Chapter 3—Don't Sleep
Doctor Jasper exhaled. Ryle and Sera glared at him uneasily.
Sera asked, "Is something wrong with my son?" She held his hand hard. "Is he in danger?"
Doctor Jasper removed Sera's hand and replied, "No. You're overthinking it."
"Huh?" Ryle tilted his head. Sera shot the doctor a dubious glance.
Jasper's voice rose, "You're overthinking."
He pointed at Ryle. "Just calm down."
He moved his finger to Sera. "And you—don't frighten the kid."
"What do you mean?" Sera questioned, narrowing her eyes.
"You're thinking too far into it." Doctor Jasper clarified, rubbing his forehead.
"So... it's fine?" Sera inquired with a small grin.
"Isn't that what I said?" The doctor shook his head. "Go call an electrician and a technician to check the room."
He added, "It could be the A/C. Or an electric flare."
Ryle glared at the doctor. 'He's lying.' Something was off. His voice was too smooth. Too prepared.
"Electric flare?" Sera frowned.
"The government found a fault in the electric system," Jasper replied, pulling out his phone.
He handed his mobile after opening a webpage.
'More power is sent from the power plant… Be cautious of electric instruments.'
Jasper sighed. "You need not worry."
Sera exhaled, handing back the phone.
Ryle clenched his jaw.
'Doctors don't talk like this… too smooth.' he narrowed his eyes.
Jasper grinned. "It's just an electric burn. I'll check again later."
He picked up the file and pen and scribbled something on the note.
He placed it on the desk. Locking his eyes on Ryle, he tapped on the file with the pen.
He quickly turned and walked away.
'He's almost running,' Ryle glanced from the doctor to his mom, who hadn't found anything unusual.
Jasper didn't look back.
Ryle got out of bed without using his hands.
Sera yelled, "What are you doing?"
"I'm thirsty," Ryle replied, his eyes focused on her.
"I'll bring it—wait," Sera sighed, spotting the water dispenser at the other end of the room with plastic cups on top.
As she went for water, Ryle stepped closer and peeked at the file.
A few words were written on the paper. Ryle froze as he read them.
'Don't sleep.' His breath stopped. That wasn't random.
Just a moment later, the words disappeared into purple fog.
Ryle stumbled a step back. 'If I sleep… I go back there.' He knew it. His throat felt dry. He clenched his teeth.
'I can't sleep. I won't.' 'If I sleep… I die.'
His body begged for rest. He clenched his teeth.
Sera turned her head back and hissed, "What are you roaming for? Just go to sleep."
Ryle returned to his bed, legs trembling.
He kicked the thin blanket up; the upper section rose and covered his entire body.
In the dim darkness, Ryle glanced left and right.
His vision was shaking.
"Here," Sera pulled the blanket aside and brought the cup to his mouth.
Ryle drank slowly.
"What's wrong?" Sera asked after he finished. "Why are you sweating?"
"Is it hot?" She raised her head. "It's a little warm."
She adjusted the temperature on the thermostat on the wall.
Ryle couldn't focus his eyes.
---
Just a few minutes later.
Thud!
A young, beautiful woman with long black hair, in a black suit and slacks, entered the room swiftly.
She scanned the room, and finding Ryle and Sera, she took a breath.
"Jasmine," Sera waved her hand.
"What happened?" Jasmine asked, walking in.
"I found—" Sera began to explain.
"Electric burn?" Jasmine knitted her brows together.
"It'll be fine." She turned towards Ryle, patted his head, then removed the blanket and glanced at his hands.
"These are some serious burns," she muttered.
'And electricity causes these kinds of wounds?' She held her chin.
She removed her phone from her pocket.
Ryle locked his eyes on her.
Jasmine searched briefly. Her brows tightened. She locked her phone.
"Mom… this isn't electricity."
---
A few minutes back, in an empty room.
Doctor Jasper was panting heavily.
He pulled his mobile with shaking hands from his trouser pocket. Just as he raised it enough to see the screen, it slipped from his grasp.
Thud!
It hit the ground.
Cracks spread across the screen.
With trembling hands, he picked up the mobile.
He unlocked it—multicolored lines spread across the display.
"It's still working," he exhaled.
He opened the dialer and called 'Agent E415.'
Ring! Ring!
The ringtone echoed from the mobile.
After a few moments, a raspy voice sounded. "Another patient?"
Jasper replied, "Yes, a new patient showed up."
"Are you sure?" the agent questioned.
"Yes, it's a nightmare," the doctor replied, swallowing his saliva.
"So what kind of injuries did this patient suffer?" the agent inquired, his voice low and calm.
Jasper answered, wiping his sweat, "The patient's hands were burned. His nightmare must involve someone wielding a fire technique."
For a few moments, no voice came from the other side.
Doctor Jasper cried, "You must come to save these innocent people."
The agent asked, "What is the threat level?"
Jasper fell silent. The silence stretched.