Chapter 4

I was curled up on the floor, like a crumpled-up ball of trash someone had discarded.

My fingers were slightly curled as well, and the medication bottle stuck its head out from my pocket.

My fingernails were purplish, and my lips were dry and cracked, with blood seeping through. White flakes of skin peeled and revealed the bloody red flesh underneath.

The blood on my forehead had dried where I had hit it earlier. It had turned dark with coagulation.

Dad walked over and kicked my calf.

“Still pretending, are you?”

There was no response.

Dad knelt and poked me in the forehead.

“You think I’ll forget about what happened today if you conjure up some blood?”

There was still no response.

“I’m running out of patience, Felix.” Dad’s tone was low and dangerous. Rage shimmered just underneath. “Get up right now and come with me to the conference room to apologize to everyone. If you can’t do that, you’ll have to run six miles. You’ll get dinner only when you’re done.”

He reached out to poke me in the arm.

When his finger touched my skin, he froze.

My skin was hotter than a forge.

“Why are you burning up?”

His hand stilled midair as his mouth twitched.

This lasted for only a second. Soon, his face settled back into that stiff and unrelenting expression of his.

“It’s so hot in here! It would be strange if you weren’t burning up, actually.” He scoffed and stood up. “You think you can garner sympathy from me this way? It won’t work. You’d better apologize even if you die in here.”

Running footsteps sounded in the hallway outside.

Mr. Mantooth had brought along the school’s doctor, Dr. Lansing, with him. Dr. Lansing was pretty old himself and needed help as he ran over. He was panting hard.

Mr. Mantooth looked into the room and went pale at the sight of me.

“Take a look quick, Dr. Lansing!”

Dr. Lansing pushed Dad aside and dropped to the floor to press the stethoscope to my chest.

One second passed, then two.

Ten seconds passed. Then, Dr. Lansing’s hand began to shake.

He took the stethoscope off and lifted my eyelids. Next, he put his hand on my chest for a long time.

“Don’t go along with his ruse, Dr. Lansing.” Dad’s arms were folded as he stood to one side, and his chin tilted up. “He’s done this since he was a child. Whenever he faces any hardship, he’ll start putting on a show. This is a bad habit his mother has enabled.”

Dr. Lansing’s whole body shook as he raised his head. His eyes were filled with tears.

“Mr. Helman…” he started with a hoarse voice. He sounded like it was taking all of his effort to hold himself back. “Have you gone mad?”

Dad frowned. “What do you mean, Dr. Lansing?”

“I can’t find your son’s heartbeat!” Dr. Lansing suddenly shot upright. His voice was very loud. “I can’t find a pulse or detect any breath. His pupils aren’t reacting to light. His heart has stopped!”

Dad went pale.

“You’re joking! He was just doing some push-ups earlier…”

“Did you listen to a single word he said since he collapsed?” Dr. Lansing’s voice echoed in the equipment storage room. “Look at your son, Mr. Helman! Look at him!”

Dad ducked his head and looked at me. I was curled up on the floor as still as a corpse.

His lips started to tremble.

“Felix…” He knelt beside me and reached out to caress my face. “Wake up, Felix…”

My hand fell limply from his and hit the floor.

I did not respond.

I would never be able to respond again.

The door of the equipment storage room burst open.

From the hallway outside, the siren of the ambulance sounded closer and closer.

Mom rushed in through the school gates. She stumbled on the hem of her skirt, and she landed on her knees on the steps. She got back up and kept running.

At the door of the equipment storage room, she saw me on the floor.

Her knees went weak.

“Felix, my son!”