Golden Eye of Michigan

Chapter V (TW: stitches)

Gabriel barely remembered anything else that happened after the incident. The only thing he could recall was being rushed to the nearest hospital, all a blur thanks to the memory of the incident, still fresh in his mind. But as soon as he was given anesthesia to get on the operating table, all his shock and fear faded as he was lulled into a deep, dreamless sleep.

 ~ * ~

The first few beams of sunlight seeped through the window into the hospital room, waking up Gabriel from his unconscious state. He sat up and looked around groggily, taking a moment to catch his breath when he felt a nasty headache coming about. It felt like it was begging to go back to sleep, his vision going to static. But just as fast as it came, the pain faded away until he could see again.

The room he was in was simple and tidy, with sleek white walls, smooth pale tiles and a large window to let in the sunlight. He was sitting in a big hospital bed, with a monitor showing his vital signs on his left. Everything felt calm and safe, in contrast to the dark forest he was in last night. The boy then felt everything from the last twenty-four hours come rushing in. He remembered him and his friends going out in that expedition, encountering the cryptid in the dark, and the painful scratch near his eye which sent him home crying.

Speaking of... When Gabriel reached to touch his scar, he felt little bumps where the sharp claws met his skin, and it stung whenever he applied pressure. "Did I have to get stitches? Was it really that bad...?" He dreaded the possibility. The boy looked around again, hoping to find a mirror to see what his scar looked like later.

Everything felt quiet, but lonely. There wasn't any another patient or staff with him, which means that he had no one to talk to, or at least keep him company. Gabriel frowned, and lied down on the soft cushions. He sat there in silence, hoping that someone would come in to check up on him.

~ - ~

It felt like an eternity when he heard footsteps coming towards Gabriel's room and the door opened. An older man in a white coat walked in, who he assumed was the doctor, and was quickly joined by his mother. She had a look of relief on her face, as she stood by quietly.

"Good morning, Gabriel." The older man spoke up calmly. "How are you feeling?"

The teen thought about it. "I'm better now." He replied softly. "Just a bit woozy."

His mother sighed, relaxing her body from how tense it was. "So, doctor Williams. How long will it be until we can remove the stitches?" She questioned.

"Fortunately, the damage was only superficial, even if it bled a lot at first. It should fully heal in a week at best."

As his mother and the doctor continued their discussion, Gabriel zoned out and let his thoughts wander. A week? But how would his friends react to his scar? What about his other peers, or the neighborhood? "This is going to be an interesting week..." He thought nervously.

"Um, can I look in the mirror for a moment?" Gabriel managed to ask the doctor.

The older man nodded, and looked around to give the boy a handheld mirror. For a second, Gabriel felt anxious as he saw his own reflection. In the same place where he felt the stinging pain, were little patches of reddened tissue, held together by a thin black string. Two separate scars crossing over part of his brow, and a longer one beneath his eye.

The boy then quietly placed the mirror aside and didn't say anything else. His mother quickly finished up the conversation, and the doctor confirmed that he can go back home.

The trip back to the neighborhood was quiet, as the sun was rising up in the sky for noon. Gabriel was looking out the window of his car seat, as the scenery of houses, fences and neatly kept gardens passed by in a blur. His thoughts wandered off again, replaying the incident over and over again in his mind.