Masters's Son

Three

"Aside from getting fried? I tripped." I would've crossed my arms but it's restricted by an IV in one arm plus a Pulse Oximeter is on the other arm.

I love to use sarcasm.

His eyebrows furrow in confusion . "What-" he didn't get to finish because Maddie and the same nurse from earlier walked in, cutting him off. Miss nurse held out a small paper cup full of water to me. That was fast. That or me and Jack were silent longer than I thought.

But since when did the portal work? Is that what they were talking about last night?

I take the cup from her hands with a 'thank you'. I turn the cup upside down into my mouth, the water gone in an instant. She was nice enough to take the empty cup. The water wasn't all that tastey but it's hydration, so, cool.

She gives me a small, kind smile that I return. She walks out of the room leaving me with my parents again.

I dislike this. I dislike this a lot.

"What happened?" I ask looking to my quiet 'parents'. "We got home from getting a few parts we thought were necessary," she paused glancing at Jack  then to me quickly before continuing, "we got home to the portal on and you..." she looked hurt, like she didn't like what she saw.

Like she ever cared.

"You were halfway out of the portal unconscious. We didn't know what to think." Jack held her hand as she spoke. "Your pulse was slow, we called the ambulance as soon as we saw you. How long were you in there?"

It didn't take long for me to make the decision to go in the "broken" but it took me a few minutes to change into the jumpsuit. "I'd say around ten minutes after you left." I shrug, I'm not sure how long they were gone. Who knows how long I stayed like that.

They looked scared by my answer. I show my confusion, and so they explain, "We were gone for three hours."

"I think we should let you sleep. We'll be back soon sweetheart." Maddie gives me a sweet grin as she stands up. Jack follows her out.

I doubt she wanted me to sleep, just used it as an excuse to get back to the house. More specifically the newly working Fenton portal that almost killed me leaving me bed bound for a couple of days. I haven't a clue how long the hospital tried to get ahold of my parents. What day is it?

I wish I had my phone with me right now. Of course, I don't ever use it for texting anyone but my sister occasionally. I use it for entertainment. Nothing else. Literally. I don't have friends and obviously me and my parents don't communicate often.

I want out of this place called Amity Park. As soon as I graduate, I'm out. They won't miss me when I'm gone. Heck, I bet they'll throw a party at my absence. I don't doubt if they're disappointed the portal didn't just finish me off when it had the opportunity.

I need my license and a job. I'll get a house somewhere far away, maybe even room with Jazz for a bit. I'll get my life together. I'll study more and focus harder. I'll make Jazz proud of her useless brother. I'll do it for me, for her. I'll prove the A-listers wrong, I'm not a loser. I'm not completely worthless.

Once I'm out of the hospital I'm going to school with a new mindset. I'm gonna shake my parents' past comments, I'm not Jazz. I'm me. And I'll be me. New or not.

With my last determined thought, I finally go to sleep. The more I sleep, the sooner I get out of bed. And the sooner I'll change for the better.

Jazz, I promise I'll make you proud to call me your little brother.

+++

I'm out! With crutches, but I'm out. They said I wouldn't need the crutches long since the sprain is minor but I should still keep pressure off of my ankle. They said a week should be it. That's good I guess.

I follow Jack and Madeline into the Fenton Ghost Assault Vehicle, otherwise known as FGAV. Getting in I think back to a few odd occurrences in my hospital room makes me kind of weirded out but mostly confused.

The nurse comes in with a cup of water delicately in her hand.

That's nice of her. Still her job but it's probably the nicest thing someone's done for me for a while.

I sit up and she hands over the cup. I grasp the cup but in an instant it was gone. I didn't feel it slip from my fingers. It was like it wasn't there anymore. It vanished.

It split to the floor. I feel so bad and it doesn't help that she comes back with maintenance. I offer to help but they decline. They said "happens all the time" and such but it didn't make me feel any better.

But that wasn't all that happened that day.

Close to sunset, I'm the only one in the room and I am bored. I start to play with the loose threads of my thin cover but I start to sink into the bed. Not into the cushions, but within the plastic frame. I start to panic.

I'm ashamed to say I'm tempted to call Jazz. I decided against it. I can't bother her. Especially with something like this. Not with her strong disbelief in the paranormal.

And now I'm here. Finally leaving this boring place. I want a shower. We drive in silence, they forget my existence the whole ride back home.

Home. Hardly.

Not that I mind. It's quiet. So that means no criticism directed at me.

Peace.

I stare out the window the entire ride. I wonder if Jazz knows about the accident. The van stops in front of the house. The bright neon sign glowing even in the day. The words Fenton Works on it.

How I can't wait to leave this place for good.

But I wonder, what happened to me to make those things happen at the hospital? Why did the cup of water spill? I had it in my had, I swear I did. And the bed incident. That's unexplainable, no way that could just happen.

I take my crutches from the backseat beside me and get out.

Getting up the stairs are a challenge when on crutches. But when my bedroom door is in sight, it'll be all worth it when I jump in bed. I close the door behind me, my crutches getting in the way.

I wish so much that I had a lock to my bedroom. Maybe then Jack and Maddie won't be able to barge in uninvited. Doesn't matter to them that I'm a fourteen year old boy. No no, they don't care.

I lay my crutches down at the foot of my bed and kick off my shoes, careful of the fabric ankle brace. I don't want any pains to start up. I burrow beneath my comforter. The thick duvet soft over my exhausted body.

Too tired to take anything off such as my jeans, I keep them on. That place made me so tired. I was bored the most of the time and panicking the rest. Mentally and physically tiring. I begin to drift off to sleep.

Bang!

Sike, Jack barges in because of my lock-less bedroom door. "Danny-son!" I'm not even surprised at this point. Maddie walks in after him. I move the cover slightly to see them better but don't sit up. "Yeah?" I'm tired, okay? Anyone and their grandma can hear it in my voice.

"We wanted to take you out to dinner!" Maddie says, the mom-smile spread across her lips.

This can't be good.

"Why?" I don't mean to sound suspicious, but this is definitely unlike them. They don't notice or they don't care. Either way, they continue.

"Can't we take our son out to dinner?" Her voice was in a 'isn't it obvious?' tone.

Not with you guys it isn't.

Oh, this can't be good at all.

"Why?" I ask again. Not caring about my own harsh tone. "We'll tell you when we get there, come on." I don't like that they seem so cheery. I don't feel like eating right now, I'd rather sleep.

I could care less what they want from me. I don't understand why they would want to take me out for dinner.

What do they have in mind?