A Second Miracle
Arthur reached out to catch him, and both fell to the floor. When the boy’s hand touched Arthur’s skin, a violent surge of energy passed between them.
This time, the feeling was not gentle. It was overwhelming, painful, and frightening. Arthur’s nerves seemed to ignite all at once.
When the surge ended, Arthur realized his right foot had moved with force. Sensation had returned again.
But the boy lay still in his arms.
Arthur panicked when he realized the child was not breathing. In the abandoned room, he tried desperately to revive him, begging Elena to spare her son and take back anything she had given him.
After repeated attempts, the boy suddenly gasped and opened his eyes.
Arthur carried him out of the building and rushed him to Presbyterian Hospital, where doctors found severe malnutrition, dehydration, and a rare heart condition.
Medical tests also showed something no one could explain: the boy’s body seemed depleted, as though it had released an enormous amount of energy.
The Warning In Elena’s Handwriting
While the boy was being treated, Dr. Robert Aris gave Arthur a folded note. It was written in Elena’s handwriting.
The message warned that the gift had never been a blessing. It was described as a blood debt, and the collection had begun.
Before Arthur could fully understand the meaning, alarms erupted from the trauma room.
The boy’s heart failed.
Arthur forced himself up again, entered the trauma room, and grabbed the child’s feet. A violent transfer of energy followed.
This time, Arthur felt the strength drain out of his legs and pour into the boy. The child came back to life, but Arthur collapsed and lost the ability to move his legs again.
When Arthur awoke, Dr. Aris told him the boy was alive and improving. Arthur had given up the brief miracle that had allowed him to walk.
To Arthur, the choice was simple. The boy’s life mattered more than his own mobility.
