SkyEarth (Reborn) Book 1: Stratos Rising

Chapter 7: The Last Days

Shaun woke up from what seemed like a few hours of sleep. Upon opening his eyes, he saw that he was lying on a soft bed in a square room of pale green walls, varnished wooden floor, and a single window with creamy white curtains. A few paintings hanging on the wall. The room smelled sterile for some reason. Groggy as he felt, aside from the impressionist painting of a flower vase and a realist painting of a mother holding her infant child, one painting caught Shaun's eye.

It was a large landscape painting of a morning sunrise. While the land itself was just an inch of green grassy field with a hint of gold gloss, the whole sunrise dominated the canvas. Painted in a horizontal gradient, the contrasting colors of night and morning collide with the thin line of pale colors caught in between. Dawn. He didn't know how his painting got here, survived the bombing, or who brought it in here. So far, he didn't complain.

In fact, he welcomed it.

"Where am I?" he muttered groggily as he rubbed his eyes.

"You're in a hospital room." said a familiar angelic voice. Shaun turned and saw Persephone sitting on a wooden chair at his bedside with a tray of breakfast. How had he not noticed her in the room? He must be too sleepy or too dazed. Or too hungry. The sight of the bowl of plain oatmeal made his stomach rumble.

"I have breakfast for you. I didn't make it if that's what you're thinking. I hope you feel rested." said Persephone. Shaun didn't say a word as he took the tray and began to eat. The oatmeal had a drizzle of honey so it didn't taste all bad. The toast was a little bit crumbly but the butter actually helped. The granny smith had been thoroughly washed clean and tasted juicy. There's a lone pill, for the pain Persephone had said, and he swallowed it with a glass of water. It helped wash it all down.

"Ah, that's good." said Shaun, patting his stomach. "And with you being here, I'm feeling better already." Persephone couldn't help but smile. Shaun can be so charming without him realizing.

"Well, maybe not yet." Persephone said, her hands clasped daintily together on her lap. "With enough rest, you'll be on your feet in no time."

Persephone looked absolutely beautiful in the morning light. Shaun couldn't help but be at awe at her natural beauty. Her long wavy strawberry blond hair flowed like a waterfall of liquid amber. Her soft pale olive skin glowed in the morning light. Her smile looked as warm and gentle as the sun. Her shiny caramel eyes gleamed like liquid caramel. And she smelled of lilac, mint, and cinnamon. She wore a sky blue blouse with white sailor collar and bishop sleeves, a dark blue sash around the waist like a belt, and a flowing sky blue skirt. The only thing that marred her beauty were the scars on her skin, which had turned white with time.

"What happened?" Shaun asked her. "Why am I here?"

"You mean you don't remember?" asked Persephone, concerned.

Shaun took a good look at Persephone's marred skin. Suddenly, flashes of memory came to him, burning into his mind like a film in a projector burning white from intense heat. And just like the memories, intense pain shot throughout his body and Shaun grimaced. He yelped and groaned in pain, and Persephone, seeing him in pain, quickly ran to the door and called a nurse, but before she could open the door, she heard Shaun say, "I... I remember."

Persephone sighed in relief. It was only a temporary lapse of pain. She went to Shaun's bedside and sat on the chair, her body relaxed.

"Don't scare me like that." she said as she sat down on the bed beside him. Her left hand slowly reached to Shaun's right. Their fingers intertwined and clasped together. Upon contact, they felt a momentary shock of euphoria for a second, and then it faded just as quickly. They knew what this feeling means, and they won't ever forget that feeling from this point on.