I'm glad to have two of my parents here with me as we approach the hospital room supposedly holding Joe, seeing as I'm practically vibrating with anger and fear and violent tendencies.

We push into the room, though a passing nurse tries to tell us that 'the patient' might be critical and only one guest at a time. I almost roar at her and she scurries away, probably off to get a doctor. Well, fuck that. My brother needs us.

He looks terrible. In that stark white bed, hooked up to all kinds of machines, and oh yeah, not conscious. His eyelids don't meet, but all I can see beneath them is red-veined white.

I clutch at Jou and Megumi's hands, and my words come out an angry hiss. "Who did this to him?"