Sonic: Earthbound

Chapter 2

A soft, low hum. The sounds of a television game show. These were the sounds Alex awoke to. She opened her eyes, blinking against the abrasive brightness of the overhead fluorescent lights. 

Bright... White...

Alex shot up with a cry and was immediately seized by the shoulders.

"Alexandra! Alex, it's okay. You're all right! It's me."

Alex blinked and shook her head. As her vision unblurred, she found herself gazing into the concerned face of a woman with long blonde hair and far too much eye makeup.

"A-Aunt Dena?"

Aunt Dena smiled with relief. "Oh, thank heavens!" she pulled Alex into a tight hug.

"Wh-What happened?" asked Alex.

Aunt Dena held her at arms' length, her bright blue eyes studying Alex's face. "You're in the hospital, Alex. There was... an accident."

"An accident? A car accident? Liam! Is he okay? I don't remember—"

"Liam's fine. It wasn't a car accident."

Then, from the doorway of the hospital room – "Hey, Mom. I... Oh! She's awake!"

Alex's cousin ran to her bedside, brushing his messy straw-colored hair out of his eyes to appraise her.

"Oh man, Alex! When that machine blew up, I was afraid your brain got permanently fried!"

"B-Blew up???"

"Well," said Liam, "It didn't exactly blow up, per se. It sorta kinda like malfunctioned and gave off this wicked cool EMP pulse and the city's whole power grid went down! I thought you'd gotten electrocuted! The paramedics came, but no one could wake you up. The doctor said you were in a coma and might not—"

"LIAM!" his mother interrupted sharply. She was giving him a look that seemed to suggest he was overwhelming Alex.

"I-I was in a coma???" stammered Alex.

"Only for a little while, dear," Aunt Dena assured, placing a gentle hand against her cheek. "Just over 24 hours. The doctor was confident you'd make a full recovery."

Alex ran a hand through her messy brown hair, dyed purple at the tips. "Wait... You didn't tell Mom, did you?"

"No, honey. I wasn't planning to until I was certain how serious it was."

Alex breathed a sigh of relief. "Good. I wouldn't want her to worry."

"However, I will have to call her today and fill her in. Just make sure you call her the moment you're discharged, Alex. Understand? Otherwise, she'll get to fretting, and you know that isn't good for her."

Alex nodded. Aunt Dena affectionately tucked a strand of purple-tipped hair behind Alex's ear before motioning for Liam.

"Come on, Liam. School."

"Aww... Can't I stay here with Alex?"

"No. Besides, the doctor said he wanted to run some more tests when she was awake, and you'll only be in the way." Aunt Dena placed a hand on Alex's head. "Call me if you need anything, dear."

"Okay."

Aunt Dena kissed her forehead. "I'll let the doctor know you're awake. Come on, Liam."

"See ya, Alex! Hope you feel better soon!"

Alex smiled faintly as they left. "Yeah," she muttered, for she had one hell of a headache. "Me, too."

She listened as her aunt and cousin's footsteps receded down the hallway, smirking as she heard Aunt Dena commenting on Liam's need for a haircut.