The Chest of the Lost

Chapter 11: Waiting

 We pulled into the hospital and the paramedics threw open the ambulance door, wheeling Griffin toward the large hospital doors. He was still unconscious as his family and I trailed quickly behind them through the chaos of the hospital hallways. We passed many people in white uniforms rushing around, trying to get from one place to the next, meanwhile sharing short, frantic conversation with those around them. The walls were decorated with a faded floral wallpaper and the chairs that sat behind the front desk and against the walls were matching. The floor was a green carpet, worn down by years of use and lots of wheelchairs rolling over it as patients, unable to walk, were transported throughout the hospital.

We followed the stretcher down the long corridor and into an elevator, which we barely fit into. I stared down at Griffin's lifeless face and thought about his Crystal in the hands of someone else. How could someone knowingly cause someone else this much pain?

I knew I couldn't wait for Griffin to wake up, so I decided that I would leave that night to go get his Crystal by myself. It may be too late by the time he became conscious again and I wasn't sure when that would even be.

The stretcher was wheeled into a room and the door was closed behind it, leaving us stunned and anxious in the hallway. We began to make our way slowly back down to the waiting room, hoping we wouldn't need to wait there long.

But as darkness neared, I became more anxious. I paced back and forth in the small room, while Griffin's family sat uneasily in the worn out hospital chairs. I finally sat down after an hour of walking back and forth and glanced over at Griffin's sisters, all who wore worried expressions. Gracie sat, leaning on her mom's shoulder, while Jane, sitting next to her, sketched on some paper she had borrowed from the front desk. Harmony was blogging, asking people to keep her brother in their thoughts and prayers as they awaited the news about Griffin.

About two hours after arriving, a doctor walked into the room.

"Skai," he announced and Mrs. Skai quickly rose, rushing to meet him. They talked quietly for a few moments, then Jentry nodded and walked back to her spot next to Gracie. She sat down and the girls leaned in near her.

"What did he say?" Jane asked, putting her paper and pencil on the floor. It had a beautiful sketch of the Eiffel tower, shaded to look amazingly real.

Mrs. Skai sighed and said, "They don't know what's wrong. He's still unconscious, but at least he's finally breathing. The doctor said he's been taking in short breaths a little at a time, just enough to keep him alive. But they still can't figure out why he suddenly passed out the way he did." Mrs. Skai bent down and picked Kira up off the ground where she was putting together a puzzle, and set her on her lap. Gracie, Jane, and Harmony all looked petrified, as they leaned back in their chairs, trying to take in the news. Gracie looked at me and gave a half-hearted smile, which I returned.

The waiting room slowly began to empty as people got up and left. Not long after dark, it was completely empty besides us and another family on the opposite side of the room. The doctor who had come in earlier to talk to us about Griffin appeared at the door once more. He walked over to Mrs. Skai, whose face was creased with worry as she stood to greet him.

"I'm sorry, but we still don't know what's wrong, so we're going to keep him overnight. There's a hotel about three buildings down that offers a discount to families visiting loved ones in the hospital. I suggest you get some rest, then come back in the morning."

"What kind of hospital is this?" Mrs. Skai asked.

"I beg your pardon?" the doctor asked patiently. I could tell he had a lot of practice with families stressed over the hospitalization of a loved one, because he remained calm and stone-faced.

"My son passed out and has been unconscious for the last four hours and you don't know what's wrong with him?"

"Mrs. Skai, I can assure you we are doing everything we can to figure out what's going on with your son. We've never had something happen like this before, but our doctors are working very hard, I assure you," he replied calmly.

She nodded slowly. "I'm sorry," she said. "I'm just very worried." She took a deep breath as Gracie walked over next to her, taking her hand.

The man nodded. "I understand and I can't imagine how you might be feeling right now. But please, get some rest. We will watch over your son." The doctor readjusted his clipboard and Mrs. Skai nodded and thanked him, then ushered her children and me out the door into the parking lot.

The mood in the car was somber, and we stayed silent the whole way to the hotel. I looked up at the hotel as we arrived, taking in the short, five-story building. It was nice, but small, with little parking options and a small front lobby. We checked in at the front desk, then took the elevator upstairs to room 415.

There were two queen-sized beds and a fold-out couch that had a bed in it as well. Kira and Mrs. Skai laid on the bed nearest the window, and the other girls sat on the couch and turned on the TV, flipping through channels.

I felt oddly out of place and felt bad for Griffin's family. They were scared and had no idea what was going on with him. I did, but I didn't think I had the courage to do anything that would be able to help him. I wondered how long it would be before he woke up, but I knew I couldn't wait that long. I got up from my place on the couch where I was sitting next to the already sleeping Jane, and walked over to where Mrs. Skai was lying in her bed, Kira snuggled up next to her.

"Um, I'm just going to go take a walk down the street. You know, clear my head," I lied.

Mrs. Skai sat up in her bed, the dark circles were clear under her eyes. "Okay. Are you all right?"

"I'm fine, I'm just not very tired right now," I responded and she nodded, then sunk back into her bed. I walked over to the door and grabbed one of the two room keys we had been given, which sat on the table next to the door.

"Where are you going?" Harmony asked, sitting up and pausing the TV.

"I'm just going to take a walk, I'll be back," I told her, then added, "You should probably go to sleep." She nodded then rolled over on the couch, closing her eyes. I pulled open the door and walked down the silent hallway to the elevator.

I didn't really have a plan, but I had a goal, and that was to get Griffin's Crystal back; I had to try.

I pressed the button which had an 'L' on it for 'Lobby' and the elevator took me to the bottom floor. I sped past the front desk, hoping the lady sitting behind it wouldn't see me. I knew the hospital ride from Griffin's house had taken less than five minutes, so I knew the forest couldn't be far. I crept silently down the sleeping street in the direction I remembered coming, cautious of my surroundings.

Just then, a car swerved rapidly around the corner, heading straight toward me. I ducked down to the ground and shielded my face with the back of my hands. Please don't hit me, please don't hit me, I thought.

Then there was a loud crash. 

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Haha, okay so now you're probably wondering what's going to happen. I'd love to hear ideas about how you think this will play out! c/v/etc. Until next time!