6 Chapter Six

Alex stopped by Metropolis General Hospital to see his mother. As he locked up his scooter outside the towering medical complex, feelings of apprehension and sadness washed over him. He tried to steel himself before heading inside.

Alex nodded politely to the receptionist as he passed the front desk. His feet knew the route by heart, having traversed these sterile halls far too often. Each turn and elevator ride brought him closer to his mother's room on the 5th floor.

Outside her door, Alex took a deep breath before entering quietly. The steady beep of monitors filled the small space. Alex felt his heart constrict to see his once lively, vibrant mother lying motionless in the hospital bed. Her face looked pale and gaunt, her breathing shallow.

Alex pulled a chair close to the bed and sat down. Though she appeared asleep, he still took her frail hand gently in his own.

"Hi Mom, it's me again," he said softly, managing a sad smile. "Sorry I couldn't come by yesterday - double shift at the shop and a big exam to study for. You'd be proud though - I aced all my tests this session. Just two more months until I finally get that degree."

Alex knew she couldn't hear him in her slumber, but it helped ease his mind to talk to her as if nothing were amiss. He recounted small details about his week - school projects, co-workers' antics, campus gossip. Anything to distract from her worsening condition.

After about an hour, a nurse entered quietly to check vitals. Alex stepped out, deciding to walk down to the hospital cafe for coffee. The sterile corridor seemed cavernous and lonely without the usual visitors. Visiting hours would end soon, forcing Alex to leave his mother once more.

At the cafe counter, Alex recognized Dr. Singh picking up a tea. The oncologist who oversaw his mother's case waved him over. Alex took a deep breath, bracing for the bad news.

"How is she today?" Dr. Singh asked gently.

"About the same, I think," Alex replied. "She was sleeping when I got here, so we didn't get to talk."

The doctor nodded solemnly. "The latest test results aren't promising. Her system just can't keep up with the demands of sustaining essential functions. I'm so sorry Alex, but we're nearing the end stages. At this stage, her systems could collapse at any moment"

Though Alex had known this grim prognosis was coming, the finality of those words landed like a gut punch. His eyes moistened but he quickly blinked back tears. He couldn't break down here.

"How...how long do you think she has?" Alex asked quietly.

"It's difficult to say for certain. Her rapid deterioration could mean weeks. Maybe less." Dr. Singh squeezed Alex's shoulder. "We'll keep making her comfortable. Let me know if you need anything."

Alex stumbled to a nearby chair as the doctor departed. He held his head in his hands, choking back sobs. The frail thread of hope he'd clung to now seemed perilously frayed. Soon it would snap. And his entire world would unravel along with it.

Somehow Alex found the strength to return to his mother's room, though the ward felt unsteady around him. He slumped into the bedside chair again. A glimpse at her wan face and labored breathing made the reality unavoidably clear. Her fight was nearly over, the disease draining away her once vibrant essence.

As the last visiting hour expired, Alex leaned down and kissed his mother's cool forehead. "Please hold on a little longer," he whispered close to her ear. "I think I've almost found a way to make everything better. Just stay strong for me Mom. I can fix this."

Alex wasn't sure if he believed those words himself. But he desperately needed them to be true. Because if the mysterious update failed and her health declined much further...Alex couldn't even let his mind go there right now. It was too painful to face.

Stepping back out into the cold evening air, Alex suddenly felt more alone than ever. The weight of his mother's precarious fate - and their impending financial ruin - pressed heavily on his slumped shoulders. Everything depended on him now. And he refused to fail.

Alex sat staring blankly at his computer screen for hours, the cursor blinking expectantly for a decision. His finger hovered over the enter key, poised to initiate installing the controversial cracked update Zane had provided.

Such a simple action - a mere click to run the update file. Yet the implications weighed heavily on Alex's mind. This could potentially solve all his monetary troubles in an instant and fund his mother's expensive treatments. Or it could destroy his Elysium Quest account and leave him with nothing.

He reflected on the conversation with Dr. Singh earlier that day which confirmed his mother's steady decline. Her prognosis was grim without access to experimental therapies well outside Alex's current means. He glanced at a photo of the two of them years ago, smiling brightly with no notion of the struggles ahead.

The update was risky, the contract with Zane was borderline illegal. But when it came to saving his mother's life, did breaking the rules even matter? She was the only family he had left. Letting her die when he could prevent it was unthinkable.

This update could be like a miracle - virtual treasures converted to real-world resources. What was the life of a fictional character compared to that of the woman who raised him and cared for him unconditionally? The morality was hazy, but the choice became clear.

Alex steeled himself and initiated the update before he could second-guess further. Watching the progress bar slowly fill, part of him prayed this gambit would work, while another part feared what unpredictable consequences it might bring.

But he had passed the point of no return. The die was cast. Now he could only wait and see what unfolded next. Whether triumph or ruin, Alex knew he would soon face the repercussions. As the update was completed, he took a deep breath and crossed his fingers that he had made the right decision before rebooting.