Trials of the Test Subjects

Fun chapter: sick

Second part

When I woke again, the light had shifted—less harsh, more muted, like the sun had moved higher in the sky. The fever still clung to me, making the room feel a little too warm, but the weight on my chest had lessened. I could breathe a bit easier, and my thoughts weren’t as clouded.

The nurse was back, checking the IV drip, and there was a small cup of water on the side table. She smiled when she saw my eyes open, her blonde hair framing her face in a neat, almost nostalgic way.

"How are we feeling now?" she asked, adjusting a dial on the IV.

"Better, I think," I croaked, my voice raspy from the fever. I tried to sit up, but the dizziness returned, and I quickly leaned back against the pillow.

She placed a hand on my shoulder to steady me, a reassuring pressure that felt oddly familiar. "Take it slow," she said gently. "You’ve been running a high fever for a while now. Rest is still the best medicine for you."

I nodded and glanced around the room. Everything seemed peaceful, but I couldn’t shake the sense that something was missing. My teammates... where were they?

"Are they alright?" I asked, my voice sounding more urgent than I meant it to.

She gave me a soft smile, tapping her chin thoughtfully. "Oh, they’re all fine. They’ve been checked on too. You were just the one with the fever, but it’s already coming down. They’ll be by soon, once you’re a bit more awake."

A small wave of relief washed over me at her words. It seemed that I wasn’t the only one being looked after, which made me feel a little less isolated.

"Are you hungry?" she asked as she adjusted my blankets and checked the temperature of the room. "I can get you some light food—just some soup or broth for now."

My stomach grumbled at the mention of food, and I realized just how long it had been since I’d eaten. "Yeah... some soup sounds good."

She nodded, pulling a small notepad from her pocket and scribbling something down. "I’ll have that sent up for you shortly."

As she moved toward the door, she paused and glanced over her shoulder at me, her smile soft and warm. "You’ve done well. The team will be happy to see you back on your feet soon."

I offered a weak smile in return, grateful for her kindness. It felt odd, this quiet and care, but in a comforting way. There was something soothing about her presence—the way she moved with purpose, with calm assurance, like she’d done this a hundred times before.

The door clicked softly shut behind her, and I was left with the soft beeping of the machines, the light coming through the window, and the gentle buzz of the air conditioning. I closed my eyes again, sinking into the pillow, letting my thoughts drift. I felt better now, more awake, but still too weak to do much.

The door opened a crack just as I was about to fall asleep again. I looked up, and a familiar face peered in. It was Sera, her expression soft and concerned as she entered the room.

"Hey, you’re awake," she said, stepping in cautiously. Her eyes swept over the room, settling on me. "How are you feeling?"

I blinked at her, surprised by how much I appreciated seeing her face. "Better... I think. Just tired," I said, still trying to shake off the remnants of the fever.

She walked over and gently sat on the edge of the bed, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "You really scared us, you know," she admitted softly, looking down at her hands. "We were all worried."

I tried to give her a reassuring smile. "I didn’t mean to. Just... needed a little extra rest."

"I get it," she said, her eyes flickering to the IV in my arm. "You push yourself too hard sometimes."

I shrugged, a little embarrassed. "I guess. But I’m okay now. The nurse says I’ll be fine after some food and more sleep."

"Good," she replied, her voice steady. "We’re all fine. No one else is sick or anything, so that’s a relief."

I felt a knot of worry loosen in my chest at her words. "Thanks for checking in on me."

Sera smiled and reached out, gently patting my hand. "Of course. We're a team, remember?"

I nodded, a small smile tugging at my lips. For the first time since waking up, I felt more at ease. The fever might have slowed me down, but it hadn't broken me. And with my friends around me, I knew I could get through it.

Sera stood, looking back toward the door. "I’ll let the others know you’re awake. They’ve been itching to come in and see you, but I think they were waiting for the nurse's go-ahead."

"Thanks," I said softly.

She smiled again, her eyes glinting with warmth. "Get some more rest, Mitochondria. We’ll be right outside. You’ve earned your break."

And with that, she left the room, closing the door quietly behind her.

I lay back against the pillow, letting my eyes flutter shut once more. Maybe this wasn’t so bad after all.