Jahree lay in bed, feeling tired but unable to fall back asleep. His parents, equally fatigued due to his sleep troubles, had been getting up repeatedly to try and settle him. As the sun began to rise and his parents remained asleep, Jahree decided to get out of bed. He understood that if he stayed quiet, he could potentially avoid waking them up. Feeling a lack of appetite, Jahree found some blueberries and ate a few of them. Although he wasn’t particularly hungry, he knew it was important to nourish his body. Afterward, he spent some time playing with his bunny. Although he still missed his previous bunny, he had grown fond of this new one too. As he played, Jahree could hear the joyful laughter of children outside. He watched them for a while but didn’t feel the urge to join in their active games. Eventually, the kids ran off, leaving Jahree alone with his thoughts. Concerned about the prolonged slumber of his parents, Jahree wondered if his dad had a day off from work. Sometimes, his dad had days off and maybe this was one of them. Jahree continued to play quietly and pass the time until he heard the distant sound of bells ringing in the distance. Although he couldn’t count the number of rings, Jahree held up a finger for each chime he heard. It took all his fingers to keep track. This made him realize that it was getting quite late and that perhaps he should wake his parents up. After all, they didn’t usually sleep this late. With tentative steps, Jahree approached the bedroom, the door creaking softly as he nudged it open. The room was cast in shadows, the muted light doing little to disturb the sleepers within. “Mama,” he called softly, his small hand gently rocking her arm. When she didn’t stir, his voice grew more insistent, “Mama, wake.” Uncertainty tightened around his chest, but Jahree moved to his father’s side of the bed, his attempts to rouse him meeting the same silent resistance. He shook his father’s shoulder, called his name, and tried everything his young mind could think of, but neither parent would awaken. Panic sharpened his next actions. He knew something was wrong—parents shouldn’t sleep this deep, not when their child was trying so hard to wake them. His tiny heart heavy with confusion and urgency, Jahree made the decision that help was needed, and it couldn’t wait any longer. Outside, Jahree approached a stranger on the street. With a sense of urgency, he blurted out, “Mama and Papa can’t wake.” The stranger furrowed his brows and replied with words Jahree didn’t understand. Why did the people here speak wrong? The man gave Jahree a sympathetic look but was unable to help, so he simply returned to his tasks, leaving the boy to seek assistance elsewhere. Frustration mounting, Jahree tried to convey his problem to another passerby, but again, the language barrier proved insurmountable. Desperation began to set. Then, Jahree spotted a city guard, clad in uniform, providing a glimmer of hope. Sometimes the guard understood Tamareen. Swallowing his fear, he steeled himself with the thought that he wasn’t doing anything wrong — he was seeking help for his parents. The guard might understand him; he might offer the help Jahree so desperately needed. He took a deep breath, mustering courage, and approached the guard. Jahree’s hands shook slightly, betraying his inner turmoil as he repeated his plea, “Mama and Papa won’t wake.” Jahree cringed as the guard knelt. But the man didn’t seem angry. “Mama and Papa,” Jahree repeated this time doing his best to say it in Menthan. “Mama Sai?” the guard tried to guess, attempting to piece together the context from the few words he understood. Jahree quickly shook his head and corrected him earnestly, “Jahree’s Mama,” he tapped his chest and then pointed towards his home to indicate where his parents were. He remembered a word his friend Lair had taught him and used it to urge the guard into action, “Come.” He repeated the word, making it clear. “Come.” He started walking towards his house, his small hand gesturing insistently. Every so often, he would look back to ensure the guard was following, holding onto the hope that he could help his unresponsive parents. Jahree approached the guard, his face etched with concern as he gestured towards his parents, who were seemingly fast asleep. “No wake up,” he said with an urgent tremor in his voice, hoping the guard would understand. The guard’s expression shifted into a frown, a mix of confusion and concern as he leaned closer to inspect the situation. With deliberate motions, he tried to rouse Jahree’s parents, but his attempts were in vain; they remained unresponsive. After a moment of silent contemplation, the guard shook his head regretfully and spoke words that Jahree couldn’t comprehend. “No come,” he said with finality, gesturing toward Jahree, indicating that he was not permitted to proceed. With no further explanation, the guard left, leaving Jahree alone in the dim corridor. Feeling abandoned and unsure of his next move, Jahree wrestled with his options. His mind raced as he considered seeking out Mama Sai or Ket. Yet, the thought was daunting. How could he navigate his way to them in this labyrinthine place? Nevertheless, fueled by desperation, Jahree knelt beside his mother once more. He gently shook her shoulder, whispering pleas for her to wake up, hoping that this time, by some miracle, she would open her eyes and the nightmare would end. He heard voices. He turned to see four guards heading right for him. They all looked angry. Jahree knew he was in trouble. He was going to be beaten. He whimpered as his knees gave out. As he sunk to the floor, he heard a horrible noise and then nothing.