2 Chapter 2

Chapter 2

"Hello," Thomas, the boy Neo saved, said as soon as he saw Neo's big eyes open "I picked flowers for you" he added. Neo sat up and took the dandelion flowers from him

"Thank you" Neo said before smelling the three yellow flowers. She watched Thomas jump on the bed.

"Are you here because of me?" Thomas asked in a sad voice.

"No, I'm here because I am sick" Neo assured him "I'm Neo" Neo laughed when Thomas held his hand out after she introduced herself. She shook his little hand.

"I'm Thomas" he said while smiling "I'm going home today. When are you going home?"

"Uhm I don't know" Neo said honestly.

"You must get out before the flying sea dragon comes back," Thomas whispered to Dineo.

"Did you have a nightmare?" Neo asked him and watched him shake his head quickly.

"He was really here" Thomas whispered again "I saw him fly in the passage last night" he added. The fear in his eyes unsettled Neo. Neo jumped when a knock interrupted.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you" Thomas's mother Cynthia said "I just wanted to thank you once again for saving my son's life yesterday" she added before placing a fruit basket next to Neo.

"You're welcome. Thomas already thanked me" Neo held up the flowers and both she and Cynthia laughed softly "Thank you for the fruit" Neo said and Cynthia nodded.

"How are you?" Cynthia asked not wanting to seem inconsiderate.

"I'm fine thanks and no, I'm not here because of yesterday's ordeal. I've had breathing problems since I was a child" Neo explained not wanting Thomas and Cynthia to feel guilty.

"And I'm sure holding your breath under water didn't help," Cynthia said.

"Not really," Neo said. Silence lingered.

"We've got to go" Cynthia said after a while before helping Thomas off the bed "Say goodbye to Dineo, Tommy"

Thomas held Neo's hand "Go home before the sea dragon comes back, Neo" he warned.

"Don't mind him. His imagination has always been wild. He swears that mermaids tried to take him yesterday" Cynthia whispered. Neo could hear the embarrassment in her voice.

"Ask Neo, mommy," Thomas said. He looked at Neo hoping to have someone back his story.

"His foot was definitely caught by something and there was a creature that charged at us" Neo said. Thomas nodded in agreement.

"I'm sure that it was a piece of plastic and a harmless fish" Cynthia said "Uhm...we really have to get going" she added "Thank you once again"

"Bye, Neo" Thomas jumped on the bed again to hug Neo "Go home" his whisper sent chills down Neo's spine. They waved for the last time before leaving Neo alone. Neo took a deep breath trying to not let Thomas's words get into her mind. She put the flowers in the glass of water on her bedside table before calling a nurse to help her take a shower.

Dr Langa came to examine her.

"Doc, can you please discharge me? Staying here only takes time from my life that I don't have" Neo said.

"I'd like to monitor you for a few hours first but I don't see why I can't discharge you before the end of the day" Dr Langa said "Are you in a lot of pain?"

"I've always been in a lot of pain" Neo confessed "So you really can't do anything huh?" she asked and nodded after the doctor nodded.

"I'm sorry. I can't imagine how you must feel, how your parents are feeling" Dr Langa said. Neo blinked rapidly to keep her tears at bay. No one wanted to die before thirty and leave loved ones behind.

"But I've been blessed with a beautiful life" Neo said while wiping her tears "Loving family and friends" she added.

"Talking about friends, Lusanda is on her way back home. I didn't tell her anything but I think you must" Dr Langa said quietly. He could only imagine his daughter's reaction to the news of her best friend dying.

"I'll tell her," Neo said. Dr Langa finished examining her and left her to do his rounds. Neo took a nap after breakfast. She was woken up by a noise and realized that she slept the entire day.

"Mom?" Neo said when she heard the door open and close. She rubbed her eyes. Silver eyes met hers as soon as she sat up. She opened her mouth to scream but no sound escaped it. Her entire body was possessed by numbing fear. The creature's wet, slimy tail wrapped around her thin neck slowly. She felt the grip tighten until her hospital machines made a different noise. She could feel her body be deprived of air as it became weaker and weaker. Neo saw the light go on as her eyes kept opening and closing.

"What the hell?" Jack shouted while June screamed her lungs out. Jack grabbed hold of a chair and started hitting the scaly creature's dragon-like head. Neo felt the grip around her neck loosen "Take, Dineo out of here!" Jack ordered.

"What about you?" June asked.

"Just go, June!" Jack shouted while wrestling the creature. June quickly pushed Neo's bed out of the room to a place of safety leaving Jack with the flying dragon that left a wet trail in the hospital passage.

"Dineo" June said while holding Neo's face in her hands.

"It's the sea dragon Thomas spoke about," Neo whispered. Her throat swollen from being strangled "It's real" Neo added.

"Don't talk," June said. She continued to push Neo's bed until she found a stranded wheelchair "Dee, I'll need you to help mommy get you on the wheelchair, honey" June put Neo's arm around her shoulders and helped her up. Neo gathered the last bit of strength left in her to stand up and sit on the wheelchair. June quickly wheeled Neo to the car and waited for Jack to come out of the hospital. Jack came running towards the car limping. June does off as soon as he gets inside.

"Buttercup" Jack put his medical expertise to use as he examined Neo "She's breathing" he said.

"Do I drive home?" June asked while crying.

"Yes," Jack said. They were both vigilant on the way home until they safely arrived. June ran upstairs to get Neo's special cream and applied it all over Neo's face, arms and legs.

"What if it follows us home?" Neo asked as she felt her throat begin to shut.

"You're safe for now" Jack held Neo's hand "Neo, please be honest with dad. Did you apply the cream yesterday before going to the beach?" Jack asked. Neo's throat was too sore to speak so she just shook her head slowly. Jack sighed loudly.

"They know she's still alive. What if we can't protect her anymore?" June asked "I'm scared" June admitted while wiping her tears.