Felix's gaze remained fixed on his lap, the steady beeping of the ECG machine filling the void of silence within the ward. His thoughts swirled in a chaotic storm, replaying the doctor's cryptic words. Where could he possibly begin? Before he could untangle his confusion, the door creaked open, breaking his trance.
He looked up to see a man in a crisp police ceremonial suit, his face sporting a neatly trimmed anchor beard, and a woman with long, dark hair carrying a basket full of apples.
"Ta-da!" his mother exclaimed, hoisting the basket aloft in a cheerful display.
Felix forced a smile, cloaking the inner turmoil with urgency for familial warmth. "Mum, Dad-how did you know I'm awake?" he tried to mask with a tone of surprise that was mixed with some sadness.
The hospital called us the very moment you were admitted, his mother said, speaking in a soothing and reassuring way. She set the basket on the bedside table, starting to peel an apple in practiced precision. "We got the call just some minutes ago that you woke up."
Her hands paused midway in the slicing, her gaze soft, even imploring. "Wait. Aren't you glad to see us?
Felix's heart contracted as he saw the concern in her eyes. "That's not it. Who wouldn't be happy to see their parents?" his voice was even, but laced subtly with melancholy. "I'm just surprised you came so fast. I wasn't expecting it, especially since it's rare you leave home, Mum.
He leaned back against the headrest of the bed and let out a soft sigh as his mother resumed peeling. His eyes darted to his father. "It's also rare to see you step away from work, Dad."
His father furrowed his eyebrows, playful indignation flickering in his eyes. "What do you take me for? Do you really think I am one of those fathers who value their job over their son's life?
Felix raised his hands in defense, a small chuckle escaping his lips. "You don't have to get so worked up. It's just a surprise to see you here like this."
His mother smiled wistfully and nudged her shoulder softly against her husband, the act so light that it filled up the room with warmth. She reached for Felix again, pushing across a plate of apple pieces cut up neat. "Here, have this," she said in a tone smooth as any lullaby. "And stop talking to your father like that.
As Felix reached for the plate, he felt how she was trembling; her grasp on the plate rim didn't loosen an inch. "Mum," he asked, brows furrowed deep into concern, "what is the matter? Why do your hands clench that plate so strongly?
His mother's gaze drifted off into the distance, her eyes sparkling with unshed tears. She froze, as if in that moment, her soul had stepped outside her body. Felix's father stepped forward, placing firm hands on her shoulders, anchoring her back to the present.
"What's wrong, darling?" he asked, his voice firm yet soft.
His mother blinked several times, like shaking herself loose from some unseen chain. A faint, breaking smile curved her lips. "Nothing… just… just looking at our son," she whispered, her voice cracking. "He was so close to death… but he came back stronger."
Her husband drew her into a comforting embrace, her head coming to rest against his chest while his hand stroked her shoulder in soothing circles. "Everything is all right now," he whispered, his tone a balm to her quivering soul.
The room gradually softened as the night wore on-quiet laughter and an interchange of words full of heart. As evening began to set in, Felix's parents stood up to leave.
"Alright, we'll be off," his mother said, leaning over to blow him a kiss from afar. "And don't forget to thank your school president. She's the reason you have this private room. We really appreciate what she has done for you."
Felix nodded, his throat tight with emotion as he watched them.
"And your friend came by several times while you were unconscious," his father added, his voice sympathetic. "He was crying, blaming himself. Said if he had insisted you stay with him, you wouldn't have ended up in this state."
They smiled softly at him, embracing him with that love as though it were some quilt on a cold night. Having said this, the door clicked behind them, and Felix was alone again, with their words and their warmth still palpable in the quiet of the ward.
Two days later, at precisely 4:30 pm, Felix's parents arrived at the hospital. The discharge forms were promptly filled, designating them as his rightful guardians. By 6:50 pm, they had settled back home, the house enveloped in the familiar hum of domestic tranquility.
"Felix, it's time for dinner!" his mother's voice rang out from the ground floor, its warmth carrying up the stairs to his room like an affectionate echo.
"Okay, Mum," Felix replied, his tone casual yet eager. He stepped out of his room and made his way down the stairs, each step deliberate, as though savoring the comfort of being home again.
At the dining table, his father was already seated, the weight of his presence adding a sense of stability to the room. His mother bustled about, setting down the last of the dishes, her movements precise and graceful. When she spotted Felix, she straightened and beckoned him with a smile. "Come here, have your seat." She pulled back a chair for him, her maternal care palpable.
"Thanks, Mum," he said, his gratitude evident in his voice as he took the seat.
The meal was served, and they ate in peaceful silence, broken only by the soft clink of cutlery against plates. It was his father who first breached the quiet. "Felix," he said, his tone steady yet probing.
"Yes, sir?" Felix responded, lifting his gaze to meet his father's. He noticed his father's eyes fixed on him, searching, as though looking for something just beneath the surface.
"How do you feel? Do you… sense anything strange within you?" His father gestured vaguely around his own body, his hands illustrating the unspoken question.
Felix paused, his thoughts briefly wandering before he replied. "Not really. Why the sudden question?" His response carried both curiosity and subtle defensiveness.
"It's nothing," his father said, his tone attempting to dismiss the subject, though the gravity of the conversation lingered in the air like a shadow. "I just thought you might feel… different, given what you've been through. If it's nothing, then that's good."
Felix's mother, sensing the tension, interjected. "Both of you, stop with the sudden serious talk and eat." Her voice was gentle but firm as she scooped another helping of food onto Felix's plate. "You need to eat more, my dear, to regain your strength and energy."
The conversation shifted after that, drifting toward lighter topics like the resumption of school and updates on his father's work. The air gradually eased, filling with the warmth of familial chatter.
After dinner, Felix's mother cleared the table, her hands swift and practiced as she tidied the remnants of the meal. Felix excused himself and retreated to his room, eager for the solace of his bed.
Late into the night, as the house settled into a stillness that only midnight can bring, something peculiar began to happen. Felix's senses stirred, his hearing sharpening unnaturally. The faintest murmurs began to invade his mind, growing louder until the whispers became a cacophony. He could hear his parents speaking downstairs, their voices no longer distant but piercing.
"Do you also notice that he was resurrected through a vampire bite?" his mother's voice trembled, carrying a blend of worry and fear.
"You need to calm down," his father replied, his voice steady but heavy with resignation. "We never wanted him to live such a life, but now… fate has taken the reins."
His mother sighed, the sound a mixture of frustration and despair. "Let's just hope luck is on his side. It's better than losing him forever."
Felix's father moved closer to her, the sound of his footsteps as clear as if he were in Felix's room. "It'll be alright," he said, pulling her into an embrace, their shared fears echoing in their silence.
Upstairs, Felix writhed in his sleep, the barrage of sounds forcing its way into his ears like an uninvited guest. His head tossed from side to side, his hands swiping through the air as if trying to ward off the overwhelming noise. The chaotic symphony persisted, grating against his fragile rest, before eventually subsiding, allowing him to drift back into an uneasy slumber.
The house returned to silence, but within Felix, a storm brewed, a strange, inexplicable transformation stirring quietly in the depths of his being.