Claro opened his eyes slowly, seeing the accustomed lighting above him. He tried to move but his whole body hurt like a man who had been tossed and turned by waves in the middle of the ocean during a violent storm. He had another one of those weird dreams. This time, it was about pretty, colorful, winged girls the size of dragonflies. They were covering him with a blanket. The door opened to reveal Mateo with a tray. He put it down on a side table and drew open the window curtains.
"Good morning," Mateo forced a cheerful greeting. "You gave us a fright. We thought the worst." He informed as he helped the sick man to a sitting position.
"W-what happened?" Claro asked weakly.
"You don't remember?" Mateo asked back. "Might as well. Things like that are best forgotten."
"I...I saw...your wife. S-she was ch-chanting. Strange. I didn't u-under...stand...words." Claro was looking up to the older man when his eyes slowly grew rounder and bigger. "S-she...she...."
"She's a familiar, "Mateo finished.
"A-a what?!" Claro was unsure of what he heard.
"A familiar. A human born with supernatural powers. She is the chosen protector of those from the other realm. The one we cannot see." Mateo smiled the way someone would to a child.
Claro moaned and laid himself back to bed. He found it difficult to absorb anything at the moment. He tried to recall what happened the day before...
He saw Robbie running towards him. The boy's face was terrified. He could hear him shouting his name...shaking him. Then there was Mateo's voice calling him. In between he would slip into oblivion. It seemed forever when he managed to open his eyes once more. This time it was Ella's face hovering above him anxiously. But he could not understand what she was saying. He slipped again into unconsciousness. And then he met the goblin king!
Claro sat up straight. He wanted to know if what he saw was true. Mateo looked at him anxiously.
"The human-frog...is that true?" the writer inquired in a doubtful voice.
"Oh, yes. He is true. And so are the other creatures that my children had told you about," the older man's tone was grave that Claro was even more confused. Mateo smiled at the other man's expression. He offered the hot liquid in a cup that he brought with him on a tray.
" Drink up. You must get well." Mateo held Claro's gaze.
The younger man drank obediently but stopped before he could finish a third of the brew. " Ugh, nasty!" He shuddered slightly. "What's in this?"
"My own special brew," Mateo smiled, " It will surely speed up your recovery."
Claro handed the cup to the older man and laid back on his bed without a word. He's not ready to return to his normal self just yet.
" Erh, you're AD called five times yesterday," Mateo looked at Claro meaningfully. " She said that your boss has been expecting you since yesterday."
" Yesterday?!" Claro bolted up this time. " What day is today?"
" Tuesday," Mateo smiled apologetically, " You've been knocked out cold for almost three days."
"Oh no, I'm dead!" He stood up abruptly but swayed weakly if not for Mateo's quick assistance.
"Easy, man. You've not fully recovered yet." He guided Claro back to bed. " Finish your drink, then take a long rest. Tomorrow, someone from your staff will come here to fetch you."
" Wh...? But..." Claro began as he laid on the bed again.
" No buts now," Mateo spoke firmly, " There'll be plenty of opportunities to return here --if, you still want to."
YOU ARE READING
Tales from the Inn in the Middle of Nowhere
Fantasy...The White House holds many secrets. It invites visitors to reconnect with nature by spending their weekends with a family who lives in a white house located in the middle of the woods. But nature is not the only connection that this inn provides...
