Episode 9
536 Words
In the midst of navigating varied treatments in the hospital, Jack had consistently been close by; however, Jason had yet to fully experience cohabiting with the patient. This passing thought flickered through his mind as his fingers brushed against the fabric of the sofa.
A peculiar warmth seeped through, the sensation unmistakably emanating from a living being.
The realization hit Jason abruptly, an unfamiliar warmth touching his fingertips—a tangible sign of life, shared by an adult sentient being. He paused, taken aback by the strangeness of the sensation, unaccustomed in both his previous existence and present.
For a moment, he froze, hand hesitating on the blanket. In a soft yet uncertain tone, he spoke, “Hey… you…”
Jason's voice, though not loud, caused the tightly cocooned blanket to shift, and he seized the moment to lift the cover—
The patient's soft brown hair lay tousled, his head nestled within the blanket, revealing only a sliver of a defined profile, lips drawn tightly, and eyelashes fluttering with anxiety. His breathing was uneven, pain evident—yet his presence was vividly alive, like a graceful wolf resting from its wounds—undauntedly real.
Jason gripped the blanket tighter, waiting for the chill running down his spine to abate. During the urgency of earlier moments, it hadn't seemed as overwhelming; now, with the patient settled on his couch, it felt somewhat excessive—like a cat detecting an encroaching beast in its territory.
Lost in his thoughts, the patient flinched from discomfort, turning to lie flat. The sofa was small, and as he adjusted, he almost unconsciously inched closer to Jason, warmth and rustling sounds breaking through the blanket's barrier. Jason could faintly sense a tremor rising from his core, reminiscent of a gentle nudge from a wolf.
His throat tightened, allowing the blanket to slip from his grasp, covering the patient entirely. He settled onto the edge of the sofa, exchanging a confused glance with Mary nearby.
“What do we do now?” Mary looked up at him, seeming somewhat at a loss with the new addition to their home, “Do we just leave him?”
“I don’t know either,” Jason confessed, his expression bemused. “What do you reckon we should do?”
This posed an overwhelming question for the small machine's limited processing power, prompting it to seek advice by connecting to the internet.
“Accessing the web… How to take care of a newly arrived patient… What to do with an unexpected patient…”
Amid a rush of responses, Mary ultimately condensed the advice into—“Evaluate his health, provide sustenance and warmth, aid recovery, and ensure proper care!”
Mary declared this with fervent enthusiasm, her words resonating through the quiet room.
“…”
Jason covered part of his face with a hand, exhaling before advising laboriously, “…You might want to limit internet access, especially avoiding dubious websites.”
“Understood,” Mary replied obediently, albeit puzzled, disconnecting as instructed.
Eventually, Jason sighed heavily, deciding to let things proceed naturally—waiting for the patient to awaken before taking any action. Sending Mary to recharge, he activated his smart assistant on his wrist.
- Writer
