Death Boy [Revised Edition]

Four

The steady, rhythmic sound of a heart monitor and the burning sterile smell that comes with being in a hospital room were the first things I noticed as I began to regain consciousness. I didn't even have my eyes open to know where I was.

My eyes felt heavy and I knew that it would be a struggle to get them open.

It was the startling coldness I was feeling in my right hand that intrigued me to pry my eyes open.

It was a feeling that felt vaguely familiar, but I couldn't quite place where it came from.

I was in a private room, one that I had been in often throughout the years whenever I did something that got me hurt.

According to the hospital staff, it would be nothing but the best for Mayor Saunders and his family. I knew from the quietness of the hospital that visiting hours were already over.

I looked over to my right to see the boy from the party. Devon.

"Hey," he murmured quietly.

"Um, okay," I replied, trying to come up with a reasonable idea as to why he was in my room when visiting hours were clearly over.

"I snuck in," he answered my unasked question.

"Why?" I asked, not really expecting an answer.

"No one else from the moment party was coming to see if you were okay. You shouldn't have to be alone when you wake up," he said softly.

"Oh. Thanks, I guess."

"So, what's new in your life," he asked, pushing my body so he could join me on the already cramped hospital bed.

"Well, I passed out at a party and now there's this strange guy who thinks he is entitled to half of this small bed," I said nonchalantly.

"Wow. You lead a very dangerous life," he said, sarcasm dripping from every word.

"Yeah? You have boney elbows," I said, poking the elbow that was digging into my ribcage.

"Sorry," he apologized, adjusting his position so that his arm was over my shoulder and my head was resting on his solid chest.

"You also have cold skin, think you could fix that?" I asked jokingly.

"Nah, I'm a part demon, so there's not much to be done," he said seriously.

"You're funny," I smiled.

"Ha, you think I'm joking," he said and my eyes widened and I lifted my head so I could peer into his dark eyes.

"I can't tell if you're actually serious now," I mentioned.

"You believe in supernatural beings?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I binged all of Supernatural over the winter holidays, I believe anything," I said.

"You are a strange being," he laughed.

"Says the man who claims to be half-demon," I retorted with a smile on my face.

"I guess we're both strange," he said quietly.

I smiled and rested my head back down on his chest to listen to the rhythmic beat of his heart.

Normally, I wouldn't like to hear noises at night, but his steady heartbeat was soothing. It made me feel safe.

Slowly, but surely, I began to feel myself drifting off to sleep. As much as I wanted to stay awake and demand to know more about the stranger who's heart was beating like a wordless lullaby, the exhaustion of the the day finally won as I fell back into unconsciousness.