Airy's Game

Title: Shards of Crimson
*Chapter 1: Recovery

The hospital room was quiet, the hum of a heart monitor the only sound. Liam blinked, tracing the bandages on his hands. Memories rushed back-gripping a pan, shaking, and flashes of a distorted world.

"Liam! Finally, you're awake!" Bryce stood by the door, concern clear on his face.
"Geez, you scared me, dude. Thought you were out for good."

Scenty appeared beside him, quieter. "We didn't know if you'd make it. Are you okay?"

Liam tried to answer, but his throat felt dry. Airy's fall, the computer, the glowing object-it all felt unreal. He glanced down, searching, but his gown revealed nothing.

"I-I don't know. Where am I?" he whispered.

Bryce sat closer. "After... Airy, uh, left, we found you wandering. You looked bad. Scenty noticed first."

"I called for help," Scenty said. "You collapsed before we could reach you."

Liam winced, the memory flashing in his mind-the fog, the whispers, the sinking feeling. Then, something clicked. The object. The faint glow. It had been in his hand, hadn't it?

"What's wrong?" Scenty asked.

"There was something glowing," Liam murmured. "Did you see it?"

Bryce and Scenty exchanged looks. "You were empty-handed," Bryce said.

Liam froze. Out of the corner of his eye, beneath the sheets, he saw a faint red light pulsing like a heartbeat. Slowly, he reached under the sheet and pulled it out-a small, glowing shard, like a fragment of Airy's lantern.

"What is that?" Bryce whispered.

"I think... it's him," Liam said softly.

"Him? Airy?" Scenty asked, wide-eyed.

The shard glowed brighter, casting crimson light over the room. Faint laughter echoed in the distance. "To be continued..."