No Strings Attached

This was an unfamiliar number from overseas, but Edwin would recognize it anywhere.

His eyes snapped up, locking onto Clara's. His voice trembled slightly. "She's fine, how are you?"

lan's voice was laced with unbearable pain. "Give the phone to her."

Edwin promptly moved beside Clara, bending down gently. "It's lan, he's alright."

Upon hearing this, Clara's gaze momentarily froze. It took her a good ten seconds to process Edwin's words. She snatched the phone from Edwin's hand and spoke in a quivering voice, "lan?" As she called out his name, tears began to cascade down her cheeks.

lan closed his eyes in anguish. "Clara, I'm okay. We're on lockdown here, but I'll be back in a few days. Has Elude arrived?"

"He's here. Dad's surgery was a success," Clara managed to say through sobs.

"That's great. I didn't break my promise to you, Clara. Have you been eating and sleeping properly?"

I just had a bowl of beef

Wait for me to come

We'll wait for

I borrowed this phone, gotta hang

the call. The strength he'd been holding on to suddenly deflated. The

him, Ryker shouted, "lan, if you check out, I'll have your son call me 'Dad.'

Ryker's threat. The light in his consciousness dimmed

"lan, wake up!"

Clara and the

to rouse him, but despite turning red from

stumbled into the chaos of war again. Children screamed throughout the conflict zone. Ian couldn't help himself and ran back to save them, getting struck by a bullet in the abdomen. His blood was pooling on the

phone on an enemy officer and called Clara. He just

might have hit the spleen. He needs surgery now,