Chapter Fifteen: Tragedy
Time seemed to slow as Arthur stumbled into the path of the oncoming car.
The vehicle's screeching brakes filled the air...there was a desperate attempt to stop, but it was too late.
The car hit the boy with a loud thud, sending his small body flying backward before he crumpled onto the pavement.
"Arthur!" Leon's anguished scream tore through the mess.
People screamed and gasped, phones were pulled out, and onlookers shouted for help.
Leon sprinted toward his son, his heart pounded as he knelt beside Arthur's motionless body.
"Arthur, wake up! Arthur!" Leon's voice cracked as he cradled the boy in his arms, his hands trembling.
"Somebody call a doctor!"
Rachel hurried over, her face was pale but carefully composed as she knelt beside Leon.
She placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Leon, I—oh, God. This is terrible," she said, her voice quivering just enough to sound convincing.
"What happened? Did you push him, Rachel?"
The guards exchanged uneasy glances, muttering apologies. One stepped forward.
"Sir, we didn't see it happen. It was so sudden—"
"Don't give me excuses!" Leon thundered. "My son is lying here because of your incompetence!"
Rachel crouched closer to Arthur, her hand brushed his forehead in a show of motherly grief.
"Leon, we need to focus on him. Blaming anyone won't help."
But Leon wasn't listening. He was too consumed by guilt, anger, and fear.
A few feet away, Riot stood unmoving, he didn't make it, but there was his boss that needed real help too.
He glanced at Diane, who was swaying on her feet, her face looked like it lost its colour, and her eyes unfocused.
Her head drooped forward, and her knees buckled slightly.
"Diane," Riot said, stepping to her side and catching her before she collapsed.
He cursed under his breath, scooping her into his arms as he glanced back.
He knew he couldn't do anything for Arthur now—the boy was beyond his help.
With one hand, Riot slipped a small piece of paper into Leon's jacket pocket, Diane's phone number scrawled hastily on it.
"You'll know how to find her," Riot muttered to himself.
Then, without a word to anyone, he turned and walked away, carrying Diane toward the private hospital.
Rachel glanced up as Riot disappeared with Diane in his arms.
Her lips curled into a smirk, though her face quickly returned to grief when Leon looked her way.
"Stay with him," Leon barked at the security guards, trembling.
"Where's the doctor? It should have been here by now!"
One of the guards spoke hesitantly. "It's on the way, sir."
Leon buried his face against Arthur's forehead, his tears fell so freely. "Please, Arthur. Stay with me. Please."
Rachel placed a hand on his arm again, soothing with her voice. "Leon, he'll be okay. Just... don't lose hope."
But her eyes showed no real concern.
Riot ran fast, his knuckles white as he gripped Diane's body.
Diane's head rested against his chest, her breaths shallow.
Blood from her swollen nose smeared against his shirt, but he didn't care.
"Just hold on, Diane," he murmured, glancing at her pale face. "You're going to be fine. Just stay with me."
Her eyes fluttered open for a brief moment, glassy and unfocused. "Dad..." she whispered weakly.
Riot frowned. "He'll find you. I made sure of it. But right now, you need to rest."
She tried to speak again, but her voice failed her, and her head lolled back against his chest.
"Damn it," Riot muttered, pressing harder on the accelerator.
The hospital was quiet when Riot burst through the doors, carrying Diane in his arms.
The staff immediately rushed to his side, their eyes widened at her injuries.
"She needs a doctor, now!" Riot barked.
"What happened?" one of the nurses asked, already guiding him toward a stretcher.
"She was attacked," Riot said sharply. "And she hit her head. She's losing consciousness."
The nurses worked quickly, taking Diane from Riot and wheeling her into an exam room.
A doctor followed close behind, shouting orders as they disappeared down the hallway.
Riot stood there for a moment, his chest kept rising and falling as he tried to steady his breath.
He wiped his hand across his face, smearing Diane's blood onto his skin.
"You did what you could," he muttered to himself in a low voice. But the words felt empty.
"Fuck! What am I going to tell Gabriel?"