Two Possible Paths

Four

Four

Scorpio's POV

I woke up with red tubes stuck around me, doctors shuffling beside my bed, nurses gossiping and the smell of fresh hospital. Ah, the smell of hospitals.

Mom! Mom! He ran across the backyard, holding up a helicopter.

Mom! Look! He whizzed it around her face, making 'zoom' sounds with his mouth. I am driving a special plane!

The mother scoffed, rolling her eyes before continuing her call. Mother! Please look. The young boy gleamed with excitement, jumping around.

"Can you stop?" The mother slapped down the helicopter, breaking the toy. She pushed the boy backwards and left the sunbathing chair, stepping into the house.

Why...? The boy picked up the two pieces of his 'plane', which laid lifelessly on the grass.

"Um... Sir-" A voice poked out of nowhere, startling Scorpio.

"Scorpio, it's Scorpio." I smiled weakly, turning my head in the direction of the voice.

The man said nothing, shaking his head before handing me the menu. "We've got pork chops or beef."

Oooh. Food. "I'd like the-" I pointed at the beef, my eyes shining at the thought of food.

"Chan Chi, he's a standby. No food." A stern voice edged in, the click-clack of heels stopping.

The man nodded, stepping away after giving me an angry look.

"Hear me boy? No. Food."

I sighed and closed my eyes once again. Why no food? Is the hospital lacking something? What's a standby? What's going on?

I glanced briefly around my hospital room. I laid on a plain, twin sized bed with blue spotted sheets, a small window was on my left, and the hospital door and many other equipment stood on my right. I focused on the small table in front of me, and on top of it was a small clear vase with withered flowers inside of it.

"You'll be returned home later tonight." The attendant gently placed her glasses over her head, and tapped on her watch.

Oh no.

The young boy looked out of the fence, staring at the buzzing road with cars and trucks.

I will bring the best gift for mama! The boy turned his head at the door, seeing nobody in sight. He took a deep breath, hopped at the rocks leading out of his yard, and rushed into the street.

For a while, he looked around to see if there were anything he could bring back to his mother. Then, it happened.

One beep, one yell one shriek. Darkness. The same as just now.