Hades personally oversaw Ken's transfer to the hospital. Even after the initial treatment, the boy remained unconscious, a pale shadow against the white hospital sheets. The doctor was blunt: Ken's body had simply given out from sheer exhaustion. He required absolute rest and a mandatory leave from all physical labor.
Under Hades' silent command, Ken was given a sedative to ensure his body didn't fight the recovery. Before leaving, Hades settled every mounting bill and paid a staggering amount in advance, ensuring Ken would receive the highest level of care.
As they drove back to the Dark Tower, Hades stared out the window, his reflection ghostly against the glass. He was caught in a rare moment of self-conflict. He didn't understand his own reaction.The way his heart had spiked when Ken collapsed, or the instinctual speed with which he had caught him. For the first time in centuries, the personification of Death felt a flicker of something he couldn't categorize. It bothered him deeply.
Sylvia remained silent while driving. She had a thousand questions, but seeing the dark intensity in her master's eyes, she knew he had no answers to give. She looked out at the passing city lights, wondering what was so different about this mortal boy that he could command the attention of a hollow god.
Back at the restaurant, the atmosphere was thick with unease. Laura and Amy finished their shifts in a daze before hurrying to the hospital.
The walk to the hospital started out slow with a suffocating silence. After a short walk, Amy soon broke the silence.
"You saw how fast he moved, right?" Amy whispered as they walked, her voice trembling.
"I did," Laura replied, her eyes wide. "It was... unnatural. But that wasn't the most surprising part."
"No," Amy agreed. "It was the way he held him. That didn't look like a crush, Laura. It looked like..."
"Obsession," Laura finished. "Something far deeper than love."
"Maybe you aren't so delusional after all," Amy muttered.
"As much as I want to be right, I almost wish I were wrong," Laura said, her tone suddenly somber. "Whatever this is, I'm afraid it might hurt Ken more than it saves him."
When they arrived, the nurses informed them that Ken was under a strict sleeping protocol and couldn't be disturbed. Relieved yet worried, the two girls left their regards and departed.
Ken finally drifted back to consciousness the following morning. The room was quiet, smelling of antiseptic and clean linens. "Where am I? What happened?" he croaked. The memory of the restaurant floor rushing up to meet him flashed in his mind. He bolted upright, but as he reached for the door, the doctor entered.
"Young man, back to bed," the doctor scolded gently.
"But... my work. I'll get fired. I have to go," Ken said, his voice laced with panic.
The doctor sighed as he reached into his pocket and handed Ken a note. "Your colleagues dropped this off. They said your shifts are covered and not to worry about your position. You've been given a week off—with pay."
Ken sank back into the pillows, the relief washing over him like a tide. A week. No restaurant. No club. Only his morning papers and his classes. He could finally breathe. But then, reality set in.
"Doc," Ken called out as the physician turned to leave. "About the bills... is there an installment plan? I don't have much right now."
The doctor paused. "Oh, don't worry about that. The man in black who brought you in settled everything. He even left a significant balance for any follow-up care. You should thank him—he seemed to care about you in a very... strange way."
"Strange?" Ken echoed.
"I've seen many people bring in loved ones," the doctor said thoughtfully. "But he looked at you as if you were the only thing in existence. It was intense. Anyways,ignore my babbling and get some sleep, kid."
Ken lay back, his mind racing. He knew exactly who the "man in black" was, but the doctor's words chilled him. What exactly does he want from me?
Back at the Dark Tower, the "man in black" was having no such peace. Hades tried to read, but the image of Ken's limp body in his arms burned on every page. Frustrated, he donned a heavy black coat and retreated into the night for a walk. He didn't pay attention to his surroundings until he looked up and realized he was standing directly in front of the hospital. His feet had memorized the path without his permission.
He stared at the building for a long moment, then turned to leave. On the third floor, Ken had just finished his dinner and wandered to the window. He caught sight of a retreating figure in a black hood. He recognized that gait, that imposing silhouette.
"What the hell is he doing here?" Ken whispered, watching until the darkness swallowed the stranger whole.
The next day, Amy and Laura arrived to take Ken home. The doctor handed Ken an envelope containing the receipts and the remaining change from the deposit Hades had made.
Once back at his apartment, the girls helped him clean and Laura insisted on cooking a proper meal. For the first time in two years, Ken felt a burden lift. He laughed at their jokes and played games, momentarily forgetting the harsh reality of his life.
When they finally left for their shifts, Ken lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling. A single tear escaped, sliding into his hair. He had been strong for so long that he had forgotten he was allowed to be human. He was just a kid who had been forced to grow up too fast.
Eventually, he remembered the envelope. He pulled out the receipt and gasped. His hospital stay had cost seven thousand, three hundred and twenty dollars—more than he made in months. Then, he shook the envelope, and a thick stack of bills fell out.
Ken's eyes widened as he counted the "change" left over from Hades' deposit. His breath hitched, and a startled scream escaped his lips.