Octa-Hedron

Chapter 2- The Ticking Clock

As the sun peered through Cindy's bedroom window, she couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and trepidation. Yesterday's encounter with that mysterious creature in the woods left her with an eagerness to uncover its secrets. But there was also an undercurrent of worry that danced in her eyes and tingled in her fingertips. She was worried because he wasn't at the bus stop when she got there. She texted him right away.

Cindy reached for her phone, her hands slightly trembling as she typed out a message to Matt, her closest friend. "Where are you?" she texted, a hint of concern lacing her words. She couldn't help but remember his health condition, the brain tumor that had plagued him in the past.

She waited for a reply, but there was nothing. She started to get worried. "Matt, are you okay?" She sent another text, this time with a pleading tone, seeking reassurance of his well-being. The silence on the other end of the phone only deepened her worries. As minutes ticked by without a reply, her concern grew like a storm inside her. Was he alright?

Still no reply. Cindy was starting to panic. She got on the bus and called Matt, but his phone went straight to voicemail. Panic bubbled within Cindy as she fumbled with her phone, attempting to call Matt. Her heart raced as she listened to his voice mailbox, the sound of his recorded message offering no solace.

Arriving at school, Cindy's footsteps quickened with worry. Cindy was now in full-blown panic mode. She didn't know what to do. She sought answers from Matt's teacher, desperately hoping for any information on his whereabouts. But his teacher had no answers either, a concerned furrow forming on his brow.

Cindy was starting to think the worst. She was worried that Matt had had a seizure or something. She was so scared.

Just as despair started to settle deep within Cindy, a familiar figure appeared, pulling her from the clutches of worry. She saw Matt walking down the hallway. She ran towards him, relief flooding through her.

"Matt!" she exclaimed. "Where have you been?"

Matt looked at her with concern etched on his face. "I'm okay," he reassured her. "I just had a doctor's appointment."

Cindy's relief quickly turned to confusion. "A doctor's appointment?" she queried. "Why?"

Matt sighed wearily. "I've been feeling tired lately," he explained. "Mom wanted me to get checked out to make sure everything's fine."

Cindy's heart sank. She knew fatigue was a symptom that could be linked to Matt's brain tumor. She worried that something serious might be wrong.

"What did the doctor say?" she asked anxiously.

Matt managed a smile. "Just fatigue," he replied. "Probably from all the time we spent at woods yesterday."

It was good to know that it wasn't anything serious. "I'm glad you're okay," she said. "I was worried about you."

Cindy couldn't help but wrap her arms around him, relief washing over her like a gentle wave.

Matt smiled. "Thanks," he said. 

As Matt looked at Cindy with gratitude for her concern, he couldn't help but notice her leg, which was injured yesterday. It was scraped and bruised, and he was sure it would be sore for a few days. But now, it looked almost completely healed.

"Hey !Did you just run?" he asked, gasping with surprise. "Cindy, what happened to your leg? It's almost completely healed!" He asked, his eyes widening in amazement. Cindy simply ran towards him with a smile on her face, eager to share her latest findings.

Cindy looked down at her leg, surprised herself. She hadn't even noticed that it was feeling better. "I don't know," she said. "I guess, I didn't pay attention to it.. It just started to feel better a few hours ago."