by J. Hickey
Chapter 13
The Medical Bay
Hunter and Elly had sat in the stark white waiting room for over six hours. It was indeed the longest and most painful six hours of their lives. They sat amidst the smell of stale coffee and the mundane sound of a large ticking wall clock that sat directly above their heads. With them sat Margot and Sebastian, who wouldn't dare leave the children's side. Margot sat quietly rocking in her chair, stirring the same cup of coffee she had poured six hours before and hadn't taken a sip of yet. Sebastian, on the other hand, had fallen asleep rather quickly as he stretched out across one of the waiting room's small couches, snoring slightly. Margot wasn't pleased at this and had left his side rather early in the night to sit closer to the children.
Hunter was surprised by how similar the medical wing in the mansion was to the hospital waiting rooms back at home. He didn't have many memories of infirmaries, with the exception of the night his grandfather had passed away from a heart attack. He was pretty young when that happened, and Elly hadn't even been born yet. He didn't know his grandfather very well, but he remembered his mother's reaction. He had never seen her cry so much. He thought often of the pain on her face, even though she tried so desperately to hide it from him.
"Your grandad is in a better place," she kept saying to him over and over again that night through sobs and tears. He never really understood why she said it. If it was such a great place, why was she so sad? People told him and his sister the same thing about their parents. "They're in a wonderful place looking down on you." Hunter cringed whenever he heard someone tell them that. He felt no comfort in those words. If anything, it angered him even more.
Neither of the children could sleep that night. No one would find it easy to sleep in a waiting room while awaiting news of a loved one's life-threatening condition-with the exception of Sebastian of course.
"Children," Margot said, her voice tired and hoarse. "I know it's hard to handle, but please do not fight off sleeping. It will make the time go by faster."
"Every time I close my eyes, I see that monster jumping on him," Elly answered, her face now pale with heavy dark bags setting in under her young eyes.
"Thankfully, Plato was there," Margot replied, more to herself than anyone in particular. She stood up and tossed her now cold coffee into a trashcan. She unzipped her sweater, and sat down between the children. "It's getting cold. Cuddle up with me and we can share my sweater for a blanket."
The children welcomed the suggestion and both snuggled up with Margot to keep warm but mostly to feel a connection to someone who cared for them. It didn't take long for them both to fall into a light sleep.
It had now grown early into the morning hours. The sun slowly rose, bringing with it welcoming natural warmth through the windows.
A couple of hours passed before the entrance door swung open. The noise startled the children, and they both jumped awake. Professor Calenstine, followed by Liv, Alistair, and his father, Ben, all walked in. Ben and the children brought a couple of trays of freshly made toast, biscuits, and pastries. Hunter was shocked to see Professor Calenstine follow them in.
"Hey, guys, we brought some food," Ben said, offering the children their choice. They both declined, as neither felt like they could stomach much at the moment.
"Have you heard anything?" Alistair asked, taking a seat next to Hunter.
"What time is it?" Sebastian abruptly interrupted. The commotion had awoken him from his deep slumber. He had surprisingly slept like a rock.
"Welcome back," Margot replied. She had never been so upset with anyone in her life.
"Breakfast?" Sebastian was completely oblivious to her response. He grabbed some toast and a couple of single-serve jelly packets. "Honey," he held out a piece of jellied toast to Margot, "you need to eat."
She ignored him.
"I spoke with the surgeon, Dr. Bethune." Professor Calenstine broke the tension with a very serious tone. "Your uncle has been in surgery for eight hours straight. They just finished with him."
"Can we see him?" Margot blurted out.
"I'm afraid not. He needs rest now. He is not conscious, and the next few days are going to be crucial to see if he pulls through," the professor explained.
"Pulls through?" Hunter quizzed.
"I'm afraid so." Professor Calenstine added. "There was severe damage to his body. He lost a lot of blood, many broken bones, some head trauma… He is stable now, and his vitals are good."
"I'm sorry." Liv gave Elly a heartfelt hug. "It's so terrible."
"Is that good news?" Elly asked through tears. "He's stable means he is going to be fine, right?"
"For now, yes. It is good news," Professor Calenstine noted. "I wanted to come down here and talk to you kids personally. I know your uncle from his previous stay with us. I want you to know that he is our family too. I wanted to assure you that I will personally do everything in my power to get him better. Do you understand?"
"Yes," Hunter replied sadly. He wanted to believe Professor Calenstine. He wanted to think his uncle would wake up and be back to his normal jovial self, he just couldn't find the faith to do so. He knew deep down he would probably never talk to his uncle ever again. Everyone he loved seems to die; he thought he was cursed.
"Don't underestimate what it is we can do in our little mansion," Professor Calenstine explained. He rolled his wheelchair up to where the children sat. "Look into my eyes and know that I mean this."
Elly stared at the old man's soft blue eyes. She felt, for just a brief second, a moment of clarity.
"We are the creators of miracles," Professor Calenstine continued in a serious tone. "There is nowhere in the world your uncle would find better treatment. We are at the forefront of the medical world, and when the top hospitals and colleges out ‘there'…" the old professor pointed out the large bay window, "… fail, they come to us to save the day."
"Really?" Elly asked, now sensing a bit of hope.
"I do not lie, my dear. I never have, nor will I ever." The professor winked.
"Now, it is early in the morning, none of you got much sleep. I urge you to return to your rooms and rest."
The children nodded. Physically, they looked ill from all the stress and lack of sleep. Margot looked equally as bad.
"I have made the decision to shut down all current activities concerning the Orientation until further notice. Once we can assure the safety of the mansion grounds, we will continue with the festivities. Please take this time to stay healthy." Professor Calenstine smiled sympathetically and shook both Hunter's and Elly's hand. "When the dust settles, I promise to speak with you both personally about your parents' wishes." The professor spun his wheelchair around towards Alistair and Liv. "Children, thank you for being here and showing your support for the Jakobs family. I know you have just met, but these are the conditions that cement lifelong friendships. They will need your help and understanding through these troubling times."
"Thank you as always, Professor." Margot kissed his wrinkly check.
"Yes, my dear, which goes for you as well. I have told Ms. Ellingbee you are on a day's bed rest. Sebastian," he now turned his attention to her fiancé, "I expect you to take care of Margot for us. See that she is well."
"Of course, sir. She has had quite an emotional day."
"Shall I escort you back?" Benjamin asked.
"No, I'm fine on my own. Please spend the time here and help settle the children into their rooms."
"Of course," Ben answered.
It was a long trip back through the mansion's long winding halls. Liv hung by Elly's side; she didn't say much to her new friend, but words weren't as important as the comfort the children received just by them staying at their side. Neither Hunter nor Elly had much to say anyway and preferred the silence as they each tried to deal with their overwhelming emotions. Margot and Sebastian didn't walk with them; they separated from the group and went about returning to their room.
"I spoke to your father alrea
dy, Liv," Ben said as he walked with the group down the winding hall towards their room. "He said if you'd like you, can stay with Hunter and Elly for the day. I've already decided Alistair and I will hang out with them as well."
"Really?" Liv replied. She smiled brightly at Elly. "Do you want me to stay?"
"Yeah," Elly replied.
"You're staying too?" Hunter turned to Alistair.
"Yeah, my dad asked if we would. Might as well be locked down together, right?"
"Right." Hunter forced a smiled.
Never before were the children happier to see their beds. Although it was early in the morning, no one had managed much sleep at all that night. Ben instructed the children to get cozy and that everyone needed to get as much sleep as possible. Ben had already brought sleeping bags with them for the kids while he stretched out on the children's small couch. Trayer, who had been locked up all day, was ecstatic to see his friends. He made his way quickly on to Elly's bed, curling up next to her as she swiftly fell asleep.
"You awake?" Hunter waited about ten minutes until he heard Alistair's dad snoring.
"Sort of," Alistair said through a yawn.
"Do you think my uncle will be okay?"
"I think so."
"I don't know," Hunter replied. "Everything bad happens to me."
"Professor Calenstine said he is in the best place to take care of him though."
"Yeah." Hunter wasn't as impressed with the professor's words. He had heard the whole ‘everything will work out' spiel on numerous occasions.
"How long do you think it will take for them to get that creature?" Alistair whispered back.
"Who knows? They should have gotten it a long time ago. None of this would have happened if they did their jobs right."
"I guess that's true," Alistair replied. His eyes grew heavier and heavier with every word.
"Alistair?" Hunter questioned, but his friend had fallen fast sleep, along with everyone else in the room.
Hunter stayed awake, staring blankly at the ceiling. A million thoughts rushed through his brain. He wished he could fall asleep like the rest. He wished he could shut off his brain for even just an hour. Yet, there he was, wide-awake, thinking of his uncle, his parents, and that horrific creature that was the cause of all this heartache.
