The Grims

Chapter 11- Awake

White light blinded her vision as her eyes fluttered open. She moved her hands. She felt so stiff. Her hands were folded on her stomach, like she was going to be asleep forever.

"She's awake!"

Immediately, she heard noises coming from all around her. She winced as she felt something cold coursing through her right arm. Pain coursed through her body, but that all went away after a few moments.

"Cima, I want you to do as I say, okay? Can you move your legs up and down?" a doctor asked.

Cima moved her legs, grunting as she moved her legs up and down the bed under a warm blanket. "Now move your hands to your sides and back on your stomach."

Cima did as she was told and opened her eyes wide. She was in a hospital. The beeping started as her ears pounded.

"Cima!" Dixie's voice rang out.

"Dixie, careful, she just woke up," Mr. Grim chuckled.

"Hey, sis," Cima said hoarsely. "I've been through heaven and back, haven't I?"

"You've been asleep for two years." Mr. Grim frowned.

"At least we saved the world, right?" Cima whispered to Dixie.

Dixie's eyes widened at the realization. It wasn't a nightmare, they both dreamed it. And what is the coincidence of that? The Azoth was real, Isis and Gonner were real. He was real.

"Do you think it was real?" Dixie asked.

"I do." Cima nodded, opening her skull belt and taking out the heart necklace. "I think they've lived their lives the way they wanted to, and now they're watching over us."

"I hope so." Dixie smiled.

"We're going to discharge you soon," the doctor informed her.

"Excellent," she groaned, looking at the butterfly needle in her arm.

They discharged her two hours later, and she finally went home. Her mother greeted her at the front door of her father's house, and the two girls hugged her tightly. Cima was awake.

"What did I miss?" Cima asked.

"Well, your room still looks like a preteen," Dixie teased.

"I expected that. What else?" Cima smiled, making Dixie smile back.

Cima walked up the stairs to her room next to Dixie's. She was going to have a major cleaning day. Her room was covered in dust. Her bed was made just like it was before she left for school.

"What day is it?" Cima asked.

"Sunday. We have school tomorrow. I just woke up," Dixie explained.

"At least we have a couple hours to clean," Cima reasoned.

They cleaned, and by the next morning, Cima thought nothing had changed. That she fell asleep in the middle of class and woke up in her bed. But she didn't, not after she noticed the scars on her stomach. She was pretty sure none of her classmates even knew that she was awake.

"C'mon, Dixie! Time to wake up," Cima said, walking into the girl's room and pulling the curtains open. She looked toward the bed and noticed it was neatly made. "Dixie?" Cima questioned.

"Downstairs!"

Cima ran downstairs and saw her sister preparing breakfast. Cima smiled and sat down at the island, wondering what made her sister get up so early.

"Here. I made your favorite oatmeal," Dixie said, handing her the bowl that smelled of apple and cinnamon.

"What happened? Do you have a fever?" Cima teased, reaching up to touch her sister's forehead.

"Knock it off." Dixie swatted her hand away with a smile. "No, just... trying to be in a better mood."

"Glad to hear it, sis," Cima said before she ate.