Allan woke again to the sound of a machine beeping.
Beep.
Beep.
Beep.
His eyes slowly opened, and for a moment, he couldn't remember where he was. The ceiling above him was white, too white, and a faint smell of disinfectant filled the air, and the steady beeping beside him continued at an almost irritatingly consistent pace.
Allan blinked several times, still confused; he tried to move, but pain immediately shot through his body.
He winced.
"Ah..." he said, in a barely audible voice.
He then turned his head to the right.
A heart monitor stood beside the bed, its screen displaying a collection of numbers he didn't understand. An IV was connected to his arm, and several wires were attached to his chest.
A hospital.
The realization came slowly as Allan stared at the ceiling.
"I'm alive."
His voice sounded strange to his own ears. He still remembered the courtyard, the voranth and Principal Garrick, then the strange lake, the blood, the figure.
His eyes widened slightly…the figure.
Allan looked around the room, but found nothing; of course there was nothing.
Whatever had happened in his soul space hadn't exactly been something he expected to see in a hospital room.
He shifted his gaze again and noticed that someone was sitting beside his bed. It was his mother, Elena, asleep with her arms folded on the edge of the mattress, her head resting on them; her hair was slightly messy, and dark circles had formed beneath her eyes.
She looked exhausted.
Allan stared at her for several seconds; she had stayed here. The thought made something tighten in his chest.
"Mom..." he said weakly.
Elena stirred, making Allan hesitate a little.
"Mom."
Her eyes suddenly opened. For a moment, she looked confused, but then she saw him.
"Allan?" She said, her mind still half asleep, but she immediately sat upright. "Oh my God!"
"You're awake," she continued as she grabbed his hand.
Allan gave her a weak smile and said. "Yeah."
Elena stared at him as if making sure he was actually there.
"You scared me."
"Sorry."
"Don't apologize." She squeezed his hand. "Just don't do that again," she continued with a trembling voice.
"I'll try." He said with a small laugh.
Elena leaned back in the chair, finally allowing herself to breathe.
Allan looked around the room.
"Where's Dad?"
"He went to get food."
"Food?"
"Your sister came with him."
"Maya?"
Elena nodded.
"They've been here almost the entire time. Your father refused to leave, but eventually I convinced him to get something to eat."
Allan nodded slowly at that; he hadn't realized how hungry he was until she mentioned food.
"How long have I been here?"
Elena glanced at the clock.
"Since yesterday."
"Yesterday?" Allan's eyes widened.
"You've been unconscious for most of the time."
He stared at his hands. He had completely lost track of time, but before he could say anything else, a knock came from the door.
Elena turned.
"Come in."
The door opened, and a doctor walked inside. Behind him was a woman Allan didn't recognize. She looked to be in her early thirties, wearing a dark coat over a plain shirt. Unlike the doctor, she carried no medical equipment. Instead, a small insignia was attached to the side of her coat.
Allan recognized it immediately, a Military Investigator.
The woman looked at Allan.
"Allan Reid?"
"Yes."
"I'm Investigator Lena Ward." She pulled a chair beside the bed and continued, "I'm going to ask you a few questions about what happened at East Gate High."
Allan glanced at his mother.
Elena looked concerned.
"Is this necessary?" He asked.
"I'm afraid so," Ward replied calmly. "Given the circumstances, we need a statement while the details are still fresh."
The doctor nodded. "It shouldn't take long."
Elena reluctantly stepped aside at that.
"Allan, tell me what you remember." Investigator Ward said as she opened a small notebook.
Allan hesitated for a bit.
The image of the Veranth immediately appeared in his mind. "It happened in the courtyard."
"What happened?"
"We were attacked."
"By the Hollow?"
Allan nodded.
"Yes."
"Did a Voranth appear?" she continued.
"Yes," Allan said with a small sigh.
"Did it say anything?"
Allan shook his head.
"No."
Ward raised an eyebrow at that.
"Nothing?"
"Nothing," he responded while shaking his head.
She wrote something down.
"What happened afterward?"
"It grabbed me." Allan touched his neck instinctively. "It was trying to do something. I don't know what." He continued.
"Did you lose consciousness?"
"Eventually."
"Do you remember Principal Veyne arriving?"
"Yes."
"Did he fight the Voranth?"
"Yes."
"Do you remember anything else?"
Allan paused; the lake flashed through his mind, the blood, the endless bodies, the darkness. He couldn't tell them about that, not yet.
"I don't remember."
Ward stared at him for several seconds, and Allan met her gaze. Eventually, she closed the notebook.
"That's enough for now." She said.
"Your vitals spiked several times during the night." The doctor checked the monitor before speaking.
Allan frowned.
"Why?"
"We aren't completely sure." The doctor glanced at the readings. "Your heart rate and neural activity increased dramatically while you were unconscious."
Allan immediately thought of the lake.
The doctor continued.
"But everything has stabilized now. Your tests are clear, and there doesn't appear to be any lasting physical damage."
"So I can leave?"
"Yes." The doctor said with a nod.
"Good," Allan said with a small smile.
"We'll contact your family if we need anything else." Ward stood while saying that.
She then looked at Elena. "Try to keep him resting for the next few days."
Elena nodded, and the doctor and investigator left the room closing the door behind them. For several seconds, Allan simply stared at it. Then—The door opened again, and Marcus walked inside carrying several bags of food.
"He's awake?" Marcus froze.
Maya's eyes widened and screamed, "Allan!"
She rushed toward the bed.
Allan smiled.
"Hey, Maya."
His sister immediately wrapped her arms around him.
"You're such an idiot."
Allan winced.
"Ow."
"Sorry!"
Marcus laughed quietly as he set the food down and walked toward the bed. His expression was relieved, but Allan could see the worry that still lingered in his father's eyes.
Marcus placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Good to see you awake, son."
Allan looked at his family.
For the first time since the attack, he felt like he was finally home.