“Mama!” shouts Alvin, turning the corner and seeing Evelyn collapse on the floor. Her face is pale, her brown hair spread around her.
Ian lets out a shriek and runs past his brother, throwing himself across the room towards Evelyn. Victor intercepts him halfway, catching Ian by the waist on instinct and holding him back. Victor reaches for Alvin as well, but misses. Alvin skids on his knees to his mother’s side, pushing back her hair. “Mama?!” he cries.
“Alvin, stay back!” Victor calls after him, looking over Evelyn to make sure that she’s breathing. She is – peacefully, at that. She’s just fainted a little, too much emotional strain. Victor continues to hold back the thrashing Ian, who won’t do his mother any good climbing all over her.
“You hurt our mother! You are a BAD
