I'm not going to rest till I know the truth

Trent bolted out of the school compound, his heart pounding with fear and anxiety. He was hyperventilating, his breaths coming in rapid, shallow gasps. Barbara gave chase, shouting, "Wait up!" and waving her hands to get his attention.

With a determined look in her eye, Barbara sprinted after Trent, jumping onto his bike just as he was about to pedal away. Startled, Trent almost lost his balance, but managed to keep the bike upright. "What the heck do you think you're doing?" he yelled, but Barbara refused to budge. "I'm coming with you, whether you like it or not," she said, her voice firm and resolute.

As Trent pedaled furiously, Barbara clung to the back of the bike, her heart racing with fear and exhilaration. They reached Trent's house in record time, and he came to a screeching halt. Without a moment's hesitation, he leapt off the bike, leaving Barbara to scramble to get her bearings. She stepped off the bike, her legs trembling as she tried to steady herself.

Trent rushed into the house, with Barbara following at a more measured pace. Trent noticed an unusual stillness in the house.

"Mom?"

There was no immediate response, causing Trent's anxiety to intensify.

"Mom, I'm home! What's going on?"

Once again, there was only silence. "Mom, are you here?!" Still no answer. Then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw a figure emerge from the kitchen.

Trent and Barbara froze as the figure stepped into the light. It was a man, dressed in a white shirt and black slacks, with salt-and-pepper hair and a distinctive white goatee and mustache.

"Who are you, and what are you doing in my house?" Trent demanded, his brows furrowed, his gaze icy and unwavering. Barbara couldn't believe the transformation she had witnessed in Trent. Since learning about the emergency, he had taken on an entirely different demeanor, one she had never seen from him before.

Trent's profound affection for his mother drove him to make a solemn commitment to shield her from any harm, particularly after he uncovered the truth regarding his father and the hardships his mother had endured. It was his intense love for his mother that had prompted his recent abrupt and impolite demeanor.

The man regarded Trent with a sense of compassion and introduced himself, saying, "I am Doctor George Wilson." He spoke with a gentle, soothing tone. Trent's frown deepened.

"I appreciate the introduction, but that still doesn't clarify your presence in my residence," Trent replied curtly, his tone sharp and direct. Barbara looked on, amazed by Trent's assertiveness.

Trent had never employed such a tone with anyone before, not even with his peers or subordinates. Witnessing him address an elderly individual in such a manner left her genuinely surprised and perturbed.

Doctor George struggled to maintain his composure in the face of Trent's brusque manner. He took a deep breath and calmly conveyed, "I regret to inform you that your presence is urgently required at the hospital."

The mention of the hospital sent a jolt through Trent, causing his mind and body to ache. Stammering and trembling in fear, he managed to inquire, "What... for?"

"Trent," Dr. George said softly, his eyes filled with sympathy. "I'm so sorry to tell you this, but your mother is in a critical condition. I'm afraid she might not have much time left. You need to come with me to the hospital right away."

Trent felt like the ground was shifting beneath his feet, his world spinning out of control. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. 

Tears welled up in Trent's eyes, threatening to spill over at any moment. Barbara reached out and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, giving it a comforting squeeze. "I'm so sorry, Trent," she said, her voice breaking with emotion. "I know this must be devastating for you. I'm here for you, if you need me." Trent looked up at Barbara, his eyes red and puffy. "Thank you," he said, his voice barely audible. He felt overwhelmed by everything that was happening.

Trent gathered his composure and signaled his readiness to Doctor George. "Very well, let's proceed," he uttered, his voice quivering yet resolute. Doctor George acknowledged with a nod, and together with Barbara they departed the residence, making their way to the awaiting vehicle parked nearby.

During their journey, Trent's mind swirled with a whirlwind of thoughts as he grappled with the information he had recently received. The profound sickness that had befallen his mother left him pondering how such an affliction had taken hold and whether there were any actions he might have taken to avert it.

.

.

.

When they arrived at the hospital, Doctor George led them straight to the emergency room, where a nurse immediately approached them. "We're here to see Diane Galkin," Doctor George said. The nurse's face grew concerned and she ushered them into a private room. "Please, have a seat," she said, gesturing to the chairs. "The doctor will be in to speak with you shortly." Trent and Barbara sat down, their nerves on edge. After what felt like an eternity, the doctor finally arrived.

The doctor initiated the introduction and settled into a seat across from Trent and Barbara. After a deep breath, he proceeded to convey difficult information. "I regret to inform you that there is a challenging situation," he began. "Your mother has received a diagnosis of congestive heart failure, and her condition is of grave concern. Over time, her heart has been unable to effectively circulate blood to meet the body's requirements, leading to an accumulation of fluid in her lungs. This is the primary cause of her severe breathing difficulties."

Trent and Barbara listened with a sense of dread, attempting to comprehend the gravity of the doctor's report.

""We suspect that your mother's condition was aggravated by an incident that unfolded several hours ago," the doctor elaborated. "According to eyewitness accounts, she was assaulted by a group of individuals who seemed to employ advanced technology. They described it as an intense burst of light and an energy surge striking her."

Trent and Barbara exchanged stunned glances, their recollection of the glowing geeks they had heard about coming to mind. "Is that even possible?" Trent inquired, his voice trembling with disbelief.

The doctor's countenance turned solemn as he responded, "Considering the gravity of your mother's condition, I must be candid with you. The prospects of a full recovery are exceedingly slim. Nonetheless, I pledge to utilize all available resources to assist her. We will closely monitor her and provide the utmost care possible." Trent and Barbara were deeply affected by the doctor's words, though they appreciated his forthrightness. They recognized the need to prepare for the worst, yet a glimmer of hope for a miraculous turnaround remained.

Following a few additional minutes of dialogue, both the attending physician and Doctor George concluded their meeting. They extended their best wishes to Trent and Barbara, offering unwavering assurance of their commitment to assisting Trent's mother. As the door quietly closed behind the medical professionals, Trent and Barbara found themselves ensconced in a profound silence, each lost in their introspective contemplations.

Trent's mind was awash with an inundation of inquiries and concerns, yet one particular question persisted in his thoughts. "What could possibly be the underlying cause of all this?" he muttered, the words more an inner reflection than an outward inquiry to Barbara.

Trent's tone was rife with anger and frustration as he posed the question, "Is it conceivable that those luminous figures(glowing geeks) had a hand in what happened to my mother? How else can we rationalize her condition?"

Barbara's eyes widened as she contemplated the question. "It's certainly within the realm of possibility," she responded deliberately. "If they are, in fact, accountable, then I believe it's absolutely necessary for us to identify their identities and their objectives."

Trent concurred with a resolute nod. "I won't cease my efforts until I unearth the truth," he asserted, his eyes aglow with unwavering determination.