Devil's Peak

Chapter 8

The sun shone brightly through the curtains as Christopher lay in bed, his eyes heavy with worry. He knew he should be at school, but there was no way he could focus on anything other than Ryder's wellbeing. The house felt unnaturally quiet without the youngest Street sibling's laughter echoing down the halls.

"Come on, sleepyhead," Katie gently shook Christopher awake. "We're all staying home today. We need to stick together."

"Any news about Ryder?" Christopher asked, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

"Mom called. The doctors still don't know what's causing his fever, but they're working hard to figure it out," Katie said softly, offering a reassuring smile. "Let's make the best of our day here, okay?"

Christopher nodded, knowing Katie was right. As much as they wanted to be at the hospital, they needed to keep their spirits up for Ryder's sake.

"Alright, troops!" Katie announced, marching into the living room where Tommy and Lilyhad gathered. "As your temporary commander-in-chief, I declare today a day of fun and distraction. Let's break out the board games, snacks, and movies!"

"Can we watch that new pony movie?" Lily asked.

"Of course!" Katie agreed, her enthusiasm infectious. "Anything to take our minds off things for a little while."

Throughout the day, the siblings played games, watched movies, and shared stories, each trying to focus on the positive memories they had with Ryder. But every so often, Christopher would catch Katie glancing at the phone, anxiously awaiting an update from their parents.

"Katie, can I talk to you for a second?" Christopher whispered, pulling her aside.

"Sure, what's up?" she asked, concern etched on her face.

"Thank you for everything you're doing today," Christopher began, swallowing the lump in his throat. "But I can tell you're worried too. We all are."

Katie sighed and hugged Christopher tightly. "I know, but we need to be strong for Ryder. He's going to get through this, and so will we."

"Promise me that if you hear anything, you'll let us know?" Christopher asked, looking up at his older sister.

"Of course," Katie promised, ruffling Christopher's hair affectionately. "Now, let's get back out there and show our siblings how to have some fun, okay?"

Christopher nodded, grateful for the support and love that surrounded him. Together, they rejoined their siblings, determined to keep their spirits high while they waited for news about Ryder's condition. And as laughter filled the room once more, Christopher couldn't help but feel a small flicker of hope ignite within him.

As the laughter and chatter of his siblings filled the room, Christopher's gaze fell upon Jellybean, who was curled up asleep on Ryder's bed. An idea sparked in his mind - if he could dream walk back to Ryder's dream, maybe he could find some answers or even help him.

"Hey, guys," Christopher announced, rubbing the back of his neck. "I'm feeling kind of tired. I think I'll go take a nap."

"Sure thing, Chris," Katie said, giving him a knowing smile. She had seen the determination in his eyes and understood that her little brother needed a moment to himself. "We'll keep the noise down."

"Thanks," Christopher whispered, grateful for her understanding. He retreated to his room, closed the door, and lay down on his bed. Within moments, he found himself standing in the familiar, yet eerie forest of Ryder's fever dream.

The scene had changed from his previous visit, now there was a spooky hallway leading to the strange other worldly portal - the doors lining the corridor stood ominously ajar, and the flickering lights cast unsettling shadows on the walls. Christopher approached the door he knew led to where Ryder was trapped, his heart pounding with anticipation.