Her body turned and twisted around her, trying to adjust to her position. Her senses picked up noises and movements coming nearby, but her mind refused to acknowledge them.
Her mind only wanted to continue sleeping, playing with the dream currently consuming her unconsciousness. Her lips stretched to a smile, enjoying the warmth wrapped around her body.
"Ahhh!" Moans of pleasure reverberated around her as she felt a build-up that she had never felt before.
Then, her lips parted at the unfamiliar sensation that attacked her senses. Her body kept going higher and higher as if she was floating with the clouds, never wanting to go down.
"Are you in pain, Miss?" A small voice questioned her, making her suddenly crash back to the ground.
Her mind was suddenly wide awake as her eyes darted at the bright light above her. Then, her head slowly turned to the source of the sound, zoning on the boy standing not far from her.
"Do you need a doctor?" The little boy asked her again, but it did not register quickly in her mind as her vision remained slightly blurry. "Dad said to call him if you wake up."
The boy continued to talk to her, but her mind refused to process the world around her. It was like being in a circus where everything around her went round and round. Then, flashes of lights blinded her.
"I think I should go and call my Dad." The boy turned around and ran towards the door.
Avana wanted to go after him, but her body refused to move. "Wait!" Her throat seemed to be dry, her words coming out more like a whisper, but it was too weak that even her ears barely heard herself.
Her thoughts were a jumbled mess, recalling what happened to her. But so far, her recent dream was all that came to mind. Or was it real?
Her hands automatically stretched to her side, but it took tremendous effort to move them a few inches away from her body. On the other hand, her eyes closed again, trying to rearrange her thoughts.
No one else was with her, feeling the soft mattress and the cold sheets on both sides of her hands. Then concluding that the warmth enveloping her earlier was the soft comforter wrapped around her body.
"I am glad that you are finally awake." Another voice sounded around the room.
Avana felt his presence even before he spoke but knew he was not the man in her dream. His scent was distinctively different from what her nose had picked up before.
But it was all so confusing, patching up the missing pieces of what happened to her and her current location. It all looked foreign to her.
The man in her mind, unfamiliar he might be, still seemed so realistic. Her skin still insisted on experiencing the warmth his body radiated, not referring to the blanket.
However, it might be just a fabrication of her mind, a vivid vision of her very peculiar dream. In the end, nothing was real but an illusion.
"How are you feeling?" The man continued to ask when her eyes only stared at him.
"I can't move." Her lips finally made a sound, though not as loud as expected. "What is wrong with me?" Trying again. This time it was a bit better.
Her mind still refused to accept that this man meant no harm to her. Although he did look harmless, gazing at the stranger standing in front of her bed.
"Do you mind if I checked on you first? I am Doc Jace Greyson, by the way." He moved closer to her but did not move any further, waiting for her signal to proceed.
"Ok," Avana responded, partially nodding her head, feeling slightly helpless since her muscles could barely stretch, still feeling the numbness in most parts of her body.
However, compared to earlier, or was it yesterday, her eyes rolled, feeling frustrated again. Moderate improvement in her movement was evident as she forced her fingers to bend.
His hands finally moved forward towards her, checking her vitals. Before he let his stethoscope glided down her chest area, examining her heartbeat.
"Everything seemed to be gradually returning to normal." The doctor announced with a friendly smile that seemed genuine. "Did you ingest a purple berry around this area?"
The doctor looked at her, waiting for her response. Then, it clicked in her mind, the sweet delight that she had devoured with so much enthusiasm earlier.
"Yes, how did you know?" Her eyebrows raised in question, thankful that it finally followed her command as her eyes focused on the man.
After applying some force to her hands, her body partially moved to the side. It was not much, but it felt like a monumental accomplishment in her current condition.
"First, your symptoms indicated that you had consumed a handful of it." Then, he bent closer to her, gently gripping her hand and lifting them to her view. "Your fingers and palm still had stained on them.
Her fingers did have a purple coloring covering her skin, so as her palm it would seem, suddenly making her curious if that purple fruit contained some poison.
Not that she was familiar with the things that could kill her. Another of the things she had to research while she was on this quest of hers. Else, she might not survive another day if she kept messing around.
"Was it poisonous? Am I dying?" Her hands partially felt cold as the thought of death loomed over her bed, never predicting that her journey would be this short.
"It was, but no, not yet." The young doctor slightly chuckled at her question. "But if you keep eating those things, you might. Luckily, someone brought you here. We were able to give you immediate treatment."
The doctor sat down on the edge of the bed but was careful not to be too near her. He probably did not want to spook her more, observing the man's every movement.
"Go rest for now. It is the only way your body could recover faster." He suggested to her, scanning her once again from head to toe.
"Thank you, Doc." Hesitantly, her mind still appreciated the help but was still wary about her condition and her location.
Still, many questions plagued her mind. However, her body was not up for the challenge. Searching for answers was the least of her priorities. Eventually, her eyes followed what the doctor had ordered.
The steady breeze entering the room lulled her into sleep, putting her in a deep slumber, but her mind remained vigilant, looking for a man who might have been her knight in shining armor and saved her from her doom.