The Day Our Promise Breaks

Andrew's shout, wild with ecstatic relief, shattered the heavy gloom of the lab like a lightning strike.

"Hurry! Draw the serum now! Ultra-purify it—maximum concentration! Move!" His voice shook with excitement as he summoned his team.

The assistants sprang into action without missing a beat.

Andrew took charge himself, hands steady but moving fast, drawing out the vital blood from Charles's battered veins veins that had barely survived heart failure and a toxic onslaught.

That blood held hope: rare antibodies, shimmering with the promise of a miracle.

Every second was precious.

The purification machines whirred at full tilt, the concentration process racing the clock.

Within minutes, Andrew was clutching a vial of potent antibody serum in his hand.

He didn't hesitate. Sprinting down the corridor, he crashed through the door of the next treatment room.

"Now! Give this to Charlie-right now!"

Andrew's arrival snapped Francis out of his hopeless daze.

Just moments earlier, Charlie's heart monitor was barely flickering her life hanging by a thread.

Francis had given Charles his word: he'd save Charlie. He couldn't let her slip away now.

"Everyone, move!"

scattered the team around Charlie's bed, clearing a

Andrew injected the serum straight into Charlie's

flood Charlie's icy, bluish skin, washing away the chill

find consciousness, desperate to

"Charlie..."

more than a whisper,

name.

bloodshot eyes, unfocused and weary, searched

he

every second a battle. Everyone held their breath, waiting, watching Charlie for any sign of life. Charles didn't

cold little hand in

around hers, weak but determined. No one said

Every heartbeat felt like

doubt began to

beside Charlie's bed-its line nearly flat-suddenly jumped, pulsing with

the rhythm clear

replaced by steady, gentle beeping-the sound of

felt it: Charlie's hand warmed

She was back.

rushed to check

with relief. "Charles, she's out of danger! The antibodies worked! She's back. Her vitals

you did it. You

finally let

holding for so long.