Fall of the King: A Sci-Fi Thriller (The Brennen Series Book 2) by Andrea Barringer

Author:Andrea Barringer [Barringer, Andrea]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2022-11-03T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 23

Watch Your Back

Ondraus: During the Gaoled

Ondraus watched in despair as his sister faded from view. She, along with the room and everything in it, dissolved into nothingness. He felt something pulling him down with the tenacity and force of the free-fall when he went skydiving. The pull enticed him. He couldn’t avoid its allure; the next moment, he was lying down on the hospital bed. Ondraus opened his eyes and saw a woman holding his hand. The bright sunlight shining through the window obscured his vision, but he knew by the firmness of the grasp who that person was.

Mom.

Akireh Jur held a tablet in one hand, and in the other she held her son’s. Ondraus blinked, trying to take in all the features before him. His mother, he suddenly realized, was reading out loud and appeared grief-stricken. The sorrowful look on her face didn’t match the cheerful tones of the story she read. The words sounded familiar somehow, but the words were incoherent.

Where am I? wondered Ondraus. Why is mom sad? Where’s Rayah? He attempted to call out his mother’s name, only to realize something obstructed his throat. He squeezed her hand, opening his eyes in time to see Akireh gasp. The sadness that had clung to her face seconds prior vanished, leaving in its wake immeasurable joy.

“Ondraus!” she exclaimed with jubilation. She smothered him with kisses and hugs, the tears on her face splashing onto him.

Ondraus felt slightly more alert now. Confused, he looked around, realizing he was in a hospital room. Immediately his father Qievel rose, followed a split-second later by Edina and Niklas, each erupting in celebration.

From the corner of his eye, Ondraus noticed a man smiling at him from afar, wearing the typical Monktuary garb. The man sat quietly by the window, his kind eyes meeting Ondraus’. Was he a Duo-Com Master? And if so, why was he there in the hospital room?

Moments later, medical personnel flooded his room. “Captain Jur, we’re going to take good care of you,” said a friendly-looking doctor with a long, silver beard. As the man spoke, he removed the tube from Ondraus’ throat. “Do you know where you are?”

Ondraus looked around once more. When he attempted to speak again, only a pitiful croak escaped his lips.

“That’s okay,” replied the doctor soothingly. “Your throat will hurt for a while, making it difficult to speak. A thumbs up or down will suffice for now.” Ondraus lifted his thumb. “You’ve been in a coma for nearly two weeks.”

Shock washed over him. A coma? How? Where in all of Vilmos was Rayah? He tried duo-comming her, but the attempt inflicted him with severe pain, like someone stabbing his brain. He hissed, clutching his head. Aymes! Ondraus tried to remember the last time he’d seen her. Hadn’t they been on a boat somewhere? The urgent need to find both Rayah and Aymes took hold of him. The screen projecting his vitals beeped loudly as his heart raced erratically.

“What’s wrong, doctor?” asked Qievel. “What’s wrong with my boy?”

The doctor placed his hands on Ondraus’ shoulders.

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