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Chapter 10 – Home Is Where They’re Safe

The next morning was quiet.

Too quiet.

I sat by the window, reading the newspaper with a cold cup of tea in hand. The headline glared back at me:

> “Unknown Savior Delivers Missing Children to Hospital”

Security footage confirms arrival. Identity withheld for legal protection. Children safe. Condition: stable.

They rewrote the story.

No mention of my name. No mention of the chase.

Maybe someone in that hospital saw the truth—and decided to hide it for the better.

But truth or not, I knew two things:

> I had to prove my innocence.

And I had to stop Mo.

---

Then came the call.

No number. Just a whispery voice.

> “Back door of the hospital. No IDs. No tails.”

The line went dead.

---

The Walk

The metro was out of the question.

News was buzzing with coverage of a terrorist attack at one of the stations. Security everywhere. Cameras. Eyes.

I couldn’t afford that.

So I walked.

Hood up. Mask on. Head down.

Thirty-five minutes of rain and paranoia.

I reached the back door of the hospital. The alley was silent.

And standing there?

A man in a long white coat. Sharp glasses. Black hair tied neatly back.

“Seno, right?” he asked in a calm, accented voice.

I nodded.

“Nina and Koko wanted to meet you.”

“So that’s their names, huh? And yours?”

“Akira.”

---

We moved through the sterile corridors, quiet and empty this late.

We reached the room.

Koko—the boy—was still sleeping. His little arms bandaged, his breathing soft.

Nina?

She hadn’t slept since she woke up.

And when she saw me…

She burst into tears.

> “Thank you for saving us,” she sobbed.

“He… he did terrible things. He’d grab a metal rod and—and—”

Her voice cracked, but I listened. Every word carved something into my chest. Rage. Resolve. Guilt.

I clenched my fists—but I didn’t interrupt.

When she finally stopped crying, her voice barely a whisper, she asked:

> “He won’t go unpunished, right?”

I looked her dead in the eye.

> “Don’t worry. He won’t go unforgiven.”

She smiled, wiped her eyes.

> “We… we have nowhere to go.”

“You do now,” I said. “You’re coming with me.”

She nodded.

Then paused.

> “We had inheritance money. A couple million each… our parents left it behind.”

I blinked. “…You what?”

> “I want to hire a lawyer for you,” she said. “The best. To clear your name.”

I was silent for a moment.

Then I knelt beside her.

> “Thank you. I’ll earn it. Every second.”

I turned to Akira.

> “When they’re ready to leave… you know who to call.”

He nodded. “I already memorized the number.”

---

Meanwhile…

Somewhere far from there…

Mo stood in a dim room, face half-lit, the bandage on his arm now dirty and worn.

He stared into a broken mirror.

> “I have to get what’s mine,” he whispered.

“No matter the cost.”

---

One Week Later – Healing

It was a bright, clear day.

I went with Lola to the hospital. She held my hand the whole walk there.

Nina and Koko were waiting at the entrance. Both healthier now. Nina had a small backpack. Koko clutched a new plush rabbit.

“Where do you wanna eat?” I asked.

Without missing a beat, they both shouted:

> “WACKDONALD’S!”

I laughed. “Alright. Wackdonald’s it is.”

---

We sat in the booth, plastic trays piled with fries, nugget boxes, and cardboard Wappy Meals. Koko opened his toy and gasped. Nina dunked fries in ketchup like a surgeon.

Nina smiled, mid-bite. “This is way better than hospital food.”

I grinned. “Just wait ‘til you taste home-cooked.”

Then, as I took a sip of my soda, Lola looked up at me.

> “You’re the best dad ever.”

I choked slightly. “Huh?”

But she wasn’t joking.

She was smiling—pure and real.

And for the first time in forever, I felt proud.

---

We walked home together.

Four souls, one mismatched family.

And somehow…

It felt right.

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