Col. Mark walked back into his daughter's hospital room with slow and sloppy feet.
Sylvian was still crouching against the wall and shivering, and for the first time in Mark's life, a horrible feeling washed past him, a feeling which tried forcefully to make him believe what he so much refused to accept as true. But now, his defense was slowly crumbling before him.
Is Sylvian insane? He dared to ask himself without bursting into tears.
She whimpered and shook severely as she hugged her knees on the floor. "Dad?"
"It's me, honey." He replied gently.
She rose up swiftly and embraced him. "Thank you for coming back." She said as she retreated from his arms.
"Always, darling." He replied. He led her to the bed and they both sat beside each other.
"We need to talk, Syl." He said, dreadfully.
Her smile faded and fear appeared on her countenance. "Dad, I hope you don't believe her."
"Well…"
"Well? So you're with her now?" Sylvian asked in annoyance.
"No! Never!" He paused and sighed. "I just want you to tell me about the visions Michele told me you've been having recently."
"Why? So that you could mock me?" She asked as she rose up from the bed.
"Why would I mock you?" Col. Mark asked.
"Because that's what everyone here do to me!!" She yelled. "I'm not crazy, so don't treat me like I'm deranged or insane."
"Where is all this coming from, Syl? You of all people should know that I can never think bad of you. You're the best thing that has ever happened in my life."
Her anger slowly drifted away and in a solemn voice, she said; "Dad, I need you to do me a favour."
"Anything, honey!" Col. Mark said.
She was quiet for a while and then she looked up at him with teary eyes.
"What's wrong?" Col. Mark asked. "Are you alright?"
"Yes, Dad." She said laughing while shedding tears. "I've honestly never felt better. Everything I've waited all these years have finally appeared out of thin air. It is just like a miracle."
"What are you talking about?"
"Dad, he is here."
"Who?"
"The saviour."
Col. Mark shook his head in frustration. "Not again honey. I've told you times without number that there's nothing like a saviour. This place doesn't need any saving, it's all a bad dream."
Sylvian stared at her father's eyes and then she decided within herself not to bother to make him understand her. By the way, all she needed was to get out of here and her tale about a saviour wouldn't help her in getting out, rather it would only give her a free transport to the psych ward which her father had tried so much in the past six years to make her escape the psychiatric ward.
"Sure. It's all a very awkward dream, don't mind me, Dad." She said with a broad smile.
Her father smiled and embraced her tightly. "I love you, honey!"
"Me too."
"What's your favour, again?" Col. Marks asked, letting go of his daughter.
"I need to get out of here, as soon as possible."
"What?"
"Yes, dad... And I know you can help me."
"But... What about your condition? You know that you're prone to diseases, I can't risk letting you get hurt."
"Easy for you to say when you're not the one stuck in this fucking room for more than six years!"
"Don't use the f word." Col. Mark said in annoyance. "And how can you say something so selfish, I've been with you through it all, and although I know that I can't possibly understand what you're going through, I can promise you that i will always be by your side whenever you need me."
A soft smile appeared on Sylvian's face. "Thank you."
"No problem... But I hope you understand why I can't possibly let you leave here... I care about you so much, I can't afford to lose you."
She held his hands tightly. "Dad, you won't lose me. I'm not sick anymore. I'm alright, okay?"
"What do you mean?"
She sighed. "I know that this is difficult to believe, but I'm not really sick...all this while, I haven't been sick."
"Are you being funny?" Col. Mark asked, nervously.
"No!" She replied. "Can you remember my 9 year old birthday?"
"Of course, I can." He said. "It was the same day you were taken away to this hospital."
"Yes. If you can remember, I told you and everyone present at the party about my dream about the saviour who would come to free Hoboran from its sins."
"What are you saying, honey? I thought we were past this."
"Dad, listen to me. I know it's hard to believe, but please for my sake, try to believe me."
Col. Mark nodded his head reluctantly.
"After I had the dream about the saviour, my magic activated."
"Impossible!!" Col. Mark said aloud. "That's impossible. Your magic can't activate until you're of right age. The youngest person in history to have activated her magic is the great goddess, Cecily."
"Dad, I'm not lying."
"But we all know that Cecily activated her power when she was ten and that's why she is known as the greatest magician of all time. Her power was too great to be kept dormant until the normal age of thirteen. How can you claim to have activated your magic when you were barely nine years."
"I know this sound ridiculous but I'm almost certain that the saviour activated my magic for me, as I needed it to hide from the evil people in Hoboran."
"Honey, this is crazy!"
"Don't you believe me?"
"Trust me, I'm trying but this is just too much to take in. I'm sorry but I think I'd have to consider what Dr. Michele have said."
"Dad, no!" Sylvian said.
"I'm sorry, honey but I think this is the right decision. I'd make sure you're taken care of." He rose up and began walking towards the door.
"Dad, stop." Sylvian said casually.
"I'm sorry." He turned around to look at his furious daughter. "I love you."
As he opened the door and was about taking a step out, Sylvian yelled. "STOP!!!!"
The door slammed shut and the locks came on.
Col. Mark turned around in slow motion and stared at his daughter with his eyes and mouth agape.
"We are not done talking!" Sylvian said as her eyes twinkled with magic.