Relatives

San let his feet take over his body.

Ran, ran, ran. He ran as far away from that house as possible. Because he knew for sure, that if he had to stay put and wait, he wouldn't be able to stop himself from bursting the door open before the police arrived.

San stopped after his legs were yelling in pain. The immediate halt made him feel like his heart was about to rip through his chest to jump out.

San started to walk slowly to ease his heart. He just then noticed that he had run all the way to the city center, about ten miles away from the house.

He stopped when his eyes came across a pharmacy. After buying some first aid that he thought would be helpful to the girl, he called a cab to go back to the house.

It had been twenty minutes since Tam called the police. When the cab arrived at the house, San already saw police cars and ambulance lights in front of the house. He quickly got off and went to his brother.

"Please follow us to the hospital. We can take your testimony there," Tam was speaking with an office.

"Ok," Tam replied.

The officer walked off as San came. Still breathing heavily, he urgently asked, "How is it? How is the girl?"

Tam observed his younger for a bit before saying, "Unconcious but no life-threatening injury from the first inspection so far. We need a thorough check at the hospital to make sure." Then he added. "Did you cool down your head?"

"Yes," San replied.

Tam looked at little brother and some images from the past suddenly popped up. He quickly shook his head to make them disappear. "Let's go. To the hospital."

...

"How is she, doctor?" San asked after the doctor put down the telescope.

"Positive news, these injuries shouldn't lead to further complications in the future. The patient's body could be healed after about two months of rest. The bruises should be gone by then," the doctor said.

"And the negatives?" Tam asked.

The doctor sighed and shook their head. "Although the physical injuries could be healed over time. I'm afraid the patient will have a hard time dealing with emotional trauma. Looking at some of these wounds, they are quite old. I could see that the patient had been suffering continuous physical abuse for a prolonged amount of time."

San came by the girl's bed and kneeled beside her. She was twitching from pain even unconsciously.

"All is fine. All is fine. You are safe now. Everything will be okay," he softly whispered to her ears.

"Gentlemen," a police officer who had been in the room with them the entire time called. "It's time to get your testimony."

"Let's go," Tam came and gently pulled San up.

After the police took notes on their stories: how they first encountered the girl and how they found where she was living, the two brothers went to the convenience machine and bought some coffee. They began walking back to the girl's room.

"What do you think will happen to her?" San asked as they were walking. His eyes looked to the other side of the hospital, not focusing on anything particular.

"I don't know," Tam replied. They could call in some of her relatives and see if any of them could take her, or they could help her find a foster home.

"I just hope that she would end up somewhere nice."

"Me too... me too," Tam murmured. 

Just when the brothers were in melancholy, a middle-aged woman bumped into Tam.

"I'm sorry!" she quickly apologized.

"No. I wasn't too focused while walking either," Tam replied. He saw the woman had her eyes turning here and there, looking for something. "Do you need some help?" he asked. 

"Yes! Do you happen to know where room *** is?" she asked.

Tam and San looked at each other. *** was the girl's room. "We know the general area for that room number. We can walk you there," Tam replied.

"Great! I've been trying to find it. Thank you so much."

"You're welcome," Tam smiled.

"Mai! Where are you!?" A man, also in his middle age, suddenly appears. He was clearly in a hurry. When he saw the woman that was standing with the two brothers, he went to them.

"Why the hell are you running?" he nagged. "Have you found the damn room yet?" the man didn't look happy.

"Don't be upset, Dao," she tried to ease him. "These two young men know where *** room is. They said they could walk us to it."

"You know?" the man looked at Tam and San suspiciously.

"Why would we lie?" San snapped back subtly. He didn't like that man's attitude.

"Then walk us to the room," the man ordered and turned away.

"Ha ha... Please forgive him," the woman apologized.

Before San could talk, Tam spoke first. "No worries. We don't mind," he smiled. He grabbed San's arm and started leading the old couple.

"This way," he said to them.

After leading them to the girl's room and having them talk with the police and nurses, the brothers let the couple go in to see her, while they wait outside. 

"Are they her relatives?" San asked.

"How would I know? But judging the woman, it seems like it," Tam said.

They looked inside the small window of the door and saw the woman was very emotional and sobbing. Meanwhile, the old man looked more annoyed than anything.

"Doesn't look good," Tam murmured.

A while later, the couple asked to be excused for a moment and went out of the room.

"Follow them," Tam said to San and started going.

"I didn't know you have a hobby of being a stalker," his brother lightly joked to somewhat ease the heavy atmosphere.

Tam smirked, "There is a lot you still don't know about me, little brother."

"Likewise," San cheekily said back.

The two smiled. It was truly a long night for them. These little moments help to keep them sane.

After some time passed, the man stopped at a hall that was somewhat empty. The two brothers quickly stopped their foot and hid themselves.

"What is it that you took me all the way here?" the wife asked.

"We can't take her," the husband stated.

Mai was shocked. "What!? Why!? We're the only relative she has left."

Dao looked around to make sure he could see nobody else. He whispered, "We can't be associated with her, with that family. Do you know how much my career would be affected if we are found to be related to such an abusive mother?"

"But... But she's my niece. I can't ignore her?" 

Dao became agitated, but still tried to keep his voice low. "But she's not my niece! Besides, think about our daughter. Would she want to live with someone with bruises all over their body? She would get depressed. Her grade could be affected significantly."

"You are... thinking too far," Mai was shy and slightly afraid to talk back to her husband. "The bruises will be gone after two months anyway... Didn't you hear the doctor?"

"I DON'T CARE..." he held back. "I don't care what that damn doctor said. No is no. I am not allowing that girl to be in our home. It would stain our family."

"How could you say that!?" Mai was horrified and tearing up. "We are her only family left. Who will take care of her if we don't?"

Dao looked at his wife, irritating. He walked around for a bit and calmed down after some deep breaths. "How about this? I can ask a friend I know that have connections with the foster program. I'll ask him to make sure to find her a good family. How does that sound? Hm?"

"That..." Mai wanted to disagree, but she knew her husband wouldn't change his mind. "Make sure to find her a loving and caring family."

"Alright alright. No need to cry," Dao smiled to his wife and wiped her tears. The first time he showed a positive face since coming to the hospital. "I'll make the call right now. You go back to the room first. Okay?"

"Okay..." Mai said and left soon after.

After she was gone, the husband's smile dropped immediately. He took out his phone and dialed a number.

"Secretary Von, contact the foster program for me immediately.

...

It's for my niece.

...

Specification? Somewhere far, ideally rural. A place where there aren't many people around and where she can live in quiet for the rest of her life. Do you understand what I mean?

...

Good." 

After hanging up, he relaxingly walked back to *** room.

When Dao was gone, Tam and San walked out from their hiding spots. Their faces were darkened, and both their fists were clenched so much that they almost bled themselves.

"Unacceptable!" San growled. His eyes were hungry for violence. 

Besides him, Tam looked at Dao who was walking away with no care in the world.

"Truly. Unacceptable."