Garthia: The Forgotten King

Chapter Twenty

~Chapter Twenty

After introducing me to our unsuspecting ally, who I honestly don't think will be any help at all, although Fera insisted it, the others, including Cam, who smiles shyly on the way out, leave me alone in the stark white hospital room.

I wish they wouldn't leave me by myself so I wouldn't have to think back on the incident that got me here. Against my will, I think back on it: the massive slab of earth slamming the body into the ceiling, the stone spikes turning red with blood, the searing pain of the sword going through my body.

As if on cue the wound in my side aches violently. I squeeze my eyes shut against the pain. It subsides to a slow throb. I breathe a sigh of relief just as the door creaks open, letting Aiden in with it. He smiles.

He looks a lot different than the last time I saw him, drunk in Downtown Brewery. He's clean shaven, his wardrobe has been updated, thank goodness, and he seems happier.

"So I see you've woken up," He starts toward my bed. "I'm glad I was able to come to see you, under the circumstances." he says, mostly to himself, as he stares out if the window.

"What circumstances?" I can't help but be curious.

He snaps back to look at me, confused at first, but then his smile returns. "Nothing you should worry about." He returns his gaze to the window, and something in his face changes. "I have to go," he says suddenly. "Nice seeing you, kid." He ruffles my hair a bit and shoots a quick worried look at my bandage before hurrying out the door, almost slamming into my dad, who was just coming in. They glance at each other and a sort of hidden message passes through.

What's with these people and their secrets?!

Anyway, Dad continues into the room and grins at me as he sits on the edge of my bed. "I remember my first time getting stabbed," he says, reflectively. Not the sort of experience a father should share with their child.

"Well then you probably remember how irritating it is to have everyone come in and bring flowers and 'get well' cards." Another thing me and my dad share. We don't like to be pitied.

He laughs, making his eyes crinkle. "I also remember the pain," He raises an eyebrow. "Although you seem to be handling it quite well."

My side throbs violently, almost causing me to black out, as if just the mention of it makes it hurt. I grimace and Dad looks concerned. I smile at him to let him know it's alright and he relaxes.

His phone vibrates. When he looks at the screen the concern returns to his face. "I have to go." he says, suddenly. Then he swiftly kisses me on the head, says goodbye, and darts out the door.

And I'm left alone.

>>>

A week later, although it felt like five months, they finally let me out of the hospital. I returned home, although, to my surprise, my Dad wasn't waiting for me. So to give me something to I began reluctantly peeling off the bandage wrapped around my waist.

All week long I hadn't looked at the wound when they replaced the bandage because I was afraid of what it would look like. I figure that now that it's slightly healed it won't look as gruesome.

I start to pull it off slowly and the rest of it falls off by itself. When the last of the bandage falls to the ground, I gasp at what is uncovered.

A slim white scar cuts jaggedly across my pale skin where the blade cut through me, which is to be expected, but there's something else that shouldn't be there. Something dark and curious. In the center of the scar, glowing eerily, is a symbol. But not just any symbol. A symbol that confused me when I first saw it, but now I understand it's significance. It's a circle with the for elements inside, and a ghost-like creature in the center.

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Hey guys! I would love to get some feedback on how the story is going so far! It would be great to hear from you!