"Mom?"
Nuala turned from the window at the sound of her son's voice, weak and shaky though it was. "Cailan? What is it, honey?" She asked, walking over to the side of the bed and laying a hand on the boy's forehead.
" 'm cold..."
His temperature's rising... what am I supposed to do? Nuala wondered sadly to herself as she withdrew her hand. Outwardly, she gave her son a small smile as she retrieved another blanket from the end of the bed and pulled it up over his shoulders. "How's that, then?" She asked.
"...'s better..." Cailan said quietly. Then, after a brief moment of silence: "What's gonna happen to me, Mom?"
His mother sighed, unable to keep the discouraged tone from her voice as she replied slowly, "I... I don't know, honey. Doctor Thedra won't be back in town until tomorrow, so. Just... hang in there until then, okay?" As she spoke, she brushed the hair away from Cailan's face gently, noting again how warm he was.
Why did it have to be him? He's only 5!
"Where's Dad?" Came her son's voice again. Nuala glanced over her shoulder at the open doorway. "Logan?"
There was a brief pause, and then the sound of footsteps. A moment later a man appeared in the doorway, his face a mask of exhaustion and concern. "How is he?" He asked.
" 'm okay, Dad..."
A look of relief flashed across the father's face as he approached the bedside. "Hey, Son." He said with a weak smile. "Just hang on. We're gonna get you fixed up in no time."
Cailan nodded slowly. "I know." He said, and was quiet for a minute. Then: " 'm sorry."
Nuala gave him a perplexed look. "Whatever for?" She asked. Her son let out a shaky breath and looked at the ceiling. Then his facial expression changed to one of confusion, though his mother thought she detected something else as well. She watched in concern as his eyes widened slightly and his face went pale. "Cailan? What's wrong?" She asked in a voice full of worry.
"...He's looking at me..." Cailan whispered.
Husband and wife looked at each other in alarm. Then Nuala turned back to her son. "Who?" She asked.
"The man... on the ceiling..."
Both parents looked up instinctively at the ceiling. It was as blank as a sheet of paper.
It wasn't long after that the convulsions began.
YOU ARE READING
Whumptober+ Short Stories - Volume 1
Short StoryA collection of one-shot whump prompts. All characters belong to me, and I may or may not use them for books in future :) Warning for minor-to-major violence, depending on the prompt.
