Expelled Souls

Echoes of a nightmare

Ivy’s breath came in ragged gasps as she struggled to pull herself from the suffocating darkness. Her throat felt tight, as if something invisible was squeezing it, and the shadows around her seemed to mock her cries for help. No matter how loudly she screamed, no one came to her aid. The oppressive silence only intensified her fear, and the feeling of being utterly alone was overwhelming.

The sensation of pressure on her chest began to ease as she slowly awoke, her surroundings coming into focus. She found herself back in the hospital lounge, Noah hovering beside her with a look of concern.

“Hey, Ivy, you’re okay,” Noah said softly, his voice a soothing balm in the quiet room. “You were really tense. Did something happen?”

Ivy’s heart pounded in her chest, and she took a moment to steady her breathing. “It felt so real. I was trapped, and I couldn’t breathe. It was like no one could hear me.”

Noah floated closer, his expression one of deep sympathy. “It’s alright. You’re safe now. We’re here together.”

Ivy took a few more breaths, trying to shake off the remnants of the nightmare. As her heartbeat slowly returned to normal, she looked at Noah with a troubled expression. “Noah, I’ve been thinking. We were neighbors, right? How come we never talked before?”

Noah’s eyes flickered with a hint of sadness. “Yeah, we were. I lived in the house next to yours. I guess we were in different circles, and we just never really had a reason to connect.”

“It’s strange,” Ivy said, her brow furrowed in thought. “We must have seen each other. Why didn’t we ever talk?”

Noah shrugged, a thoughtful look in his eyes. “Sometimes people just don’t connect until it’s too late. I suppose we were just two ships passing in the night.”

Ivy nodded, feeling a pang of regret. “I wish we’d had a chance to get to know each other.”

“Me too,” Noah agreed. “But we’re here now, and we can make the most of our time together.”

Ivy’s thoughts turned back to their situation. “You’re right. We need to investigate more. Maybe we can find something that helps us understand what’s happening.”

As they prepared to leave their hidden lounge, they saw Ivy’s mother walking down the hall. Her mother was deep in conversation with a hospital staff member, her demeanor light and cheerful. The sight of her mother, so unaffected by the gravity of Ivy’s condition, twisted Ivy’s heart.

Ivy tried to hide her disappointment and hurt, forcing a composed expression. “Let’s follow her,” she suggested, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside.

Noah nodded, sensing her distress but remaining silent. They trailed behind Ivy’s mother, trying to overhear more of their conversation. As they listened, Ivy’s heart sank further. She heard her mother discussing the circumstances of Ivy’s coma—how it had been a deliberate decision rather than an accident.

“I can’t believe they did this,” Ivy murmured, her voice breaking. “Why would they put me in a coma?”

Noah placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. “Ivy, I’m so sorry. I can’t imagine how painful this must be for you. But we need to stay focused. We’ll figure out what happened.”

Tears welled up in Ivy’s eyes as she tried to process the revelation. “I thought they loved me. Why would they do this?”

Noah drew her into a gentle embrace, his touch tender and reassuring. “We’ll find out the truth together. It’s not just about what happened to us—it’s about understanding everything and finding a way to move forward.”

Ivy leaned into Noah’s embrace, finding solace in his presence. Despite the uncertainty and heartbreak, she felt a deep connection with him. They were no longer just two lost souls; they were partners in uncovering the truth.

As they stood there, the weight of the revelations and the pain of Ivy’s family’s betrayal hung heavy in the air. But Noah’s unwavering support provided a glimmer of hope.

Determined to find answers and escape the confines of the hospital, Ivy and Noah decided to venture beyond the familiar confines of their makeshift lounge. They floated together down the sterile hallways, passing through walls and rooms in their quest for freedom.

“Let’s try to get outside,” Ivy suggested, her voice filled with a mix of hope and trepidation. “Maybe there’s a way out if we can just reach the outside world.”

Noah nodded in agreement. “Good idea. If we can get outside, we might be able to figure out more about what’s going on.”

They made their way to the hospital’s main entrance, only to find that their attempts to pass through the doors were futile. Each time they approached the entrance, they were met with an invisible barrier that pushed them back.

“It’s like we’re being kept here,” Ivy said, frustration edging her voice. “We can’t seem to get through the doors.”

Noah floated beside her, his brow furrowed in thought. “Maybe there’s something we’re missing. Or maybe we’re meant to stay here for now.”

Ivy sighed, feeling a wave of helplessness. “This isn’t how I imagined things would be.”

They returned to their lounge, where Ivy decided to ask Noah about the nature of their situation. “Noah, do you know if there are other ghosts here? I mean, besides us.”

Noah looked thoughtful for a moment. “I haven’t seen anyone else. Just you and me. I assumed we were the only ones.”

Ivy’s heart sank at the realization. She had hoped to find answers from other spirits, but it seemed they were alone in their spectral existence. “I see. That’s... disappointing.”

Noah frowned, clearly troubled. “I keep thinking I’m in a coma, just like you. Maybe this is some kind of shared dream or experience.”

Ivy hesitated, torn between revealing the truth and protecting Noah from further anguish. “Maybe. But... if we’re in a coma, we should be able to wake up eventually, right?”

Noah nodded, though doubt lingered in his eyes. “I hope so. But what if we don’t?”

Ivy took a deep breath, trying to keep her voice steady. “We’ll figure it out. We just need to keep looking for answers.”

The conversation left Ivy feeling even more conflicted. She wanted to support Noah, but the burden of knowing the full truth weighed heavily on her. She knew she couldn’t tell him yet, not when he was already struggling with his own sense of loss and confusion.