Chapter 9
"Hmmm... bright..."
‘Why is everything so loud.’
He immediately tried to cover his ears. But a plastic tube in his arm tugged back.
‘What's…’
“Why the hell is this weird thing in me?”
"You're up? A male voice called out to him.
Vincent had to take a second glance. His eyes wide in surprise.
‘Is- is his pupils vertical? Why does his eyes look like Lucy?’
"Oh hey dad, good morning." Asmodeus tried to sound as cheerful as he could.
But now his eyes looked normal, pupils round.
‘Was I confused? I sware his pupils were like Lucy. What's going on?’
Vincent quickly calmed himself.
“You mean good afternoon? Tell me what's happening to you?" Vincent sat beside Asmodeus.
"I don't know, I'm getting older before you for some reason."
"That's one way to put it." Vincent patted Asmodeus' head.
‘It's better not question him. It'll just overwhelm the kid.’
"And here I thought you'd be up before noon today." Vincent tried to distract Asmodeus from the IV.
“Dad… that's mean…” Asmodeus puffed his cheeks in protest.
"And there's the puffer fish.”
“But dad… why am I in a hospital? And ehy is there this needle in me?”
“You see kid… you collapsed this morning.”
“Huh? What? When? Why?”
“One question at a time puffer fish. Now tell me how much do you remember?”
“Uh… Something about me going to brush…”
“Yes and then you fell down on the stairs. And Dr. Nathan said that we need to take you to the hospital soon.”
“Why?”
“What do you mean why? Also when we checked your heartbeat it was really low so we needed to hurry you to the hospital.”
“Am I that ill dad?”
‘He looks smaller than ever…’
But Asmodeus’ attention was elsewhere.
‘What's wrong with this ring? Why is it glowing more now?’
“Well then the doctors tried their best and now you are to stay here for some time till—”
Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
‘Dad had it before me… maybe he knows…’
“—Dad, I wanted to ask…”
“Hmm~?”
“Do you know why this ring is glowing?”
“I don't really see any glow from it kid. Are you sure you are feeling well?”
“Take of your glasses and see. That's the only time it glows.”
Asmodeus sounded too confident that Vincent couldn't brush it off.
“I don't know why you are so convinced but sure.”
Vincent took off his glasses but they still weren't glowing or perhaps he couldn't see it.
“Do you see it now?”
“No Asmo, I don't. If glasses were what blocked it, your mother should be able to see it. And also all those who don't wear glasses.”
“You are right and that's what makes it weird.”
“Tell me. Is something wrong? Are you feeling ill or anything?”
“Not at all. What's weird is that now my doesn't hurt either.”
“Really? It's good that your head doesn't hurt anymore, but are you sure that there's nothing wrong or do just not know how to say it?”
“I really dont feel bad at all.”
“That's great.” Vincent sighed of relief.
“Oh and I… um… have been seeing glowing plants these days. And taking the ring off doesn't make it go. Only wearing glasses does. The internet said that it's UV pattern but humans can't see it.”
“That's weird. Are you sure it wasn't a dream?”
“A dream that occurs even now? I don't think so.”
“Even now?”
“Even now. See those tulips? Yep they have the same patterns as the ones in the garden.”
“Well… alright. Since when has it been happening?”
“Since I tried to make a blood pact with the ring—” Asmodeus quickly stopped talking.
“Asmodeus… what is that blood pact you are talking about?”
“Just… just a dream I had.”
“I see. Are you sure?”
“Yep. Totally.”
“Just how much fantasy do you consume to have such weird dreams?”
Asmodeus just turned his head away in response.
The silence was again by Vincent.
“Well then since the nurse has arrived get checked by her then we'll continue talking.”
“A nurse?” Asmodeus turned towards the door.
“Hello sir. How are you feeling now?”
“Very good. Now can you take this needle out?” He pointed at the IV.
“Not yet. We need to make sure you are alright.”
“But I said I'm fine.”
“Yes, but we still need to do our tests.”
She checked the as heart monitor. It's showed a range of 60-70bpm.
“Your heartrate seems to be fine. Can you tell me your full name?”
“Asmodeus White.”
“Great. Do you know where you are?”
“A hospital?”
“Well that's enough. Can you tell me today's date?”
“I have no idea.” He turned to Vincent for answer.
“I have no idea either son.”
“Well then can you tell me the month?”
“June.”
“Alright then, I'll give you half a pass for it. Do you know this is?” she pointed to Vincent.
“My Dad.”
“Alright. It seems you are aware enough.”
She noted his responses on her clipboard. Then put her palm out in front of Asmodeus.
“Can you squeeze my fingers with both your hands?”
“Sure… but why?”
“To see if your brain is sending signals to your body properly.”
“Oh ok.” Asmodeus squeezed her fingers.
“Ok sir, I asked you to squeeze my fingers not break them.”
“Sorry.”
“It's alright. Now look at this.”
The nurse shined a penlight into Asmodeus’ eyes.
His pupils shrunk but then he closed his eyes shut.
“OW. It's bright. Turn it off.”
“Well alright then. You are fine now. We'll keep you in a liquid diet today.”
She then turned to Vincent.
“Sir your son's bone marrow biopsy is scheduled for tomorrow morning 10:00 am.”
“Alright. Got it.”
“The what now?”
Vincent sat beside him, placing his hand on Asmodeus’s shoulder.
“Ah… right Asmo you didn't let me finish previously… remember when I said Dr.Nathan called? He had called because the reports showed too low of a blood count. So he wanted to schedule a bone marrow biopsy… Asmo are you listening?”
Asmodeus just nodded. He kept staring at his hands, the IV, then at nothing.
‘What's happening to me…’
“I don't want needles again.”
“Don't worry you won't even know that they used one.”
“That doesn't reassure at all, dad. But when can I eat my ice cream?”
“No. As I said for now we'll be keeping you on a liquid diet.” The nurse interrupted.
“What if it's melted?”
*Churkle
Vincent let out a short churkle at his son's negotiations.
“Still no.”
“But then it's liquid.”
“Technically, but it still has other ingredients, so no.”
“But…”
“No sir. You may not eat it.” The nurse stood her ground.
“Damn it.”
***
Once the nurse left Vincent moved directly in front of the window and called for Asmodeus.
“Asmo, can you look this side?”
“Sure but why?”
Vincent didn't answer right away. He was staring at his son as of trying to conform something.
Worry swept over Vincent.
“Asmo, did your pupils change shape or did I never notice them?”
“What are you talking about?”
Vincent took out his phone and turned the front camera.
“Here take a look at it yourself.”
“A look at what dad…”
Asmodeus had that same expression as Vincent. As if wondering what the hell is this.
“Is this why I'm seeing those patterns? It could be linked.”
“Maybe kid. But why does a problem with bone marrow change how you see?”
“But dad there is no guarantee that both the incidents are related.”
“Open the browser. Let's see if there is any explanation for this.”
Asmodeus opened the browser and frantically started typing.
[Can a person with round pupils suddenly get vertical pupils]
[Coloboma: Types and causes]
[Why do cats have slit pupils?]
[Pupilometey]
“Click on the first one Asmo.”
“Okay…”
[A coloboma is an area of missing tissue in your eye. Colobomas are present in a person’s eye when they’re born. They can affect one or both eyes.]
“No I don't think it applies to me. I'll check something else.”
[Midbrain Lesion or Infarction]
[The pathways that control pupillary constriction travel through the midbrain. A sudden change can occur due to "midbrain corectopia," where a small vascular event, localized infection, or inflammation in the brain selectively knocks out a portion of the pupil's nervous control, causing it to pull into an oval or vertical slit.]
“That doesn't fit either.”
“Asmo, this seems to be something out of the internet’s hand. Let's get this tested.”
“Is it necessary? I'm already having too many of these conditions. Can this one wait?”
“While I understand, kid I don't think delaying is a good idea to postpone something that might trigger another condition later.”
“Please dad. Just two days later. I don't want anymore check ups or blood tests.”
“But kid… sometimes even two seconds becomes very important.”
“Fine. Just one day later. Please… I don't want to become anymore of a patient…” Asmodeus sounded way too weak.
Vincent didn't know what to say to his son.
‘Looking at him again, those wires, tubes and all. Maybe a day is fine. But what if it'll cost more than a day?’
“Asmo let's tell them about it tomorrow. But I won't let you delay any longer.”
“REALLY? Thanks dad!”