Savior (Jamilton)

9. Fever Dream

"Y'know... you should really name him." I told Alex, motioning to the raven that's on my shoulder as we walked to my house. "Yeah I know. But I can't think of anything. Like I would search on google but what would I type? 'Names for a raven that follows you everywhere' no that's stupid!" He exclaimed.

I pulled out my phone and typed in 'names for a pet raven'. I scrolled through the search page without tapping on any links and found a name that I thought suits him. "Odin?" I offered. "Odin? That's a nice name. How do you like Odin, friend?" He asked the raven, taking him off my shoulder. The raven squawked and nodded it's head. "Odin it is." I chuckled.

We walked up the steps of my house but Odin didn't fly away. "You don't want to leave?" I asked Odin. He just squawked and hopped up Alex's arm onto his shoulder. "Ok. Just don't shit on anything." I chuckled. Alex laughing along with me. We walked upstairs to my room and I opened my window incase Odin ever wanted to leave. He flew off Alex's shoulder onto my desk and stood there, watching Alex and I's every move.

"Aaaaaaalex!" I called from upstairs. He's downstairs getting the tub of chocolate ice cream because his throat was starting to hurt. "I'm coming I'm coming." He sighed walking upstairs. We walked into my room and cuddled up on my bed as he ate.

"Tommy this isn't working..." He graveled out after about an hour after he finished the ice cream. His voice sounds like it's hard to talk so I shushed him. "It sounds like your straining yourself to talk, that isn't the thing to do. Try not to talk for the day and if it's worse tomorrow then we'll take you to the doctor." I told him. He nodded and curled up in my arms.

I was shaken awake from my dreamless sleep by a very scared looking Alex. "What's wrong Lex?" I asked sitting up, still tired. He pointed to his mouth and shook his head. It took me a minute to realize what he meant since I had just woken up. My eyes widened and I quickly got up and ran as best I could to my bathroom to get the flashlight that's in the first aid kit. "Come here!" I called to him. He walked in and I motioned for him to open his mouth. The back of his throat looked extremely inflamed and painful. "Are you in pain?" I asked letting go of his chin. He nodded and pointed to a candle. "Candle?" I asked. He sighed and shook his head. He reached under the sink and pulled out matches. He lit the match and the candle. He pointed to the candle again. "Fire?" I asked. He nodded and pointed at his throat as he blew out the candle.

I racked my brain for any kind of sickness that could be cause by this. Then my mind went to one of the worse things. Scarlet Fever. I immediately grabbed Alex and felt his forehead. On fire. I rolled up his sleeves to see a red, peeling rash. "Please tell me that's sun burn." I looked up at him. He shook his head. I felt my face drain of color. I picked Alex up and grabbed my keys. I raced out to the car and set him in. He was visibly confused but I didn't want to scare him.

I sped to the hospital and I think Alex understood because he tensed up and grabbed my hand. "Don't freak out. I don't want to scare you unless we know for sure ok?" I told him. He nodded but he still looked scared.

We walked in quickly and I walked to the reception desk while Alex sat down. "How can I help you sir?" The receptionist asked me. "My boyfriend woke up this morning not being able to talk. I looked at his throat and it looks inflamed and extremely painful. He texted me saying his throat burns. He has a fever and a rash on his arm." I explained. She looked up from her keyboard, color draining from her face. I nodded. She immediately called the doctor over.

You see, in your world Scarlet Fever isn't a big deal, but in our world it's one of the biggest killing diseases on earth. That's why I don't want Alex to know. Yes I'm internally freaking out but I need to look strong for Alex.

The doctor ran out from the back and looked at me. I led him over to Alex. "I'm Dr. Schuyler, I need you to come with me but don't freak out ok?" He explained to Alex. Lex looked at me, fear written all over his face. I shrugged. Alex looked at the doctor and pointed at me. "Yes, he can come with us." Alex visibly relaxed. He stood and grabbed my hand. "F***!" Someone yelled at us. "Homophobic bitch." I scoffed loud enough for the whole waiting room to hear. The nurses at the front desk snickered and gave me a thumbs up. I smiled at them and led Alex down the hallway with Dr. Schuyler. Alex looked at me still scared. "You're going to be ok. I just need to make sure that it's not what I think it is." I sighed, kissing his forehead. Alex is a smart guy. He's gonna figure it out soon. Thought I looks like he already has.

He stopped dead in his tracks and looked at me. He looked around and saw a red sign. He pointed to it then at his head then fanned himself. I sighed and nodded bringing him into a hug. He stiffened and pushed me away. I frowned at him. He took out his phone and typed something. I don't want you to get sick. I read. I nodded. "Understandable." I sighed. "Let's get you to the room so we can help you." I said looking down at him. He nodded and went to grab my hand but stopped himself. It visibly pained him to not be able to hold my hand. Not holding it for comfort, love, even lust. You can tell he hated it.

"Ok Alexander. I need you to swallow a pill that will help. Ok?" The doctor told him. He nodded and sat on the bed. Dr Schuyler handed him the pill and a cup of water. He downed the pill and it looked like it had an immediate effect. Not a good one. He looked tired. "Alex?" I asked. He looked over at me and smiled. Then he passed out, the heart monitor going flat. "ALEX!" I yelped. I ran over to his side and started to shake him. Nothing.

Then the door to the room opened. All of his friends spilled in. "Alex..." I whimpered shaking him gingerly now. As if he'd just be waking up from a nap. "It's your fault." I heard a french accent growl. I whipped around to face my cousin. "What?" I asked. "It's your fault he's dead." Peggy said in a monotone voice. They just kept repeating that sentence pushing me into a corner. "No! Please stop!" I yelled. They didn't stop. I curled up into the corner, sitting on the ground, my head face buried into my knees. Then everything went silent.

Tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap t- "THOMAS"

I shot up from the bed, toppling out. I looked around to see Odin tapping at the window. Wait is that even his name? Where's Alex? I looked around to see Alex laying on the bed, peacefully sleeping. I shot up from the floor and tackled him into a hug. "Tommy get off meeee." He whined. He can talk. HE CAN TALK! I pulled his still half asleep body away from me and pulled him back, only this time for a kiss. A passionate, love filled kiss.

It was just a dream.

Thank god...

1349 words!