Dora glanced up from her bed to find Vanessa nearby, breathing heavily and bracing herself against the wall. Her eyes were wide, as if she had run all the way there. Dora's expression was one of confusion, mixed with a bit of annoyance. She wondered what Vanessa could possibly want that would cause her to come running like that.
"Can I help you?" Dora asked, her voice sharp and tinged with anger. She had always resented Vanessa for trying to steal Robert away from her, and now here she was, panting and out of breath, standing close to her bed. Dora's anger boiled inside her, but she kept it under control, at least for now. She glared at Vanessa, waiting for an answer.
"It's about Robert," Vanessa said between breaths. Dora's eyes narrowed. Something was wrong, and Vanessa looked genuinely worried. She stood up, concern crossing her face as she listened. Vanessa was glad that she didn't seem as stubborn as usual. She had seen Robert being taken away on the school bus, and she knew that Dora was probably the only one who could explain what was going on.
"What happened to him?" Dora asked, her voice wavering slightly. She tried to keep her anxiety under control, but it was difficult. She felt a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach.
"You don't know? He was just taken away in the school bus, along with Miss Greene, Mr. Williams, Mr. Bous, and the principal," Vanessa said. "I'm worried they might have expelled him for his 'hallucinations'."
Dora felt like the ground was giving way beneath her. The thought of Robert being expelled, of losing him forever, was more than she could bear. Only two words could sum up the jumble of thoughts racing through her mind.
"Oh no."
___
As the bus sped down the deserted streets of Axille, Robert stared out the window, his brow furrowed in confusion. He was trying to make sense of what Poison had told him, but it was all so confusing. He thought back to what he had said about x-rays and magic waves, and how they might clash. It was all so strange and foreign to him. How could science and magic be related?
"So you're saying that if an x-ray machine is used on me, my brain could be adversely affected?" he whispered for the third time, his words punctuated by the bump of the bus as it rolled over a pothole. "And that there could be some sort of clash between the x-ray's waves and the magic waves that you say are inside of me, which might drive me insane? I have to admit, that sounds like a rough guess. I'm not sure I understand how science and magic could possibly be related."
"Magic is highly advanced science, kid. So they've both got everything to do with each other, that's common knowledge among wizards. I have extensive experience studying different forms of magic, so I am confident that something like that could definitely occur." Poison replied.
"So, I'm about to loose my memories and my mind in a matter of minutes?" Robert said, "Are x-rays that powerful? Is it even supposed to have any relationship with magic? ('magic is just highly advanced science', Poison repeated in his head), Oh geez, what do I do?" He glanced around the bus.
"I've got an idea!" Poison exclaimed, his mental voice brimming with excitement. "Why don't you use your powers - er, my powers, I mean - to wreck this bus? Then you won't be able to go to the hospital, and we'll have more time to figure out a solution!"
Robert thought for a moment, his eyes wide. Was Poison serious? They'd be in so much trouble if they destroyed school property, and it might not even work.
"Are you sure that's the best course of action?" he asked, his voice trembling slightly.
"To be honest, I didn't really think that through," Poison answered.
"You know, I don't think that would work, Poison." Robert said, a note of resignation in his voice. "If the bus breaks down when it's supposed to be taking me to the hospital, Miss Greene is going to be suspicious, which might make things even worse for us. I just have to let fate do it's job."
As he spoke, he could feel his energy draining away. He leaned back against the bus seat and closed his eyes, hoping to get a little sleep on the long ride.
He was just about to fall asleep when he felt the bus come to a halt. He opened his eyes to see Miss Greene standing in the aisle, her hand on his shoulder. "We're here, Robert," she said softly.
He rubbed the sleep from his eyes and got to his feet. Miss Greene helped him down from the bus, and he looked around to see where they were. It was the hospital parking lot. His heart sank. He'd hoped that they wouldn't make it here, but here they were.
"I guess we have to go inside," he said, trying to sound braver than he felt.
His stomach twisted into knots as he looked up at the building. It was so imposing, so sterile and unfriendly. He didn't want to go in there, but he knew he had to. He had no choice.
Meanwhile, As Mr. Williams sat in his apartment, sipping wine from a crystal glass, he couldn't stop smiling. His plan was coming together perfectly. The fact that Robert had the audacity to disrespect and attack him would soon be his undoing. He had convinced the principal to send the boy to the hospital for a brain scan, and he had also paid the doctor to make sure that the boy was given an x-ray, which would have devastating consequences. But something about the whole situation bothered him. How had Oliver known that an x-ray would be harmful to Robert? Because Oliver was the one who had suggested it to him. It was unlikely to be a coincidence. Perhaps the boy knew more than he was letting on. Perhaps he knew something about Robert's condition, something that he was keeping secret. Whatever the case, Mr. Williams decided that he would keep a close eye on Oliver from now on. He might be more trouble than he was worth.
---
As the doctor scribbled notes on his clipboard, Robert glared at him with undisguised anger. Five minutes had passed since the doctor had started writing, and Robert was growing impatient.
Finally, the doctor looked up from his clipboard and turned to Miss Greene. "So you said that he's been experiencing hallucinations?" he asked. Miss Greene nodded. The doctor's eyes narrowed. "This is the boy that Mr. Williams told me to give an x-ray to, no matter what," he thought to himself.
"Alright, we'll need to run an x-ray scan on him to check for any problems with the brain." The doctor said, looking directly at Robert.
At that moment Robert felt a chill run down his spine. He had a sinking feeling that something was very wrong. He also noticed that Miss Greene looked confused.
"It's your descendant's brain that has a problem, idiot!" Poison cursed from inside. "It's obvious that someone instructed or maybe even paid him to use the x-ray on you," Poison said anxiously. The doctor had suggested the exact thing they dreaded.
"Don't worry," Robert replied telepathically. "I have a plan."
"Okay, shall we head to the x-ray room?" the doctor asked not waiting for a reply. Robert turned to Miss Greene, hoping she would sense the desperation in his eyes. "Teacher, I'm afraid," he said softly, his voice shaking.
"Really?" Poison asked, "this is your plan?"
"Shut up, I'm in the middle of something here," he replied again telepathically.
Miss Greene stroked his cheeks in an attempt to soothe him. "Don't worry dear, you'll be fine, X-rays aren't painful," she said, her voice tender and reassuring.
"If you say so," he turned reluctantly, took a deep breath, and followed the doctor.
"Robert, what do we do now?" Poison asked solemnly.
This isn't how it was supposed to end, their symbiotic relationship was supposed to be for life!
"I guess I have no choice but to be x-rayed," He replied, feeling as if he were walking to his own execution.