Enter the Shadows: Book One of the RTS Series (First Full Draft)

Chapter Three

Robin

Robin disliked hospitals. There was just something about being surrounded by people he didn't know, fighting for their lives against illness or injury, the smell of antiseptic and plastic, and the idea that people had most likely died in the very room he was sitting in made his skin crawl.

But in this regard, he had little choice. He sat in his own hospital room, in a chair by the window, staring out at the city beneath him. It was fairly late in the evening and the sky was only starting to change colors with the rotation of the sun. Sunsets were Robin's favorite time of day, as they brought back memories of a happier time.

There was a knock at the door, followed by a nurse named Randall. "Hello there, Robin! How are you feeling?"

"I feel fine, thank you."

"Good to hear." The nurse smiled widely. "Anyway, your guardian is here to talk to you! He's right outside, if you're up for having visitors."

Robin nodded slightly, trying not to move his head too much or risk a headache. "That's fine."

"Great!" The nurse held the door open, and in came Michael Karter. A long time family friend, and Robin's legal guardian. "I'll leave you two be for a bit." And with that, she left, closing the door behind her.

Michael walked up to Robin, carrying a tote bag, his expression betraying great worry. "Sorry I couldn't get here sooner, I had to stop by the house to pick up a few of your things. How have you been feeling?"

"I'm alright. I'm sorry I worried you." Robin sighed. "I guess I'm just a little frustrated." He clenched his hands into fists. "I've never had a seizure before, and it's so frustrating that this one little thing is forcing me to stay in the hospital overnight."

"It can't be helped." Mike sighed, leaning against the wall closest to the window. "You apparently split your head open when you hit the ground, and they were worried you got a concussion. On top of that, it's not normal for someone like you to have a seizure out of the blue."

Robin looked down at his hands, understanding there was a reason for concern to be raised, but feeling downtrodden for making Mike worry about him since he already had enough to deal with; being chief of Raiter City police, and having to raise Robin as a single father.

"You look tired..." Mike frowned. "You haven't been sleeping again, have you?"

He didn't look up. "It's not like I don't want to sleep, Mike. I just... can't."

Mike sighed, somehow looking more exhausted than Robin felt. "We could get you sleeping pills, you know."

"I don't want to take drugs just to sleep at night. It would be as if I were giving up." Robin rubbed at his tired eyes. "Does Mindy know about this?"

"Oh yeah. She took it as well as anyone would." Mike almost laughed. "I had to convince her not to drop everything and fly back over here to check on you. I told her you were fine, but she didn't believe me."

Robin almost cracked a smile. "She doesn't need to worry about me so much. She has more important things to be worrying about."

Mike seemed to go a bit rigid at Robin's saying "more important things", but digressed. "Not really. You're supposed to call her as soon as you get home."

Robin felt a bit afraid of the idea, knowing that Mindy would most likely be upset. "And there's no way to avoid that?"

"Nope." Mike laughed a little. "She already chewed me out for not telling her immediately."