Let's reach 800 Power Stones for an extra chapter
***
-Ethan-
At that moment, all I could think about was getting to Jessica. Olivia's words echoed in my head as I bolted out of the apartment building, my mind racing with a thousand what-ifs.
I flagged down a cab, my fingers drumming impatiently on my knee as we sped through the city streets. Each red light felt like an eternity, each delay a personal affront. Finally, we reached the hospital. I threw some bills at the driver and dashed inside.
The sterile smell of antiseptic and the hushed whispers of hospital staff filled the air. I approached the reception desk, my heart pounding in my chest.
"I'm looking for Jessica Campbell," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "I was told she's here because of an accident."
The nurse behind the desk, a woman with tired eyes and a kind smile, consulted her computer. "Campbell… yes. Room 312. Third floor. Take the elevator on your left."
Relief washed over me, followed by a fresh wave of anxiety. I thanked her and hurried towards the elevators, punching the button repeatedly as if that would make it arrive faster.
The elevator doors finally opened, and I stepped inside, pressing the button for the third floor. The ride up felt like an eternity. When the doors opened again, I practically sprinted down the hallway, scanning the room numbers until I found 312.
I hesitated for a moment, taking a deep breath before pushing the door open.
The scene that greeted me was like something out of a nightmare. Jessica lay in the hospital bed, pale and still. Wires snaked from her arms and chest, connecting her to a series of machines that beeped and whirred rhythmically. Her face was ashen, her eyes closed. An oxygen mask covered her nose and mouth, its plastic surface fogging with each shallow breath. The room was a cacophony of medical equipment. It highlighted her fragility and left me feeling helpless.
It could be worse, I thought. She could be… gone. But this? This was bad. Really bad. She was here, but also, not here.
As I stood there, frozen, a doctor entered the room. He was older, with graying hair and tired eyes, but he carried himself with an air of quiet authority. He gave me a once-over before speaking.
"And you are?"
"I'm Ethan Kepler," I replied, "a friend of Jessica's. What happened to her? What's her status?"
The doctor sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose before turning his gaze back to me. "It's… complicated. Jessica was involved in a car wreck a couple of days ago. It was... a military convoy carrying radioactive chemicals. She was with her family. I'm sorry to say that she was the only survivor."
The words hit me like a physical blow. Her family… gone? And radioactive chemicals? This wasn't just some fender-bender. This was some comic book level origin story stuff, just like in the comics.
"Radioactive... what does that mean for her?" I asked, dread creeping into my voice. My mind starts going wild thinking about what kind of powers she is going to get.
"Right now, it means she's in a coma," he said, gesturing towards the machines surrounding her. "The impact, combined with whatever those chemicals did to her system, has left her unresponsive. We're doing everything we can, but… it's touch and go."
"But," the doctor continues, noticing my distress, "despite everything, she's… remarkably resilient. Her body is healing at an accelerated rate. It's as if something is actively working to repair the damage. Honestly, I haven't seen anything like it." He gives a reassuring smile. "She's not out of the woods, but she isn't in danger."
"Can… can I be alone with her for a moment?" I ask, needing some time to process everything.
The doctor nods, understanding flashing in his eyes. "Of course. I'll be just outside if you need anything." With a final glance at Jessica, he exits the room, leaving me alone with her and the machines.
As the door clicked shut, I took out my Digivice. It felt almost sacrilegious in this sterile environment, but I needed answers, now. "Cutemon," I whispered, "can you come out for a sec?"
With a flash of light, the pink bunny Digimon materialized on the bed, its large ears twitching nervously. It looked around at all the equipment.
"Chu? Where are we, Ethan?" Cutemon asked, her voice soft and concerned.
I pointed to Jessica. "This is Jessica. She's… hurt. Can you help her? Can you wake her up?"
Cutemon hopped closer to the bed, its nose twitching as it examined Jessica. The Digimon's ears drooped, and it shook its head sadly. "I can heal physical wounds, chu~, but waking someone from a coma is beyond my abilities, chu. It's something else, chu."
I sadly sighed. There's gotta be something I can do to help. I mean, I've taken down Digimon way stronger than some coma, haven't I? But Cutemon's right, this is something different, something… more.
I reached out, gently taking Jessica's hand in mine. Her skin was cool and clammy. "Hey, Jessica," I murmured, my voice barely a whisper. "It's Ethan. You gotta wake up soon, okay? You're not alone, you know? I'm here. And I'm not going anywhere. I promise."
I squeezed her hand gently, hoping against hope for some sign of recognition, some flicker of response. But there was nothing. Just the steady beeping of the machines and the faint rise and fall of her chest.
Reluctantly, I released her hand and turned to leave the room. I needed to do something, anything, to help.
Outside, I found the doctor waiting patiently. "Doctor," I said, pulling out a business card from my wallet. "Here's my contact info. I want to shoulder the hospital costs, every single expense, of Jessica. If she wakes up, if anything changes, anything at all, I need you to call me. Understand?"
The doctor looked surprised, his eyebrows raising slightly. "Mr. Kepler, that's… extremely generous. Are you sure? The expenses…"
"I'm sure," I interrupted, my voice firm. "She deserves the best care possible. And I can provide it. Just promise me you'll call."
He nodded, taking the card. "I promise. We'll do everything we can for her, and we'll keep you informed."
With the doctor's promise secured, I exited the building. The city lights seemed dimmer than before, mirroring my mood. A cab pulled up, and I gave the driver my address. As we drove, I stared out the window, my mind replaying Jessica's still face. I needed to get back and think.
***
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