"I'm afraid you'll need to leave your son in our care and return tomorrow. We require uninterrupted time to conduct a series of observations and tests." Dr. Tom addressed Mr. and Mrs. Smith with a firm yet empathetic tone as he emerged from Mike's ward.
"I refuse to leave my son alone in this place. I'll stay with him until tomorrow." Mrs. Smith responded resolutely and unwaveringly.
Dr. Tom's expression remained calm. "Your presence would hinder our ability to perform our duties effectively. We cannot have you monitoring our work."
Undeterred, Mrs. Smith rose from her seat, her eyes fixed on the doctors exiting Mike's ward. She approached the door, intent on entering.
"If you cannot trust us with your son's care, I suggest seeking alternative medical facilities," Dr. Tom said, his words halting Mrs. Smith's progress.
"I won't leave my only son alone. You can't expect me to abandon him." Mrs. Smith said.
"Dr. Tom, please reconsider. Can't one of us stay with him?" Mr. Smith intervened.
Dr. Tom shook his head in disapproval. His reason, though unspoken, was clear: the presence of a family member would jeopardize the secrecy surrounding Dr. Philip's astonishing claim about Mike's condition.
Rachael, eager to intercede, was silenced by Mrs. Smith's warning glance. In frustration, she stormed out of the corridor, followed by Stefan.
With no alternative, Mr. Smith gently guided his distraught wife out of the hospital, leaving Mike in the care of the medical team.
As the duo exited the hospital, Stefan turned to Rachael, his brows arched in curiosity. "There's something definitely strange about the book in the box. I know it! Where did you get it?"
"I don't know," Rachael replied curtly, her gaze fixed on the ground as they walked toward the nearby bus station.
Stefan's gaze locked onto hers. "Come on, Rachy, don't play dumb," he said. "You mean the opposite, don't you? There's no way you wouldn't know anything about the box."
Rachael was silent, her eyes remained fixed on the ground, clearly avoiding Stefan's probing gaze.
"I remember Mike telling me not to annoy you by breaking it," Stefan pressed on. "Tell me sincerely, where did you get it?"
"It's none of your concern!" Rachael replied harshly, more harsher than she initially meant. "Just forget it, okay?"
Stefan's eyes widened in shock. "Just forget about it? Seriously?!" He took a step closer. "I'm Mike's best friend, Rachael. I deserve to know the truth, don't I?"
"No, you don't. You're his best friend, not mine," Rachael replied, she glanced at Stefan, her eyes flashing with defiance.
The tension between them was obvious. Stefan's gaze lingered on Rachael's face, his eyes searching for answers.
"You're going to regret not telling me," he snapped, turned around and stormed off.
Rachael watched as he disappeared into the crowd and she let out a deep sigh, maybe of relief. But there's a bit of regret in it.
"Ohhhh! That was close," she muttered under her breath. "I'm sorry, Stefan, but I can't bring myself to tell you we stole the box."
The weight of the secret settled heavy on her shoulders as she boarded the bus and headed home.
Stefan, meanwhile, grumbled to himself as he boarded a bus to his house. "She's just as Mike told me – she's crazy." His eyes gazed out the window, his mind replaying the conversation. "I know there's more to it, Rachael. And I'll find out."
When he got home he trudged through the front door, his mind racing with frustration and confusion.
"How could she keep something so significant from me?" he wondered, his thoughts swirling in a vortex of uncertainty. Doesn't she trust me? Why was the book empty anyway?
The questions rumbled in his head like a relentless storm.
Just as he was about to collapse onto the couch, his mother's voice pierced the air, "Stefan!"
Mrs. Haysbert's eyes narrowed slightly as she took in her son's troubled expression. "Why are you returning home so late with a mind so clearly unsettled? What's bothering you, Stefan?"
Stefan flung himself into his mother's embrace, tears welling up in his eyes. "Mom, I don't know what to do," he cried, his voice cracking with desperation. "I want to help, but I don't know how. He's...he's..."
Mrs. Haysbert's arms enveloped him in a warm, comforting hug.
"It's okay, my dear," she soothed, her voice a gentle balm to his frazzled nerves. "It's okay my dear, there's always something you can do. Just give it more thought and you're gonna figure it out. You're not alone in this."
Her fingers stroked his brown curly hair, a calming gesture that slowly began to still the turbulent waters of his mind.
***
At 7 pm, Dr. Tom entered Mike's ward for a final examination before concluding his day.
"How do you feel?" he inquired, his eyes scrutinizing Mike's as he shone a light into them.
"I feel like I'm drowning in darkness, alone and terrified. This is a new level of fear for me," Mike replied.
Dr. Tom bit his lips and sighed. He opened his mouth to speak, but no word came.
"Is there really nothing you can do to help me?" Mike pleaded, his voice trembling.
Dr. Tom's sigh conveyed his own frustration. "Let's hold onto hope. We need to identify the root of the problem before we can determine a solution." He paused, collecting his thoughts. "For now, rest and try to dispel these negative emotions. We'll start anew tomorrow, so don't lose faith in regaining your sight just yet, okay?"
Mike nodded, but his expression betrayed his despair. His eyes remained wide open, vacant, and haunting, reflecting the depth of his sadness and disappointment.
*****
In the mouth of a dark cave, Djumara, a towering figure with an imposing presence, stood vigilant. His bald head, long pointed ears, and muscular physique were silhouetted against the vibrant orange sky, which cast an otherworldly glow on the mountains beyond.
His demonic eyes, aglow with an ethereal red light, blinked with anticipation as he gazed out into the distance.
"He's alive! The Chosen One, the Jyuran, has finally emerged!" he exclaimed, his voice echoing through the cavernous space.
A hint of a smile played on his lips as he turned to face the shadows. "The one we've awaited for centuries, the key to our liberation, has finally been chosen."
"Many believe the Jyuran to be mere myth, a relic of a bygone era," a feminine voice emerged from the darkness.
"I have foreseen him, my daughter. He lives, and I must find him before Dahra does," Djuma responded. "Our last hope of freedom hangs on his shoulders."
Djumara's daughter stepped forward, her concern palpable.
"The kingdom is a fortress, its security impenetrable. Life within its walls is a mere existence, not truly living. How do you plan to breach its defenses and find the Jyuran?" she asked. "If we're caught, all hope is lost. No freedom, no mercy. Our mission to find the Jyuran will be doomed."
Her eyes scanned beyond her father, at the cave entrance, as if anticipating potential dangers.
Djumara turned to face his daughter, his expression firm but gentle. "What do you mean by 'we'? This is my duty, Miram. Mine alone."
"You're always pushing me away, keeping me trapped in this cave!" Miram bristled at her father's words.
"You're too young, too vulnerable. I won't risk losing you." Djuma replied and proceeded towards the entrance.
"You can't keep me prisoner forever! I'm a witch, just like you. I can protect myself," Miram snapped.
Djuma turned around to face his daughter again, his eyes filled with a deep concern. "You're still underage, Miram. Your powers are raw, untested. You can't face Dahra's minions alone. You won't survive."
Miram's wings fluttered wildly as she flapped them in agitation. "I'll be an adult in less than four months! Can't you just trust me?"
Djumara shook his head. "We're the last witches on this planet, Miram," he said. "Our survival depends on caution. Wait until you're of age, until your powers are fully yours to command. Then you'll be ready to face whatever dangers lie outside."
Miram's groan echoed through the cave, a mixture of disappointment and frustration. She vanished into the darkness, her wings beating fiercely.
Djumara's expression turned unwavering. His thoughts focused on the mission ahead. "I will not be swayed. I will find and protect the Jyuran, no matter the cost."
"Dahra, your reign of terror will soon be broken. I vow to retrieve your father, the legendary Kingdom Protector, and restore him to his rightful role, thereby shattering the darkness that has consumed our world and reviving the safety and security that once flourished under his watchful guardianship. With his return, our world will be reborn, freed from the shadows of fear and oppression."