Rise of Ryan Conner

chapter 7

Avery walked into the hospital reception and was surprised to see her uncle. He was at the front desk, engaged with the nurse and paperwork. Wasn't he supposed to be with the injured man? She wondered.

"How is he?" She asked when she got close enough. Her uncle turned to look at her after signing the ledger in front of him.

"Oh Avery I have covered his hospital bill so you won't have to worry about that."

He glanced at her hands holding a lunch bag. "About this—" Just as he was about to speak she interrupted him.

"Uhm… where is he?" Avery asked looking over uncle Mateo's shoulders while holding a lunch bag. "I'll go give him the food I bought."

"He is gone already," Uncle Mateo walked towards her, "You were not hurt at a right?" He furrowed his brows as he observed her closely.

"Gone? Where did he go to?" Avery asked with confusion on her face. "He isn't dead right?" Her heart began to suddenly race with fear.

"What happened to him?" The lunch bag fell from her hands without her realizing it and instantly tears formed at the corner of her eyes. She lunged at her uncle and gripped his sleeves.

"He is fine, he was actually barely injured." Uncle Mateo held her shoulders as he looked at her. "You don't have to worry about him it was just a few scratches and no deep injury."

Avery shook her head in confusion, "No, I saw how they had beat him badly. He was unconscious!" She yelled as she grabbed his sleeves tightly, "How could you let him leave? He saved me!" She rambled on with tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Avery!" Uncle Mateo called out loudly making her jerk back. "Sorry for shouting I had to get your attention." He grabbed her shoulders and pushed her hair back.

"Why didn't you stop him? Where's Ryan?" she demanded, her voice a mix of anger and desperation.

Mateo, leaning against the cool wall, met her cold gaze. "Ryan made it clear he wanted to leave; it was his decision," he explained, his tone attempting to convey understanding.

"I'm telling you, he is absolutely fine to leave. He left by himself probably out of shame when I out smarted him." Uncle Mateo scoffed and Avery looked at him with suprise.

"What shame?" Avery took Uncle Mateo's hands off her as she stepped back. "A man who saved me? What is shame in that?"

"Listen that guy is probably working with the gang." Uncle Mateo slipped his hands into his pockets.

"What do you mean? The gang members beat him until he got unconscious. I was there!" Avery wiped off the tears from the corner of her eyes.

"They must have staged it to get money from us," Uncle Mateo shrugged his shoulders.

"I need to find him then. I'll like to speak with him." Avery waved off what her uncle said in disbelief. "You can help me find him with your men." She said with a tone laced with anger.

"You should go home and take a rest," Uncle Mateo said as he watched her walk towards the hospital's revolving doors.

"I need to find him. Now," She insisted as she clenched her fists tightly. She turned to look at him with a sad expression.

Mateo eyes sudden widened with realization. He suddenly had an idea of the emotions running through his niece and his face turned into a frown, "You know, Avery... he's married." He had to make her forget about the young man.

Avery faltered, her anger dissipating into a mixture of surprise. "Married?" she echoed, her voice barely a whisper. She didn't understand why she suddenly felt sad.

"Yeah, he mentioned his wife once. I thought you knew," Mateo continued, watching her closely, noting the way her shoulders slumped and how her eyes lost a bit of their earlier fire.

"I... I didn't know," she admitted, her voice tinged with a sadness she couldn't quite understand.

She nodded slowly, processing the fact that he is actually married, "I need to still meet him, I need to thank him." She said softly as she turned on her heels and walked out of the hospital.

She still felt she needed to find Ryan, just to say thank you. Mateo didn't know what to say to that, so he just nodded.

"Let's get going," Mr. Mateo snapped his fingers towards his men as he walked out behind Avery. Mateo heaved s sigh of relief as he watched her.

Ryan was walking on the street, not sure where to go next. He had no home to return to but he was relieved that his Lung cancer was gone. He felt no pain anymore and by now his injuries were barely noticable.

Ryan fiddled the ring on his index finger has he closely observed it. The ring was forged with a gold-hued metal, smooth to the touch and in the ring's center was a gemstone with the color of the midday sun.

"Apollo ring, what are you?" Suddenly the loud screeching of tires interrupted his thoughts.

Screech!

Screech!

Suddenly, a car swerved out of control and came speeding towards him from the corner of his eyes.

"Oh my!" Ryan jumped out of the way just in time, but the car crashed into a street lamp instead.

Ryan was really mad at first, but then he saw a young woman crawl out of the car. Her hair was a wild, tangled mess, strands sticking to her face, mingling with the blood that trickled from a gash on her forehead. Her eyes were wide with terror, darting frantically into the car.

The car's engine burst into flames, sending black smoke spiraling into the air. For a second, Ryan stood frozen, a wave of shock coursing through him.

The woman with the disheveled hair started crying and shouting, "Help! Help! Someone help my daughter! Someone help!" Tears streamed down her face as she looked around for help.

Ryan's anger vanished and he dashed towards the burning vehicle. His heart was racing as sprinted to the car, spotting a little girl unconscious in the passenger seat.

He tugged at the car door, but it was stubbornly locked. The woman joined him, frantic, as they both attempted to pry the door open, but it didn't budge.

"It is stuck! Damn!" He frowned still tugging at the door as he wondered what next to do.

Then, Ryan remembered something, the Apollo ring! The voice from that void had said that the Apollo ring can grant him power. It had also been the reason that he was healed but could there be any possibility that—

Aglint appeared in eyes as he clenched his fists. There was a problem, he didn't know how to activate this power. But deep down in him he felt a connection with the ring.

"C'mon you can do this," He took a deep breath and focused on the Apollo ring.

Suddenly he felt warm heat from the Apollo ring and a surge of strength seemed to flow from the finger that had the ring.

"Ahhhhh come on!" He yelled out loud and he felt a surge of energy run through his body.

He gripped the car door and, to the woman's utter amazement, he tore it out like it was paper! Leaving the charming lady dumb and speechless-