Dream Phantom

Chapter Eleven

"What do you mean he's in a coma?" Dani reached for the doctor's lab coat. Jax grabbed her hands and pulled her into his chest.

"Sorry, but is there someone else we can talk to? A specialist? Money isn't an option," Jax said.

The doctor's lips tightened as he shook his head, "He suffered severe cerebral hypoxia caused by strangulation. In some cases the patient may wake up from a coma with a full return of their functions. In some cases, it's a partial return. Seizures are also common."

"So, when will he wake up from his coma?" Helen asked. Calvin was beside her in the emergency room's waiting area, an arm over his mother's shoulders.

"That's not something I can answer for you," the doctor said. He looked tired and ran a hand through his silver hair.

"Who do I have to do to get some real answers around here?" Dolores said loudly.

"Dolores," Helen gave her a chastising look.

The older waitress scowled at her before asking the doctor, "When can we see him?"

"The nurse will come out and speak with you once he's been settled in a room."

They were a pile of nerves after the doctor left. Each one wondering how this could possibly have happened. Bad things weren't supposed to happen to good people like Oliver.

"The officers on the scene of the crime said two high school kids saw him being choked and ran to his car to save him," Jax whispered.

"That's really brave of them," Calvin said softly. "Most teens would've been too scared."

"It saved his life. Any longer, and he wouldn't have made it. The funny thing is that when they got to the car, whoever it was who had been in the backseat was gone. The kids said they didn't get a good look at whoever it was."

"That's strange but I'm just grateful they saved his life," Dani said.

Thirty minutes later, they were in Oliver's private hospital room. They had gathered around his bed, each a little teary-eyed at almost losing the older man.

They watched as his eyes and mouth twitched.

"Do you think he's dreaming?" Helen asked.

"It looks like it, doesn't it?" Calvin nodded. "Maybe that means he'll be waking up soon."

"I'll stay with him tonight," Helen offered. "I want to be here in case he wakes up."

"Me too," Dolores said. "Oliver needs us."

"I want to stay too," Dani grabbed Oliver's hand.

"You can't all stay here," Calvin reminded them. "The nurse said only one person can stay overnight."

"I'll do it," Helen said. "Dolores, Oliver would want you to run the diner."

"Dani, I think we should listen to your mom," Jax said before placing a hand on top of hers. She slowly released Oliver's palm.

"What the..." Jax lost his words as he stared at the familiar circle carved in Oliver's palm.

°°•°•°°

He had to hide from her. If those stupid kids hadn't ruined everything, he would never have been caught.

Asibiaashi would probably kill him

Ozar had to make himself scarce but toying in the human world was dangerous. He had already made a mistake once before and now he had made another. Once Asibiaashi discovered what he had been doing, she'd do worse than break his bones every evening.

Taking on his spirit form, he lurked in the shadows, waiting for the moment he could make a move. It was dark out so he was able to quickly enter the private hospital room. He felt himself stiffen when he saw who was also in the room.

Helen, Calvin, and Dani Deleon.

His smile widened. Tonight,  he was going to get rid of all of them.