The king of everything

Chapter twenty one- Breaking point

I sat on the edge of my bed, staring at the crumpled exam papers that had been tossed across the room in frustration. The silence in the dorm was suffocating, broken only by the occasional distant sound of footsteps in the hall. My chest felt tight, like the weight of everything—the exams, the demon, Sam's death—was pressing down on me all at once.

It had been days since the last exam, and I still couldn't shake the feeling that I was falling apart. Every night, the nightmares came back, pulling me into darkness I couldn't escape. Sam's voice echoed in my mind, his final words haunting me: *"You'll stop it. Have faith."* But how could I stop something I didn't even understand? How could I have faith when everything was unraveling?

A sharp knock on the door startled me from my thoughts. I hesitated for a moment, then dragged myself across the room to open it.

Hope stood there, concern etched across her face. She had been checking on me constantly since exam week began, sensing that I was on the edge of something dark. Her presence had been a comfort, but I could tell she was starting to worry more with each passing day.

"You haven't been answering your phone," she said softly, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation. "I've been calling."

I ran a hand through my hair, trying to shake off the fog that had settled over me. "Sorry. I didn't hear it."

She didn't seem convinced, but she didn't push. Instead, she walked over to my bed and sat down, looking at me with those concerned eyes that always made me feel exposed.

"You're not doing well," she said, her voice gentle but firm. "I can see it. Everyone can see it."

I didn't know what to say. She was right, but admitting it felt like giving in to the fear, to the weight that had been crushing me for weeks.

"I'm trying," I muttered, sitting next to her. "But it's like everything is slipping away. I can't focus on anything, and I can't get Sam out of my head."

Hope reached out and took my hand, her touch grounding me in the moment. "You're dealing with something that no one should have to go through, Aaron. But you don't have to carry it alone. I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere."

I looked at her, my chest tightening with a mix of gratitude and guilt. She had been there through everything—through the confusion, the fear, the grief. But I didn't want her to be dragged down by this darkness, by the weight of what I was dealing with.

"I don't want you to get hurt," I said quietly, my voice barely above a whisper. "This thing—it's dangerous. It's already taken Sam, and I don't know what it'll do next."

Hope's grip on my hand tightened. "I'm not leaving you, Aaron. Not now. We'll figure this out together. You're not fighting this alone."

Her words were like a lifeline, pulling me out of the abyss I had been sinking into. For the first time in days, I felt a flicker of something—hope, maybe—that I wasn't entirely lost.

Before I could respond, my phone buzzed from across the room. I stood up to grab it, my stomach sinking as I saw the name on the screen: **Mom**.

My heart pounded in my chest as I answered the call. "Hey, Mom."

"Aaron," she said, her voice shaking slightly. "I didn't want to worry you during exams, but... your father's in the hospital. He's not doing well."

The room seemed to spin, and I gripped the phone tighter, my mind racing. "What happened?"

"It's his lungs," she replied, her voice breaking. "The doctors said he doesn't have much time left. You should come home. Soon."

For a moment, I couldn't speak. The weight of her words hit me like a tidal wave, and I felt like I was drowning again. First Sam, now my dad. The thought of losing him too was unbearable.

"I'll be there," I finally managed, my voice barely steady. "I'll come as soon as I can."

When I hung up, I turned to Hope, who had been watching me with growing concern. "It's my dad," I said, my voice hollow. "He's in the hospital. It's bad."

Without a word, Hope crossed the room and wrapped her arms around me, pulling me into a hug that I didn't know I needed. I closed my eyes, letting the warmth of her embrace chase away some of the cold that had settled in my bones.

"We'll get through this," she whispered, her breath warm against my ear. "You're not alone, Aaron."

---

The next day, I found myself standing outside the dean's office, waiting for an emergency leave approval to travel home. The conversation with my mother echoed in my mind, and every second felt like an eternity.

"Mr. Aaron?" the dean called from his office door, gesturing for me to enter.

Inside, the dean sat behind a wide mahogany desk, his face stern yet empathetic as he scanned my file. "I understand you're requesting to leave due to a family emergency."

"Yes, sir," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. "My father's in the hospital, and I need to be with him."

He nodded, scribbling something in my file. "Given the circumstances, your leave is granted. We'll discuss the makeup exams and any arrangements when you return. Take care of your family first."

I thanked him and quickly left, my mind now focused solely on getting home. Hope was waiting for me outside, her expression one of quiet support. "You got the leave?"

I nodded, exhaling deeply. "Yeah. I'm heading home tonight."

She gave me a small smile, though there was sadness behind her eyes. "I'll be here when you get back."

---

Later that evening, as I packed my bag, I felt a creeping sense of dread. The demon, the exams, my father—it was all swirling in a chaotic storm that threatened to pull me under. And now, I was heading home, not just to see my dad, but to face the reality that I might lose him.

I knew, deep down, that this was just the beginning of something bigger. Something darker. And I wasn't sure I was ready for what was coming next.