Juno wakes up with a scream but her voice is so hoarse and dry that a sound hardly comes out. When she sits up she feels so drained as if she's ran an entire marathon the night before.
She looks around the room and finds it empty.
She's still in the hospital.
She looks at the clock on the wall and it reads 8:45.
It's morning.
It's morning!
She's awake and it's morning!
She could cry from happiness, those we're all just bad dreams after all! None of it was real!
That snake!
The snake that came out of her head isn't here!
If it's not here then it was all a bad dream after all.
...Right?
<Wrong.>
That familiar, deep voice startles her so much she almost jumps out of bed, again. "Ack!? Wh-what?"
<Please, don't forget that I am still here. It's a little rude.>
"..."
Right. The magical hair tie or whatever. It just hid the snake. It's still here. She can still hear it.
None of those were dreams.
Her life is still falling apart.
<None of those were dreams, Juno. The ones you just had now, I mean.>
That makes sense actually.
Those "dreams" felt different from the usual ones she has. The ones from last night almost felt like they weren't her own? It felt like she was intruding on someone else's consciousness, if that makes any sense.
"That makes no sense," she whispers to the empty room.
<Allow me to explain, I tried to share with you fragments of my broken memories.>
What she wants to ask is "What the hell does that mean?" what she asks is, "Why are your memories broken?"
<I am not completely sure. But I believe that the person that has weakened my siblings and I, has also tampered with my memories! They are trying to block off any information that might help us figure out who they are.>
Juno shivers involuntarily, "Do you mean this is the same person…"
<It must be the same person who wants to hurt us. The person who forced us back. I will not lie, it's very concerning how much power they possess. It must be an old enemy of sorts. Ugh! If only I could remember properly. If only I was not->
Juno interrupts, "But I just don't understand how is this all even possible? I mean, I mean wouldn't have I noticed if someone was, was messing with me!? Wouldn't have I noticed someone so powerful!?"
Right? Right!? I'm not that oblivious! Am I? Oh gods.
<Well, it's most likely that they are good at covering their tracks. Someone this powerful, it's not impossible for them to be able to hide in plain sight and->
A low growl interrupts the snake.
It's coming from Juno's tummy.
"Aha. Guess I'm hungry."
<Goodness, child when was the last time you've eaten?>
Juno sighs. Honestly, she has no idea. She's been out for what 2 days? 3 days? She can't remember eating before the accident as well.
She presses a button to alert one of the nurses. A different nurse from usual arrives and asks Juno what's wrong. She just tells her that she's hungry, the nurse nods and says she'll be back soon with a meal. When she comes back, the meal she brings is plain. Then again, it's hospital food. After the nurse checks over Juno, she leaves her alone so she can eat.
<Hm. This food looks like rubbish.>
"Wh-what do you want from me? Why don't you try cooking something then? Oh that's right, you don't have arms."
That came out harsher than she wanted it to.
<No need to be rude. Besides we don't need to eat food, we're immortal!>
Then why bother commenting on my crappy food!
As she's eating, it hits her how weird it would look if someone were to walk in and see her talking to herself. She wants to cry in frustration again but then there's a knocking at her door.
"Come in!"
Nurse Pures walks in looking a lot better than yesterday, less noticeable coffee stains and a new pair of glasses.
"Sorry, I wasn't here earlier. I had things to take care of. I'm glad to see you're eating though."
"Huh, oh yeah! I feel a lot better now I think."
I am lying through my teeth.
Juno suddenly remembers something really important.
"Um, Nurse do you know why my parents haven't stopped by yet? They said they would."
What if- No!! They're okay. They're okay.
She tries to stay calm but the heart monitor gives away how truly anxious she is just now.
"Well, I'm sorry to say but they left really early this morning. I was informed that they found a lead in the case about your sister. But don't worry, they said they would be back tomorrow to say goodbye before they leave… the country."
Leaving the country? Are they going to Mantuvig? Is Mila still in Mantuvig?
"Juno, I can see that you're stressed but really try to stay calm. They'll be back tomorrow. Also, I have faith your sister will turn up." he reassures.
Juno stays silent.
"Hey but I do have some good news. You're being discharged tomorrow as well."
"R-really?!"
So soon?
"Yes. We haven't found anything "wrong" with you. We're just going to keep you one more day in observation in case anything happens."
He walks over and picks up a clipboard and checks over Juno's vitals.
"Yeah, everything seems in order. Hm. Juno your head isn't in pain anymore right?"
"Oh um, no, not really."
"And you're not experiencing pain anywhere else? No bleeding or bumps or anything strange, right?"
"Haha. Nope. I'm just really tired."
And I have a snake growing out of my head! But I won't be sharing that with you.
"You sure? Like really sure? You don't have to lie to me, I'm here to help you."
She feels guilty but still denies there's something wrong.
"Okay. I understand but just make sure that if something goes wrong to ask for help. That's why we're here."
"I will. Thank you, nurse."
Only after she's sure the nurse is gone does she speak again in a very quiet and almost broken voice, "What am I going to do? What can I possibly do?"
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