Aaron whispered): "Did they kill him?"
"He is not dead, Aaron, but he will die soon from the cold. So help me move him to the car."
Aaron approached further to lift the dog from Clarity's arms, then set it aside, while he rushed to carry Clarity and move him to the car, heading toward the main hospital. It is worth noting that this hospital belonged to the city’s mayor, so it was huge and modern. He admitted Clarity to the hospital, and Eve took care of his treatment.
A day passed, and Clarity woke up. He felt the warmth surrounding him from all sides, so he sat up quietly. The nurse was tending to a patient in the neighboring bed, so he asked quietly: "Excuse me, may I ask something?"
The nurse answered: "Certainly."
"How did I get here? And there was a little dog... oh..." (Clarity stopped after remembering what happened).
The nurse approached, answering: "Someone brought you here, and you have been here since yesterday. Your body temperature was very low, but you are fine now and can leave."
(Clarity whispered to himself): "I can leave?... But to where? Do I search for my mother, who no longer wishes to see my face—in fact, she fled to get rid of me? Search for my house? For myself? It was supposed that I would just die next to Nody."
Clarity got out of his bed, dragging his feet with difficulty. The nurse stopped him, calling his name, "Clarity Smith."
He turned quietly to ask: "How did you know my name?"
The nurse answered, pointing to a paper in her hand: "This is your information! And also, before you go, there is someone who wishes to meet you."
Clarity’s heart jumped for a moment. Is there someone who wishes to see me? Is it possible that someone was worried about him? Is it the same person who brought him here and knows his name well??
"Where is he?" (He said with excitement).
"He said he will wait for you in the cafeteria."
Clarity left the room, heading to the hospital’s cafeteria.
The place was teeming with patients and doctors. Despite that, the hospital was modern and beautiful in a way that sparked Clarity’s admiration, for the closest hospital he had been able to reach previously was the apartment of the elderly wise man, the herbalist. Clarity noticed a man in his forties gesturing to him. A light smile appeared on Clarity’s lips, and he approached the man, then sat at the same table after the man requested it.
The man smiled, introducing himself: "I am called Watson, I am a doctor here, and I oversaw your treatment since your arrival until the moment you woke up."
"Thank you, Dr. Watson, will you tell me then about the money I have to pay?"
"The money has already been paid."
"Who paid it? Was it the person who brought me here? Do you know him?"
"Yes, it is the same person, but he ordered to keep his identity a secret. But what I want to tell you, Clarity, is an important matter regarding your health. In truth, after performing many tests, it turned out that you are suffering from a condition."
Clarity’s eyes widened for a moment, then he spoke quietly: "I was suspicious about that. Oh, it is something wrong in my stomach, isn't it?"
Stolen story; please report.
"Yes, a tumor in the stomach, it is a benign tumor."
"And am I going to die?"
(The doctor smiled with annoyance): "Why the pessimism? If you start your treatment early, you will recover. The matter just needs a lot of patience. Our hospital possesses many advanced devices and equipment imported from around the world, so the matter has become easy."
"And a lot of money?"
"That is certain."
"Then forget about the treatment." (He stood up from the chair).
Clarity excused himself from the doctor and turned to leave. Well, he knows very well that such a disease might drain him, as he barely eats, and he knows at the same time that he is incapable of treating it.
Clarity repeated, whispering as he left the hospital: "...Maybe I deserve that."
Clarity wandered with his eyes between the shops of that street; it was the place he visited when he decided to earn clean money. He smiled as soon as he remembered that, whispering: "What a wretch I am." And during his wandering, he entered many restaurants and commercial shops, but everyone rejected him. Some rejected him with eyes that loathed seeing him, with whispers of "He is from the gang," "Beware," and others threw thousands of excuses to avoid hiring him.
Clarity stopped at one of the massive factories, as those pains had returned to him. He sat, leaning against that huge wall. He turned to try to read the sign: "Cement Factory." Clarity smiled gently and rose, entering through its massive gate. There were many workers.
Clarity approached the one who was shouting, guiding the workers, then asked him: "Can I meet the official here?" The guide turned with annoyance to answer, continuing his shouting: "And who are you, anyway, wanting to meet the official?"
"I wish to work here, perhaps there is a vacancy."
"Yes, heh heh heh, cleaning the bathroom, heh heh heh."
"That is fine."
"(The guide stopped laughing, saying): Oh, what a desperate person you are."
One of the men approached to whisper: "Sir, he is from the gang, be careful." While the guide turned toward Clarity, saying: "I am sorry, son, even the bathrooms here are clean." Clarity took a deep breath and turned to leave, while the guide stopped him, saying: "What about working on improving our relationship with the leader?"
"No."
"You are not in a position that grants you the right to refuse. It is an easy matter for you, as a gangster."
"Absolutely not. I apologize, I am leaving, and I do not want this job."
"Stop!"
Clarity turned to exit the factory with quick steps. He wanted to escape as fast as he could. Damn it, when will he get rid of the curse of that gang? Can't a guilty person reform themselves in this world?
Clarity stopped to find himself in front of the cemetery. He walked slowly between the graves, heading toward that grave surrounded by flowers.
He sat near the grave, whispering: "Father, it’s me... I came to see you. Everyone has abandoned me, Father, and I am not blaming any of them, for I have always been the guilty one, so perhaps I deserve what has befallen me. And I... I am truly sorry for being... for being..." (He began to cry) "...such a bad son."
(A ghost of memories visited Clarity...)
"I will avenge Ari... I will kill you all!" (A voice echoing in that dark warehouse.)
(That boy whose feet and hands were tied, screaming.)
And Jake was watching him there.
Clarity approached Jake: "Who is Ari? Jake? Did the leader really kill her? Is what this boy is saying true? Didn't you say that killing is forbidden here? Jake, answer!!"
"I swear to God, Clarity, every time someone complains, you believe them? Don't you see that he is just a lying thug? Also, you work in a gang, didn't I tell you to stop acting this way!"
"What do you mean?"
Jake shouted: "Please stop your annoying questions. I don't know about her, and you are not supposed to know either, so mind your work!"
Clarity opened his eyes, wondering about the return of those memories to his imagination. A memory that cannot be forgotten. Yes, for after that situation, Clarity realized his grave mistake... for walking in a suspicious path is not an option at all...
A whispering voice reached Clarity’s ears: "I will avenge your death, Ari."
Clarity sprang from his place in fear. This voice! It is real. He headed toward the source of the voice. It was a young man sitting near one of the graves, repeating the same words while crying in silence. Clarity’s eyes widened, for this boy is the very same one who was in the gang’s clutches one day.
Clarity backed away slowly, like someone trying to escape.
It is true that he was not the killer of the one called Ari.
And it is true that he was the one who untied that boy and tried to help him escape, but he was part of that gang.
The boy whispered: "Stand where you are!"
Clarity stopped, feeling the muzzle of a firearm touching his neck. The boy spoke: "Who are you?"
"I, just a person who came to visit his deceased father."
"You were watching me, why?"
"No... in truth, I just passed by here, I finished the visit and was on my way out."
The boy turned to stand facing Clarity after he lowered his weapon. The boy cast a scrutinizing look, whispering: "Clarity!"
That boy was none other than Aaron.