Chapter 37 Rising hope
1677 Words
Lucio returns to the hospital where Aria is waiting. He found her asleep next to Fortune. His son looks stable and better this time.
"You have arrived. Why didn't you wake me up?" Aria said when she noticed her husband's presence.
He was standing next to the bed, staring at them.
"I know you are exhausted by what's happening. You need to rest. You haven't been able to sleep in the past few days," he replied.
"What do you think of the Shaman?" she couldn't help asking Lucio.
"I think he is okay. There is nothing to lose if we try. After all, this is all about our son," he answered with affirmation.
"Do you think we can cover all the things he was asking us to provide?" asks Aria.
"We have to. I will be going home while you attend Fortune. I will check the twins first before I take care of the Shaman's requests," Lucio explained to his wife.
Aria feels lighter because of her husband's participation. It would be very difficult for her to move alone without any support.
"Thanks for getting in charge," she complimented him.
After a while, someone knocks on the door. They looked at each other, wondering who was coming.
"Have you got anyone to visit today?" Lucio confirmed with his wife.
She shook her head in a response.
"I'll open the door to see who it is," Lucio answered, and walked through the door.
He was surprised to see Alexander outside. He was with Keila. They looked excited, while Lucio seemed confused.
"Dad, what brought you here?" Lucio asked his visitor.
"I came to pay a visit to my grandson. Is there a problem with that?" says Alexander.
"Nothing. I am just surprised to see you with Keila at this time. You should be off to bed by now," he explained.
"I can't just relax in my comfortable bed while my grandson is in a hospital bed," he reasoned.
"Right," Lucio said bluntly.
He couldn't describe his uncomfortable feelings when his sister and father arrived. It was not usual, especially for Keila, who was never fond of his boys. He just wanted to think that it might have been changed because of the current condition of his family.
"Are you not going to invite us in?" Alexander mockingly insists.
"Sorry, please come in!" he replied, and opened the door for them.
As soon as they got in, Alexander hurriedly went near Fortune. He took the kid's right hand, but he was electrified. He immediately took his hands off the child.
"What happened, Dad?" Lucio asks.
"Nothing! I was just shocked upon seeing him. What did the doctors do to him?" Alexander said in surprise.
"They just went in to observe his condition while taking his medication," Lucio answered.
"What is that?" Keila was intrigued while her eyes were locked on to the small item in the hospital bed where the child was lying.
She saw something shining beneath the child's blanket. It was black but shone brightly.
"That was nothing. So, how are the twins? I am about to go home to check on them when you arrive," Lucio asked the visitors to divert their attention.
"They are good. We can't stay up late at night, so we might go home. We will be right back any time of the day," says Alexander, bidding goodbye.
"But you have just arrived, Dad," Aria replied in confusion.
It's odd that they can't stay longer when they actually take their time driving all the way from the mansion to the hospital.
"It's alright, it's almost midnight anyway," Lucio commented.
"Yes, we get plenty of time this week. For sure, we can stay as long as we would like. Hoping that Fortune can already talk when we get back here," Alexander said.
"I agree. I will be joining you, Dad. I want to see the twins," Lucio advised his father.
"Okay, we have to go now. Bye, Aria. You take good care of yourself. We can't have you sick too," Alexander reminded his daughter-in-law.
"I know, Dad! Take care on your way home," says Aria while waving her right hand.
No further comments came from Keila, but it can be observed that her eyes were checking every single corner and item inside the room.
It's time for them to leave, and Aria has to stay with Fortune. She noticed earlier that the black pendant lying beneath Fortune's bed was blinking. It looked troubled earlier, but now it seems like it doesn't exist there. It was calm and in sleep mode. She wondered what it meant.
"Mom!" Fortune called.
He was awake after a long sleep.
"Honey, how do you feel? Did I wake you up?" she replied happily when she realized that her son had awakened.
"Can I drink some water? I feel thirsty," he complained.
"Sure, let me get you one. Just a second," she said, and stood up to fetch him a glass of clean water.
It had been days since she recalled that Fortune had drunk some water. She consumed lots of water this time. She was smiling while staring at his beautiful face.
"Thanks, Mom. Where is Daddy?" he said when he finished drinking three glasses of water.
"He went out to check on Lucky and Charm. I guess you are feeling good, am I correct?" Aria told Fortune.
"I feel better than in the past few days. I heard someone talking earlier. Where are they?" he replied while his eyes were looking around.
"It was Grandpa and Keila. They came here to see you." Aria said.
"I thought it was someone else. I didn't recognize their voices. I am hearing different noises that I can't identify," Fortune told his mom.
Aria was bothered by his story.
"Are you sure? We were talking and we thought that you were in deep sleep and that you couldn't hear us," she insisted.
"Yes, Mom. I feel like I'm in a dark, wild forest. I hear strange sounds, but I do not see anything," he added.
"Maybe you are just dreaming. It wasn't true. You are here in the hospital and the doctors are treating you to recover." She said to divert her son's belief.
"I am not sure either. I am just telling you what I have heard," he reasoned out.
"Let's just forget about that. What's important is that you are doing better. Focus on your healing and full recovery. We would love to be home with you," Aria said in a sweet motherly tone.
He smiled distinctively without saying a word.
"What's with the smile, Honey?" she asked, because she was bothered by his response.
"Thanks for doing everything you can. When is he going to come back?" Fortune said.
She did not anticipate this kind of interrogation.
"Who are you talking about?" she then asked, because she was confused by his question.
"The old man is trying to help me. I have seen him in my dreams," he explained.
Aria looked into her son's eyes, and he was really sure of his story.
"Do you know him?" she asks him back.
"Yes, someone told me his name. He has guards who protect me. That's the reason why I am able to get back to my consciousness now," he added.
His son, who just turned four years old, can now speak and communicate the way older men do. But she wanted to believe that he was too young and maybe it was just the result of his creative imagination. But he was right about an old man who visited him today.
"Honey, you are sick and all you have to do is rest your body and relax your mind. Mom and Dad will always be beside you," she instructed him.
"Alright, but is he going back?" he repeatedly asks.
"Yes, until you get back in good shape. Listen to us and be a good boy," she asked the young man.
"Mom, can I eat?" he said and Aria couldn't help smiling.
She was happy to see that there was somehow some improvement in her son's condition.
"Of course, let me get you some food. Stay here, I will be very quick." She replied and hurriedly ran out of the room.
She wanted to buy him hot soup at the nearest restaurant. It's already midnight, and it's a good thing that most establishments outside the hospital compound are open twenty-four hours. She bought two cups of hot soup for them. She realized she missed her meals due to stress and exhaustion.
When she got back into the room, she learned that Fortune was holding the pendant that the old man had given him.
"He gave me this, where his guards are in it. They will protect me, Mom." Told Fortune to his Mom.
Fortune was telling a story about what was in his pendant. She remained silent as she prepared his soup. She handed it over to him and he started to do his first scoop.
"He said we should keep the pendant safe so it will protect us. However, its power will expire when the time comes. That is why we should be ready before that day. You have to be strong and fight for whatever it is that is harming you." She said in a low tone.
It was a secret and she chose to tell Fortune because he needed to be prepared for what was going to happen.
"I knew it," he replied.
"Are you not scared?" she asked him, amused by his reaction.
"No, because you are there with Dad and my siblings. The old man will be back to cure me, right Mom?" he confidently exposed his faith.
"Of course. Just eat all you can so you will regain your strength," she ordered.
When they were done, Fortune took some time to play word games, and when he felt tired, he slipped off his head to the soft pillow waiting for him. Aria joined her son because she needed energy before the new day began.
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