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I force myself to take a deep breath, trying to shake off the feeling of dread that seems to have settled over me. I need to focus on the present, on Bhodi, on keeping him alive.
I take a damp cloth and gently wipe the sweat from his forehead, hoping that it will help to cool him down. As I do, I notice something strange. Bhodi’s skin is covered in small bumps, and there’s a faint greenish tinge to his complexion.
My heart rate quickens as I realise what this means, and I turn to Tami, who is standing at the entrance of the room with a concerned expression on her face.
“He’s infected, isn’t he?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.
Tami nods solemnly. “It looks that way. We need to act immediately before it spreads.”
I swallow hard against the lump forming in my throat. “What do we do?”
“I need to administer a special antitoxin.”
I nod, knowing that time is of the essence. My fingers tremble with fear and uncertainty, and I knot them into my top to keep busy.
Tami quickly prepares the injection, gently pricking Bhodi’s skin with the needle. We wait, watching for any signs of improvement, and after what seems like an eternity, Bhodi’s breathing becomes less laboured and his eyes flutter open.
“Malia,” he whispers, his voice weak.
“I’m here,” I say, relieved that he’s finally awake.
Bhodi looks up at me, his eyes filled with pain. “I’m sorry,” he says, his voice barely audible. “I didn’t want to put you in danger.”
“It’s not your fault,” I say, taking his hand in mine once more. “Just focus on getting better.”
Bhodi nods, his eyes already closing. I watch as he falls asleep, feeling that sense of relief wash over me again. For now, he’s safe, and that’s all that matters.
As I sit there, watching over him, my mind drifts back to the nightmares that have been haunting me. Maybe they’re a warning, a sign of what’s to come. Or maybe they’re just a manifestation of my fears and anxieties.
Either way, I know that I have to be strong.
It takes five days for Bhodi to recover enough that the doc will grant him permission to go home. Unsurprisingly, Bhodi is a terrible patient, pushing the doc, Reef and Cove to their limits. I’m just so glad that he’s okay. He can do no wrong in my eyes.
The doc’s patience is wearing thin. It’s easy to tell she’s not used to sharing her space with anyone, let alone four extra people. She’s polite and courteous about it, but I think she’ll be glad to see the back of us today.
I can’t wait to get home either. Reef’s been at the house most days overseeing the extra security that the professor insisted upon, as well as adding additional safety measures of his own.
As we pack up Bhodi’s things, I can sense a heaviness in the air. It’s not just because we’re leaving the doc’s home, but also because of the events that led us here. The attack on Bhodi was a stark reminder that danger is always lurking around the corner, and that answers are now long overdue.
Reef and Cove each take one of Bhodi’s arms to help him up from the bed. He’s still a little wobbly on his feet, but he insists he can manage. I grab his bag and follow behind them as we make our way out of the doc’s makeshift hospital room and towards the exit.
The doc gives us a final wave as we leave, and I can’t help but feel a twinge of guilt. We’ve been a handful, and I hope we haven’t caused her too much stress. But at the end of the day, our priority was Bhodi’s health and safety.
As we step outside, the fresh air hits me like a wave. It feels good to be out of the stuffy hospital room, but the reality of our situation sets in. There are so many unanswered questions, and the danger is still very real.
Reef leads the way to the car, helping Bhodi into the backseat before getting into the driver’s seat. Cove takes shotgun, and I climb into the back with Bhodi, making sure he’s comfortable before we set off. I’m grateful for the soft leather interior which cushions my aching body.
The ride home is mostly silent, the only sound coming from the radio quietly playing in the background as we all get lost in our own thoughts. My mind is racing, trying to make sense of everything that’s happened.
When we finally arrive home, it’s well past sunset. The house is eerily quiet as we make our way inside. Reef checks every corner of the house, making sure it’s safe before giving us the all-clear and a run down of the new security features he’s put in place, including video surveillance, alarms on all the windows, and a retinal scanner on all of the entrances. It feels excessive and absurd, but I don’t voice those thoughts because it also makes me feel safe.
Inside, I follow Bhodi up to his bedroom, helping him settle into bed. Cove brings up a drink and his pain meds that the doc sent us home with, and Bhodi takes them without complaint. He must be feeling rough. I stay with him until he doses off.
After Bhodi is settled and sound asleep, I take a shower and change into fresh clothes. I’m tired, but starving, and the scents coming from downstairs smell too good to miss, so I make my way down the stairs. In the kitchen, Reef is cooking some sort of curry dish and Cove is setting the table for the three of us. The lack of places set for Bhodi and the professor makes me sad. How long will it be before we can all eat together again? I thought the professor would be home by now.
“Don’t worry, Mai-Tai,” Cove says, approaching me with a look of concern and dropping a soft kiss on my cheek. “All will be back to normal before you know it.”
I give him a weak smile in return, not even convinced I know whatnormalis anymore, and we take our seats as Reef dishes up.
