Open Your Eyes

Prologue

        "No, no, no, no!" the doctor cried, rushing into the hospital room, a nurse in his wake carrying a defibulator in her hands. The nurse started the defibulator and rushed to the doctor's side. She handed the machine to him.
       "Clear!" the doctor screamed as he used the machine to shock the girl, Athena Trueheart. Athena's body lurched at the shock. Jacob Stone stood in the doorway, face filled with fear and regret.
       "Clear!" the doctor screamed again. Jacob Stone looked away as he saw Eve Baird, Cassandra Cillian, and Ezekiel Jones dashed down the hallway.
        "What's happening? What's going on?" Eve Baird asked, placing a comforting hand on Jacob's shoulder. She pushed him gently to the side and stepped into the room.
        "Excuse me, ma'am, I'm going to have to ask you to leave," the nurse pushed Eve out the door and slammed it in her face. She glared at the door, then looked at Jacob sympathetically. He had a hand over his mouth, the other over his chest, and his eyes were shut. He looked like he was about to cry.
       "Come on, let's go wait in the waiting room," Cassandra whispered. Eve, Cassandra, and Ezekiel began to head back down the hall when the little girl, Jamie, rushed towards Athena's room.
       "Is she alright?" Jamie questioned, breathing hard. Jacob looked down at her. Jamie was clearly afraid.
       "I-I don't know," Jacob replied. Jamie hugged him tightly. Jacob looked over at Eve, Ezekiel, and Cassandra. They felt Jacob's sadness. They began to approach when Athena's door opened. Jacob turned to face the doctor. The doctor's head hung low.
       "I don't know how to say this, but I'm sorry," the doctor said, face wiped clean of all emotion. Jacob's heart sank as he gently forced Jamie off and headed in the room. He took slow steps towards her bed, the heart rate monitor continuing the flat line noise. The noise seemed to be louder in Jacob's ears than it really was.
       "No, not now."
       Jacob reached the bed and looked down at Athena's lifeless face. He began to cry, which is something he rarely did. He pushed a piece of hair behind her ear. His hand lingered on her cheek before he pulled away. He leaned down and planted a kiss on Athena's forehead. Jamie walked in the room and hugged Jacob again, silent tears ran down her face like snakes.
       "Stone, Jenkins needs us," Eve informed Jacob. He turned to leave, Jamie grabbing his hand and leaning her head against his arm.
        "Wait, why was she in a coma?" Jacob asked the doctor.
        "Oh, let's see," the doctor searched his clipboard. "Ah, here it is. She came because she touched a poison needle." The doctor lowered the papers and held the clipboard in front of him.
        "Wait, a poison needle?"
        "Yes." Jacob finally realized.
        "Hello?" a voice inquired. Jacob turned around, the tears immediately stopping. He almost grinned, but was too stunned. In the room, Athena was pushing herself up to a sitting position on the bed. The doctor's mouth dropped open as he looked in the room, then to the nurse, then back to Athena. Eve, Cassandra, Ezekiel, Jamie, the doctor, and the nurse followed Jacob into the room.
        "A-Athena? Is that you?" Jamie grabbed Jacob's hand as he said that.
        "Yes," Athena began, touching her throat. "And you are Jacob Stone. I heard someone say your name." Athena coughed a little, her voice rough from not talking for three years. The doctor rushed to her side, inspecting her throat. He gave her the thumbs up and headed back to stand by the nurse.
        "Oh, yeah. That was me that told you. I'm Ezekiel, by the way. Ezekiel Jones."
        "I know who you are," Athena coughed again. "What happened to me?"