"Eda, King..." Luz smiled through shimmering tears. "Thank you for everything.""Right back at you, kiddo.""Weirdos?" Luz extended her hand, revealing a small scar. Years had woven their tales, turning strangers into best friends, transforming tears into laughter, and discovering family."Weirdos." Eda and King joined their hands with Luz's.Luz's smile deepened; it was genuine and heartfelt. She looked up at the starry sky, and a gasp escaped her lips."They're nearly gone!"Luz sprinted ahead of the crowd, then turned to face everyone."Okay, everyone, on the count of three. One, two, three!""BYE—EEE!"The echo of farewells lingered, blending with the bittersweet symphony of cherished memories.Amidst their farewell, a high-pitched beeping relentlessly pierced the air. The shrill tones echoed, disrupting the tender moment and demanding attention like an unwelcome guest refusing to leave."What's that sound?" Luz asked, looking at the sky."Eda?" Luz's gaze fell back to the once-thriving crowd, which now vanished into thin air."Guys? Eda! King! Amity!" Luz's desperate calls echoed in the eerie silence.They were just there, and now they were gone."Luz?""MOM?!" Luz's scream reverberated through the desolation.Luz blinks, her movements sluggish. A heavy lethargy gripped her body, rendering her immobile. Something was placed over her nose, making it feel like she was being hit by the wind."Luz!" Camila's smile lit up, excitement coursing through her veins. She sprang to her feet, swiftly reaching out to grab her daughter and pulling her into a tight, engulfing hug."Mamá?" Luz's voice was raspy, like she hadn't talked in years.Camila's eyes welled up with tears as she watched Luz slowly open her eyes. "Luz, you're awake! Thank the stars!" She choked back a sob, holding Luz's hand tightly.Luz strained her voice. "What happened?""You've been in a coma for weeks, sweetheart," Camila explained, her voice trembling with a mix of relief and lingering worry. "I didn't know if you'd ever wake up. I was so scared of being alone."Luz squeezed her mother's hand. "I'm here now, Mom. You're not alone."Camila's tears spilled over, and she laughed through them. "I can't handle being alone, Luz. You're my light, my everything."Where's Eda and King?" Luz asked, her voice tinged with urgency."Who, Mija?" Camila questioned, holding Luz's hand tight, concern etched on her face.Luz jolted up, pulling the needles from her hands and arms. "Luz, careful!""Eda and King? You don't remember! I was just with them."A wave of panic swept over Luz as she frantically searched the room, her eyes reflecting the fear of losing those she held dear. The reality of the moment hit her like a ton of bricks, and she clung to her mother's hand, desperately seeking reassurance amid the chaos."No! No! No!" Luz's frantic exclamations filled the room with a crescendo of fear and confusion.Camila tightened her grip on Luz's hand, her own eyes brimming with worry. "Luz, it's okay! You're awake now. Everything's going to be alright."Luz's breaths came in sharp gasps as she tried to make sense of the disorienting reality around her. "But Eda and King... they were right here!"Camila struggled to find the right words, torn between comforting her daughter and understanding the gravity of the situation."Luz, sweetheart, right now, the most important thing is that you're awake, and we're here together."As the commotion escalated, a concerned doctor rushed into the room. "What's happening in here?"Luz, still in a state of distress, pointed desperately at an empty space in the room."They were here, and now they're gone! I don't understand!"The doctor exchanged a worried glance with Camila, realizing the delicate nature of the situation. With a gentle tone, the doctor assured Luz,"Let's figure this out together, alright? We'll do everything we can to help you and find your friends."Luz jumped out of bed, ignoring the protests of the doctor and her mother. With hurried and unsteady steps, she sprinted down the hospital corridor, her heart pounding in her chest."Luz, wait! Stop!" Camila and the doctor called after her, their voices filled with concern.Ignoring their pleas, Luz burst out of the hospital doors and into the open air. The cool breeze hit her face as she scanned her surroundings. Something was off. The familiar sights and sounds of the Boiling Isles were replaced by the hustle and bustle of the human world."What... where am I?" Luz muttered to herself, disbelief coloring her voice.Camila and the doctor caught up with her, their expressions a mix of worry and confusion."Luz, please, you need to calm down," the doctor urged.Luz stared at the unfamiliar cityscape around her, her mind racing. "This isn't the Boiling Isles. How—How—How—How—"Tears filled her eyes.Camila grabbed her daughter by the shoulders and forced Luz to face her."Lucz, we'll figure this out. Let's go back inside and talk to the doctor, okay?" Her voice was a mix of worry and frustration, from her daughter not listening to her.Inside the hospital, Luz sat in a hard, cold chair, her expression vacant as she stared at the white-spotted floor.The doctor approached with a mix of sympathy and concern in his eyes."Mrs. Noceda, during Luz's time in the coma, it seems she created an entire world in her head."Camila's eyes widened in disbelief. "A... world?""Yes, like a story or a movie." The doctor continued. "It's not uncommon for coma patients to experience vivid dreams they perceive as real. In Luz's case, it seems she constructed an elaborate world, complete with its own characters, events, and magic."Luz remained silent, her eyes distant, as if still caught between the two worlds."We need to help her navigate through this," the doctor explained gently. "The transition back to reality can be challenging. She may struggle to reconcile the experiences in her created world with the real one."Camila looked at her daughter with a mix of concern and understanding in her eyes. "What can we do to help her?"The doctor offered a reassuring smile. "Support and time will be crucial. Luz needs to process the differences between her constructed reality and the real world. Therapy might also be beneficial to help her come to terms with the experience."Camila nodded, determined to be there for her daughter.Luz sat in the chair, tears silently streaming down her face. Camila, concerned, gently asked, "Luz, what's wrong?"For a moment, Luz hesitated, then the floodgates burst open. She fell forward onto the ground, overcome by a wave of emotion."It was real! It was all real! Eda, King, Willow, Gus, Hooty, Owlbert, Lilith, Hunter, Flapjack, Vee, Raine Whispers, The Collector, Amity—they were all real!"Camila jumped onto the ground beside Luz. She exchanged worried glances with the doctor as Luz's cries echoed through the hospital. Her words carried the weight of a reality that seemed to slip away, leaving her stranded in a world she didn't want to be a part of."Luz, please, we're here for you. Take deep breaths." Camila said, reaching out to comfort her daughter.But Luz couldn't be consoled. She screamed through her tears, a gut-wrenching expression of the turmoil within her."They were real! I lived with them, laughed with them, and cried with them! Amity, the love of my life—she was real! How can you tell me it was just a dream?"The doctor joined in the attempt to calm her. "Luz, we understand this is difficult for you. Your mind created a vivid world during the coma, and those experiences feel real. But now, we need to focus on your recovery in the real world."Luz shook her head, desperation in her eyes. "No, you don't understand! They were real!"Camila, heartbroken for her daughter, held Luz close, trying to provide comfort amidst the storm of emotions. Yet Luz's shattered reality.Instead of stepping through a portal to the Demon Realm, Luz's accident was a real-world incident. The accident was an unfortunate collision with a car. Luz, in her pursuit of adventure or distracted by her love for fantasy worlds, found herself in a dangerous situation on the streets of the human world.This accident led to her slipping into a coma, and within the confines of her unconscious mind, Luz created an intricate fantasy realm—the Boiling Isles. In this world, she encountered characters like Eda, King, Amity, and the others who became an integral part of her dreamlike existence. The accident served as the catalyst for her journey between two worlds, blurring the lines between reality and the vivid construct of her own imagination.
