Chapter 5 Broke And Poor Orphan

Chapter Five

"Your lawyer is here," said the policeman, snapping Matthew out of his thoughts about the strange ring on his finger. "Finally," Matthew whispered, relieved that help had arrived at last. In the dimly lit hospital room, Matthew Blacks lay on the bed, feeling both exhausted and anxious. The family lawyer, a stern man in a perfectly tailored suit, stood before him, ready to deliver the bad news. "You're broke, Matthew. There's no money or savings left for you," the lawyer said, his voice cold and matter-of-fact. Matthew felt anger surge through him as the reality of his situation sank in. He couldn't believe that everything his parents had worked for was gone. In a fit of rage, he lashed out, throwing things around the room. The lawyer remained calm, though, and tried to bring some order to the chaos. "Calm down, Matthew. I'm here to help you figure things out. I can get you a place to stay," the lawyer said, his tone firm but sympathetic. Matthew was desperate. "What about my father's apartment?" he asked, clinging to the hope that at least their home was still his. The lawyer shook his head, shattering that hope. "The house was seized after your parents' death," he said, each word landing like a punch. Tears filled Matthew's eyes as the full weight of his situation hit him. He was not only broke, but he had also lost everything his family had owned. "I don't know what to do next," he admitted, his voice trembling with fear and sadness. Seeing how devastated Matthew was, the lawyer softened his approach. "We'll figure this out, Matthew. I'll help you through the legal mess, and you're not alone in this," he said, offering a sliver of hope. As the lawyer explained what they could do next, the hospital room felt thick with emotion. Anger, grief, and a faint hope that somehow, things might get better filled the air. "You're nineteen and turning twenty tomorrow, so you're too old for any orphanage to take you in. And given everything that's happened, I doubt anyone will want to adopt you. You'll have to go back to college, and you'll be on your own, but I'll do what I can to help," the lawyer added, typing on his laptop as he spoke. Matthew's thoughts drifted to his sister. "What about my sister? Any news on where she is?" he asked, his voice filled with worry. The lawyer sighed and shook his head. "There's nothing yet. The police haven't found her." "Is she dead? Tell me! Is she dead?" Matthew shouted, grabbing the lawyer's suit in desperation. "No, they haven't found her body, so there's still hope. Just focus on recovering for now. I'll connect you with a therapist who can help. This isn't easy, what you're going through," the lawyer said, looking at Matthew with pity. The sterile smell of the hospital mixed with the turmoil in Matthew's mind. The lawyer, sensing his inner battle, suggested, "Matthew, it might help to talk to a therapist. They can guide you through this." Matthew's eyes flashed with anger. "I don't need someone messing with my head. I want out of this hospital so I can figure out my life on my own," he insisted, his voice determined. The lawyer, trying to be the voice of reason, sighed. "Leaving now isn't the best idea. You're vulnerable, and going out there without a plan could just make things worse." But Matthew was resolute. "I can't stay here. I need to take control of my life," he said, his frustration clear. Seeing how determined Matthew was, the lawyer nodded. "Alright, I'll help you. But we need to be smart about this. I'll arrange for some cash and give you a phone so we can stay in touch. Leaving the hospital abruptly is risky, but I'll do what I can to support you." Matthew felt a wave of gratitude. "Thank you," he whispered, feeling a small bit of the weight lift off his shoulders. The lawyer got him discharged from the hospital and drove him to Oxford Medical University, where he had been a student before his world fell apart. "Why did you bring me here?" Matthew asked, looking at the familiar buildings with a mixture of dread and nostalgia. "You'll stay in the dorms since you don't have anywhere else to go. This will be your home now. Here's a hundred dollars-get something to eat. And take my old phone; it's not much, but it might help," the lawyer said, handing Matthew the money and the phone. "Fifty dollars? That's it?" Matthew asked, feeling even more hopeless. "Not all of us are rich. Be grateful I'm even helping you at all. You're a broke orphan who can't pay me back," the lawyer shot back, his words cutting deep. Suspicion crept into Matthew's mind. "Are you working for her? The woman who killed my parents-is that why you couldn't help me get any of my father's savings?" he demanded. The lawyer's face darkened. "It's none of your business. Just do what you're told and stop asking questions, or you'll end up dead too," he warned before driving off, leaving Matthew with only fifty dollars, an old phone, and a pair of hospital slippers. As he stood there, watching the car disappear, Matthew clenched his fists. "I swear I'll avenge my parents' deaths. I'll find my sister, and I'll make them all pay," he vowed, his voice thick with rage. He sighed deeply and turned to enter the dorm building, his mind racing with thoughts of what to do next. But as he walked through the halls, he noticed the looks people were giving him-disgust, pity, and scorn. "Look at him! The orphan boy turned into a filthy pig!" someone shouted, followed by cruel laughter that echoed through the hallways. Matthew's heart sank as he realized that his friends and classmates, people he had once known and trusted, were now treating him like a pariah. He quickened his pace, desperate to escape the humiliation. But the faster he walked, the louder the insults became. Someone threw something at him, and he felt the cold, sticky splash of soda on his back. The laughter grew louder. Matthew's face burned with shame as he tried to ignore the coke dripping down his back. But the words cut deep, and when he heard Erik, the president's son and the school's biggest bully, shout, "Look at his hospital shoes, poor boy! You should've just died and followed your miserable family to hell!" something inside him snapped. Even worse, Matthew saw Lisa, the girl he had a crush on, standing with her friends, laughing at him just like the others. She wouldn't even meet his eyes. Fury boiled over in Matthew. He clenched his fists so hard that he felt the ring on his finger tighten, and suddenly, it started to glow red. A surge of energy shot through him, filling him with strength and anger like he had never felt before. He turned, ready to punch Erik, but before his fist could connect, someone grabbed him from behind, stopping him in his tracks.