[Trigger Warnings: Deadnaming]

The day was fairly average for Enrico. He woke up, went to work, and went back home. The same mundane routine he did everyday. As he went to sleep that night, he wasn’t expecting to be in what transpired next.

Enrico slept lightly, he always did. A coin could drop on a wooden floor and he’d instantly start to stir awake. While in the dead of night, he heard the door outside rattle. Enrico groaned for a moment, grumbling on who might be disturbing him at this time. As he was sitting up and rubbing his eyes, he felt himself instantly wake up when he heard it.

“Dad! Dad! I’m home!”

His eyes shot open as he quickly stumbled and quickly went to the front door. He quickly undid the multitude of locks on it, opening it to his child’s unconscious body at the doorstep. “What happened…” Enrico tried to get the frame door open, moving his child's body across the rough, concrete doorfront. Once he had enough space, he took Corey's body and dragged him inside, quickly shutting the door and closing the blinds on the windows.

Enrico looked Corey over, searching for any cuts, bruises or injuries. “Christ...what did you get into this time?” He took his child under his arms and put Corey on the couch, then quickly went to look for a first aid kit. 

Goddammit, Tere, Enrico thought to himself, you run away for a year and come back to my door bloodied and passed out… He took the kit from the cupboard of the kitchen, and as he was walking back he started taking out what he would need: gauze, iodine, medical tape. Enrico set the kit on the table as he went back to the bathroom, taking a pail with a fish towel as he got to Corey’s side again. He set to work, cleaning him up with the water to make sure his wounds weren’t being infected. He scrubbed off dirt from his face, and pulled off the hoodie he had on to treat any cuts he had under it.

Once he removed it, he immediately saw: Corey’s binder. Enrico tightened his lips together as he took a breath to collect himself. *No reason to think about that now, Enrico,* he told himself. He treated Corey's wounds, patching his wounds up and bandaging them. As he was, knocks came to the front door in a quick succession of rhythmic taps. He blinked a few times, processing what he just heard. It can’t be…

Rico took another deep breath as he set down the towel and gauze. He gingerly made his way to the front door, trying to maintain his composure. He opened the door, and sure enough, on the other side of the screen were three figures in white robes with a gold trim. On their chests were a symbol of concentric circles with a cross going through them. “Hello, Enrico,” said the one in front. “We saw your son’s orb flare up on our systems.” Enrico stood there, his jaw still tight. “She’s not my son,” he sternly replies. “Mhm, and look where that attitude has gotten you. Now let us, we’ve not much time to treat him.” Enrico sighed, stepping aside as he opened the door. “Much appreciated,” the one in front said as they nodded. As they entered the threshold, they all pulled their hoods down in respect. 

The one that led them was shorter in stature, however their gravitas couldn’t be denied. Their hair was cut short, with a side undercut having their hair swept to one side. They looked around until they saw Corey on the couch, passed out. “Well, good to see you took care of most of him for us.”

“I couldn’t just leave he--”

“Him.”

Norman shut his mouth again, tightening his lips before speaking again. “I couldn’t just leave my child on the doorstep. No matter whatever happened...Tere is still my kid, Janna.” Janna put their hands together, putting them to their face and taking a deep breath. “Alright, Enrico, since you don’t want to budge, I won’t trouble myself for now. We’ll patch up your son, and then take him to the facility.”

“What for?”

“You know what.”

The other two were already making their way to Corey, carrying bags of supplies with them. “I’m sorry, Enrico. It’s his time, and you need to accept that. You’re welcome to come with us. As much as I dislike your attitude, Corey’s still your child, as you said.”

Enrico still stood there as Janna made their way to the other as well. At this point, they pulled strange devices from the bags, passing them over Corey's body while they beep ominously, their operators reading whatever results they spat out and recording them as they talked amongst themselves. Enrico sat on one of the chairs, wringing his hands together as he looked on at them. 

As he nervously sat there, Janna went back to him after they finished their part in assisting Corey. They put a hand on Enrico’s shoulder, who looked up at them then back at his own hands. “I didn’t realize it’d actually happen, y’know. I mean, a part of me had seen that power back then, but…” Enrico sighed, to which Janna pat his shoulder in response. “I know it’s hard, your child being shunted with such an enormous weight, but he’ll be alright. He’s strong, and if there’s anyone who can handle what’s about to happen, it’s him.”

One of the operator’s sensors started to go off, beeping incessantly as they scrambled to read its outputs. “Basti, what’s going on? What’re the readings?” 

“H-His body looks like it’s about to hibernate or something?” The young technician replied, “He’s used up too much energy, he might just use up the rest of what’s left of him to keep his heart beating.”

“Get us set up for facility transport immediately.” Janna nodded towards the other operator. “Anna, tell them we might come earlier than expected.” Anna nodded in reply as well, packing up the equipment they already had out while Basti started to pull out other, more esoteric tools: stones with runic markings, a plastic bag of deep blue powder, an old book bound in leather with its edges starting to tatter.

“Where are you taking him?” Enrico stood as he asked them nervously as they continued working quickly.

Janna snapped back “Where else, Rico? If we don’t get him to the Facility sooner, he could very well slip into a state of comatose.” 

Basti started surrounding the couch Corey was on with the blue powder, as Anna placed the runic stones at different intervals on it. All three of them stepped into it, as Janna took the book and started an incantation. In the middle of it, she paused, looking at Enrico. “Do you want to come with us?” 

A moment of silence lapsed as Enrico thought about it. Then, he nodded, and stepped into the circle. As he did, Janna continued their incantation, and once they completed a bright, white light filled the room. Enrico shielded his eyes, and as the light faded, he was in his house’s living room no more.