I woke up in an unfamiliar room my eyes scanned the room, and I saw Maddie. I knew I was safe, but I had a bone to pick with her.
"Where are we?" I signed. My throat still felt like hell, so I didn't want to risk speaking and coughing up more blood. I realised shortly after that someone else was in the room.
"Hospital. I'm doing to do a check up on your throat and find the problem." The doctor signed back.
"I'm not deaf. You can talk out loud."
The doctor paused for a moment, eventually signing his response.
"I don't want your friend to hear this conversation. We have a lot to talk about."
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Maddie and I left soon after the doctor explained what was happening to me. The thing with my throat was common for "hosts." I didn't believe him at first, but then he mentioned the voices. The ones that would sometimes control my actions. He explained that these were dangerous creatures who's conscience were trapped in my mind. It had downsides and benefits to it. Apparently I would soon develop strange abilities. The doctor explained that he knew my parents, and they had come to him because their children were dying in the womb. So he was the one who did this to me. He explained that it would make me live longer because of the creatures. Apparently Alex has the same thing, but instead of voices, he was just more unstable and unhinged than a normal person, and more prone to anxiety and stress. Fun.
I decided that I was only going to tell Alex about it for now. And, side effect, James as well. He seemed to be the only one that understood ASL, and I could tell him to be discrete about it. The doctor didn't only talk about this crazy supernatural stuff, he did actually examine my throat. My vocal cords had been severely strained. I have to wait for my vocal cords to heal. It could take a very long time to do so, and my vocal cords will be very sensitive during that time period. I won't be able to orally communicate for a while. Look at me, sounding all smart. Orally communicate.
Maddie and I walked back to the point in which Ayro was waiting for us. I couldn't help but notice that Maddie was annoyed with me. Right back at you, Maddie.
Ayro was leading the way, Maddie and I following very close behind. I could see Maddie glaring holes into the back of his head. I knew that look. She wanted to say something to him. Probably not something good.
"Ayro, I know you're hiding something," She said, her voice accusatory and harsh.
He tensed up, but continued walking.
"And?"
"You're hiding something big, and I'm going to figure it out eventually. You may as well tell me now, and spare us both the headache," Maddie said, that harsh tone still apparent from the way she was speaking.
He turned around, and I noticed he was teary eyed.
"W-well, I am hiding something, but it's... it's personal," He said, "It doesn't involve you at all."
Maddie's face was getting red from anger. Why was she so concerned about it anyway? Everyone has something they would rather that nobody know.
"Leave. Him. Alone." I growled. My voice was quiet, but saying even these few words sent me straight into a coughing fit. My throat felt far worse after that, but it was worth it. I wished I could shout at her at the top of my lungs, but the three words had just that same effect. Maddie looked annoyed with me, like always, recently.
I bottled up my anger until I could get James to translate for me. I did this by focusing on the sounds around me instead of Maddie. I listened to the birds chirping, and the twigs breaking under our feet as we walked through the forest. At this point, I was walking next to Ayro, he looked me in the eyes, basically pleading with me. I know he's hiding something, and I'm definatly curious, but if he doesn't want to share, he doesn't have to.
We got to the new campsite, after some tedious walking. It was a beautiful area. It was technically a sinkhole, and the only way in was climbing down an oddly shaped tree. The waterfall in the corner was small, but it still was able to create a small rainbow if it was looked at in the right light. There was a small pond that led into a small stream. The stream dissapeared somewhere on the side of the sinkhole. There was a lot of open area where the tents were, yet they were hidden from view.
As soon as I saw James, I waved him over signing furiously. Maddie sure needed good talking to.