Robis stood before a towering screen that covered the entire wall, watching the video that dared to challenge his authority. His eyes narrowed in disbelief, and rage boiled within him. With a savage roar, he punched the screen with his fist, shattering it instantly. The enormous device crashed to the ground, fragments flying in all directions, reflecting his fury.

A knock came at the door.

"COME IN!" he bellowed, his voice shaking with barely controlled rage.

Lyn entered cautiously, his heart pounding as he saw the wreckage of the screen and Robis’s menacing figure. His voice trembled as he spoke, "M-Master…"

Robis turned, his red eyes piercing. "What?" he growled, his voice like thunder.

"Someone… someone sent two letters to Hassan’s brother. I think it’s the new Axen," Lyn stammered, his face drained of color.

Robis’s glare hardened. "What was in the letters?"

Lyn swallowed nervously. "One letter gave the location of Hassan’s grave. The other... it was Hassan’s letter to his brother. He told him everything about us."

A cold, calculated silence filled the room as Robis took a slow, deep breath. His eyes flickered with malice. "Don’t let them get Hassan’s letter," he commanded.

Lyn nodded vigorously, "Y-Yes, Master."

The wail of the ambulance siren echoed across the college grounds as paramedics rushed Elif out on a stretcher, her face pale, an oxygen mask covering her mouth. Omar and Arham ran alongside her, their faces etched with worry as students gathered, murmuring in concern.

"Stay strong, Mom, please," Omar whispered, his heart pounding in his chest.

They pushed the stretcher into the ambulance, the doors swinging open with urgency. Arham climbed in beside his wife, his hand never leaving hers.

"Take care of her, please," Omar said, his voice tight as he tried to hold himself together. His father nodded silently, his eyes filled with a mix of fear and determination.

The ambulance doors slammed shut, and the vehicle sped off, its siren wailing into the distance.

Omar stood frozen for a moment, staring after the ambulance as it disappeared. Then, snapping back to reality, he quickly turned and headed toward the parking lot. Zain, watching everything unfold, rushed after him. "Omar, what happened?" he asked, his voice heavy with concern.

Omar didn’t respond, his mind too full of panic to form words. He reached his car, unlocking it with shaking hands. Zain slid into the passenger seat without question, sensing the urgency.

As Omar revved the engine, Anum and Noor caught sight of them, hurrying over. But before they could reach him, the car roared to life, and Omar sped out of the parking lot, his thoughts consumed by the sight of his mother’s frail body on that stretcher.

The video of Axen quickly went viral across social media, sending shockwaves through the public. Former Axen’s fans were shattered by the news of his death, mourning the loss of the hero they had once revered. Their posts flooded every corner of the internet, declaring it a dark day, a tragic end to a misunderstood figure. Some even called for action, organizing marches to Remaan’s Red Zone. Meanwhile, those who had always been against him remained unmoved, though they offered a degree of sympathy to his family, carefully maintaining their disdain for the man they still viewed as a villain.

Arham and Zain stood leaning against the sterile white wall of the hospital corridor, anxiety etched into their faces. Omar, too restless to stand still, paced back and forth, his mind racing. Every second felt like an eternity.

When the doctor finally emerged, his face masked, they rushed toward him, hope and fear warring in their expressions.

"Is she okay?" Omar asked, his voice tight with emotion.

The doctor nodded, offering a small, reassuring smile. "There’s no need to worry. She’s stable now. It was just trauma from the shock. But she’ll be fine with rest. Keep her calm and happy. You can go in and see her now."

Relief washed over Omar as the doctor walked away. He and Arham entered the room, leaving Zain behind in the hallway. Zain, trying to distract himself from the tension, pulled out his phone. The video of Axen dominated his feed—comments, reposts, and plans for the march filled every corner of his screen.

Inside the room, Elif lay on the hospital bed, her face pale but peaceful. Omar gently took her left hand, while Arham held her right, both of them watching as a tear slid down her cheek. Omar quickly wiped it away.

"Mom," Omar said softly, his voice trembling. "It’s going to be okay. What happened was hard—really hard—but we should be proud of him. He saved so many lives. Please, don’t stress yourself."

Arham nodded, his voice warm but firm. "Omar's right. Hassan did what was right. We have to honor that."

Elif’s eyes fluttered open, glazed with exhaustion. She looked at both of them, trying to speak, but her strength wasn’t enough. Arham brushed her forehead tenderly, "You need to rest now. We’ll be here when you wake up."

With a slight nod, Elif closed her eyes again, drifting off into a much-needed sleep. Arham turned to Omar. "I’ll stay with her. You go and take a break."

Omar gently released his mother’s hand, kissed her forehead softly, and whispered, "I’ll be right outside."

In the Hospital Corridor

As Omar stepped back into the corridor, he was surprised to see Anum and Noor walking toward him. Zain stood up from his seat, quickly putting away his phone.

"Omar, how’s your mom?" Zain asked, his face full of concern.

"She’s fine now," Omar replied, nodding with relief. "She’s resting."

Anum, holding Noor’s arm, walked over and smiled, "That’s a relief. How is she really doing?"

Omar’s gaze briefly flickered to Noor, who stood quietly beside Anum. "She’s doing better," he answered, his tone polite but distant. "Thanks for coming, but it wasn’t necessary."

Anum shook her head, her smile unwavering. "Of course, it was necessary. We’ve known each other since childhood, Omar. You’re practically family. And this is Noor," she gestured toward her friend. "She’s my best friend."

Noor stepped forward slightly, her voice soft as she spoke, "Hello, Omar. I hope your mother recovers soon."

Omar nodded, glancing at her. "Thank you."

"If you need anything, feel free to call me," Anum added, gesturing for Omar to take her number. Omar retrieved his phone, saving her contact with a quick tap of his fingers.

Anum glanced at her watch, "We should head back to college. We still have two classes left."

Omar gave a slight smile, a mixture of gratitude and exhaustion on his face. "Thanks for coming. I really appreciate it."

"Take care, Omar. See you soon," Anum waved, giving Zain a brief glance before turning away.

Noor smiled faintly, and the two walked off, leaving Omar standing in the hallway, watching them go.

Zain lingered behind, looking at Omar, "You alright?"

Omar sighed. "Yeah... I'll be okay."

By the afternoon, after hours of rest, Elif was discharged from the hospital. Omar and Arham, both holding her hands with gentle care, led her out to the car. Her steps were slow, shaky from exhaustion, but supported by the two men in her life. Carefully, they helped her settle into the back seat, with Arham sitting beside her, always watchful. Omar took his place in the driver’s seat while Zain sat in the passenger seat, the silence between them heavy.

As Omar started the car, he glanced into the rearview mirror, catching his father’s eyes. “Father,” he said softly, “maybe it would be best to take her out of town for a while. Everything here will remind her of Hassan... and the media won’t leave us alone. They’ll be trying to get to her, to us, everywhere.”

Arham sighed, the weight of grief and responsibility pressing down on him. “You’re right,” he agreed, his voice thick with weariness. “But will you come with us?”

Omar shook his head, regret flickering in his eyes. “I can’t. I’ll visit often, but I’ve already missed ten days of classes. I can’t afford to miss any more.”

Arham nodded slowly, understanding. Elif, who had been quiet, turned her head toward her son. Her voice was weak, but there was a determination in her tone. “Omar… take me to his grave, please.”

Omar’s grip tightened on the steering wheel, and he closed his eyes briefly, steadying himself before replying. “Mom, I don’t know where it is yet. As soon as I find the location, I promise I’ll take you.”

Elif fell silent again, her strength fading. The car turned onto the main road, and suddenly, Omar had to slow the vehicle. A sea of people dressed in black appeared ahead of them, flooding the street. Hooded figures, their faces shadowed, carried black flags and posters of Axen. Some held placards that read, “Axen was a Hero,” “We’ll remember him,” and “Hassan was innocent.”

Omar’s breath caught in his throat. He slowed the car, his heart swelling with a bittersweet pride. Glancing back at his mother and father, he spoke softly, his voice thick with emotion. “Look, Mom... they’ve come out to honor him. To pay tribute to your son.”

With a flick of his hand, Omar rolled down the windows, and the air outside filled with the sound of chanting. As soon as the crowd saw Arham and Elif in the backseat, a unified shout rose up: “They’re the family of the Fallen Hero!”

In an instant, the car was surrounded by people, their arms outstretched, black flags waving in unison. Hands brushed against the car as the crowd surged closer, wanting to connect with the family of the man they revered. Omar rolled the windows back up, but the slow-moving car was now entirely engulfed by the crowd, their admiration palpable.

Inside the car, Elif and Arham clutched each other, their tears now freely flowing. Elif’s eyes were wet, but they shone with pride and love for her son. The grief of losing him was still fresh, still raw, but seeing these people—strangers—coming out to honor Hassan brought a sense of comfort she hadn’t expected. She leaned into Arham’s embrace, and he kissed the top of her head, his own eyes filled with tears.

Omar, watching them through the rearview mirror, smiled. It was small, tinged with sorrow, there was also a spark of pride. Hassan wasn’t just his brother—he was a hero. And now the whole city knew it.