! Have mercy! I don't want to lose her. I'll do anything! I can help you with the hospital work—"

"Shut up already, you dirty human being. We have a plenty of janitors to do the job so get lost." 

Conan's teary eyes unknowingly shifted to the woman's name template.

The nurse glared at the guard who was stunned at the scene, eyes switching to the crying boy, the lady on the stretcher and back to the ugly nurse. Of all the nurses working here, he despised this one the most. She looks like a goddamn monkey and the thick face even act like the owner of the hospital.

"Get them out or I'll tell the management that you're not doing your job?"

Hearing that threat, the guard immediately abide the order and drove the crying Conan and his mother away from the hospital.

Conan turned to the guard with pleading eyes. "Sir, I'm begging you, can I borrow a five thousand dollars? I will pay it, I promise. I can't let my mother to stay like this." 

The old man scratched his forehead. "I want to help you, I swear, but I don't have that amount of money. I don't have a savings either and my salary is just enough for our daily needs."

Conan bowed his head and shouted in despair. The guard was taken aback but when he heard the painful cries of the poor boy, his heart felt heavy.

This is the first time that Conan broke down. His thoughts were in disarray. He felt helpless and useless. He started to question above on why the world was so unfair. It's not like he's asking to become rich! He just wants his mother to be saved! Why can't the world give that to him?!

Conan hugged the cold body of his mother. He can't tune down his cries as he was going to lose his sanity if he won't let it out. 

The warm body that he used to feel had gone cold. It was his only refuge in the middle of the tough world but life isn't merciful.

He doesn't know how to overcome the ordeal that fate had bestowed to him.

Conan decided to bring the lifeless body of their mother in their house. Emma should at least know what happened. He knew that she wouldn't take it but it will be more cruel if she doesn't get to see their mother for one last time.

Mrs. Jones hurriedly ran towards Conan when she spotted him. Her eyes sank upon seeing Agnes that was covered with white blanket.

"Mrs. Jones—"

She shakes her head off and deliver to Conan the bad news.

"Emma is gone! A group of men went to your house and take her by force! We can't do anything since they were all armed!"

Conan face went pale. His dying heart started to pound.

"W-Where did they take her?"

"I don't know! They left a few minutes before you arrived. You can still catch them!"

He didn't waste a single second and went running towards the City's entrance, leaving his mother in the care of Mrs. Jones.

He gritted his teeth in anger. How can the world be so cruel to him?