What a dark week was that for Stolas.
His room was filled to the top with flowers and get-well cards. He knew most of them were just obligatory gifts. The nurses were going through the gifts. They needed to make room.
-Anything from a person called Blitz with a silent o? - He asked
The nurses searched through everything and recognized only one he might be interested in keeping; they gave him a lonely card, which he read once and again with tears in his eyes, the one from his daughter.
This was his 3rd night at the hospital. Due to security reasons visiting times were very restricted. That worked all right for Stolas, it was the perfect excuse to keep his ¨wife¨ away from him. He asked not to be disturbed by anybody except his daughter, and again, someone called Blitz with a silent o if he ever showed.
The week went by, and even though he was always thrilled to see his daughter come, no Blitz with a silent o ever showed up. This Stolas already suspected. Blitz-o may be too busy with his business. But, it was all right, Stolas understood; yet he still hoped; he still waited.
And so, as the days passed at the hospital, Stolas always checked with security if an imp had ever shown up and warned them to let him pass, the door was always open just in case Blitz-o decided to surprise him.
This night, in particular, was unbearable; it did not matter that he was flooded with painkillers; the ache was getting directly to his brain, everything was spinning and at the same time pulsating, so it was difficult to enjoy the morphine ride.
Stolas eyes turned to the closed door. There was light coming from underneath, everything was quiet. His eyesight was blurry, and his eyelids were very heavy, but it did not matter that his whole body wanted to sleep; his brain would not let him. The pain had joined his memories of that day. Every time he closed his eyes, he could see Striker maliciously opening wound after wound, hitting him hard until he finally woke up screaming in terror.
-Hi, prince of the doomed owlets- Stolas heard in the darkness of his room. He moves his head heavily. Someone was standing there at the foot of his bed. A nurse? He thought at first, but none of them would dare address him like that. There was only one person who ever called him by that title.
The person approached his bed, and the moonlight illuminated the shadow. Stolas eyes went big -Mabel! - he whispered -Boy, am I up to something other than morphine! - he laughed as his eyes teared – I am hallucinating, now ghosts are coming to visit me – His laugh was more like that of a miserable man who has discovered his end. Stolas buried his face in the pillow as his tears freely flowed.
-I heard what happened…- Stolas heard the soft voice of a woman -I left everything to come and see you! - She did not move from her spot beside his bed; she looked down at him with the saddest expression.
Stolas turned to look at her, his face all messed up, swallowed, and teary. He was battling in his head with the fact that that person could not really be there; he had gone downright mad, but, for some reason, looking at her face put him at ease, so he smiled back -I am glad to see you again. This is the best dream I have had in days-.
She gave him a soft smile.
-Talk to me, friend; what have you been doing all this time while you were dead?- asked Stolas
She walked up to his head – I cannot tell you that -she answered as she continued to smile.
Suddenly, Stolas had a realization and felt an icy shock run through his back, but the pain did not let him do much about it; he held her sight and asked:
-Have you come to collect my soul? -
That was the most stupid question he could come up with; it was more of an inside joke since what soul was there to collect? and collect to take where, when already in hell.
He was just trying to put himself at ease; the pain was not subsiding, so maybe it was indeed his time; he might stop existing at any moment.
She just kept smiling quietly at him. She leaned onto him. He could feel her weight on the bed as she sat by his side. Her hand reached his cheek, and he could feel her warmth.
-You are real! - he babbled. She took his hand, held it up to her beak, and kissed it. Stolas was shaking; he could not control it, nor the waterworks that had just become precarious since mucus was now joining.
He opened his hand and felt the woman's face, and he cleared a tear that was rolling through her cheek. He could feel the warm water slide by his thumb. -How? - breathed Stolas, still baffled.
-That is enough crying – she pulled from him and, taking a handkerchief from her pocket, cleaned Stola's face. -You cried enough at my funeral. I didn't come back to make you cry even more or make myself cry. - She also cleaned her face and announced- I came here to hear your laugh! –
-Heard…Heard me laugh? - rambled Stolas.
-I am going to stay by your side until I hear you laugh again- she confirmed, her face lights up -It's been so long since the last time I heard it…-
Stolas then laughs, with the laugh of skepticism -There you go, ghost…There you have it; you make me laugh. Are you going to vanish now into nothingness and leave me all alone again? – his voice ended in pain, laughing is not really an option when you have broken ribs.
Stolas laughed, but it was such a bitter laugh.
The woman was not bothered at all; she continued to smile at him. She then moved so her face was right on top of Stolas. Her hands were placed on each side by his head; her body went up into the bed. Her head turned slightly to the side. -I didn't come here for a cheap lousy laugh…I want to hear you again laugh with all your heart like that time – She kept smiling; Stolas went quiet very quickly.
The woman managed herself around the wounded Stolas very skilfully; in seconds, she made herself comfortable on his bed by his side. She started to stroke the feather in his head, and for the first time since getting admitted to the hospital, Stolas felt relaxed; his pain was finally slowly going away, and his eyelids were starting to close, heavy for all those sleepless nights.
He reminiscences about a time when they were young, two young owls. He was feeling very sick that day. She had finally come for a visit after a very long time. He was so disappointed he could not go out to receive her, but she stayed anyway and tried to make him feel better. Now that he thought about it, it was more like she was playing doctor with him.
One thing she did that helped him a lot with his awful sickness was to stroke his head until he fell asleep. It felt so soothing and calming.
She had to go while he was sleeping. He was not able to say goodbye to her that day. He made such an uproar when he woke up very late that night, all alone. He demanded that she be brought back, but that was the one thing he never got granted, even as the prince he was.
-After you died…- started to talk Stolas, feeling that sweet relief of his pain finally leaving – My father told me so casually at your funeral: What a waste! She would have been a great wife… I thought then…I thought…. All this time…Maybe he was thinking of us…. -
-Shhhhsss- interrupted Mabel– Don't go there Stolas. This is hell; there is no happiness here- she sentenced.
-But at least…at least with you, I might not have ended up here…- he said with a pained voice.
-It could have been worse…- she said dryly.
-I would never believe that! - Stolas said, so convinced. She dropped to his level on his pillow, supporting her head with one of her hands; she looked at him gravely for a few seconds as she continued playing with his feathers. She met his eyes and said with the most severe expression -I'll stay, but there are 2 conditions that you need to promise to respect – Stolas gave her back a solemn go-ahead.
-First, you will never ask where I have been all this time. Second, if you ever see me with funny-looking people you don't know, you would never ask who they are…Deal? - she stopped stroking his head and raised her pinkie at him. He looked at it and then at her eyes -Funny-looking people?- he thought, but Hell is filled with funny-looking demons all the time. Whatever she meant, Stolas did not put much care about it -Deal! - he said and wrapped his finger around hers.
A pact was sealed, but it did not matter to Stolas at that time; he was high on drugs, so he may have just a little fun with this ghost. Whatever!
They both smiled. She then went to rest her head on his chest. He hugged her.
-This has been the best hallucination ever. I have missed you so much! Mabelion- breathed Stolas as he finally closed his eyes and fell sound asleep.
-Be careful what you wish! - Stolas heard that hideous hissing voice coming now from the darkness. He opened his eyes; Striker was right there. Stolas stumbles around, trying to find Mabel, but she is not there. He then turned to the door. It was wide open and so dark outside. He was all alone.
He hears bloodcurdling screams everywhere, filling the room. He was so confused, and the noise so deafening. He covers his ears. Suddenly, doctors rushed into the room; all Stolas devices were beeping.
-He is having a panic attack! - shouted the doctor
-Restrict him! - he ordered, and a bunch of muscular nurses tried to control him. Stolas was so confused and scared that he could not breathe; the room was spinning, his mouth was so dry, and his heart was jumping everywhere.
-Mabel! - he tries to shout, but his voice is not coming out. Suddenly, he fell limp into the bed. The doctors are still scrambling around him.
-His pulse is dropping! – he hears, but that seems to him so far away.
-Doctor! He is bleeding out –
-The stitches have come undone!-
-Impossible! How?-
All this commotion, Stolas was listening like background noise that was starting to fade away. His eyes finally found Mabel. She was there. She was standing by the door. She was talking with somebody else. Did he know them? Yes, he does! Octavia was talking to Mabel. Her back towards Stolas, but he recognized her nevertheless, and right beside her, a shorter individual with long horns and red skin in a black coat also with his back at him. -Blitzy! - panted Stolas; he was so happy he tried to reach him; he extended his hand at him, but he was so far away, and it seemed like he was not listening; he never turned around at Stolas. Then Stolas caught Mabel looking at him; she looked so worried. That was the last thing he would remember.
-Please, father…- Stolas hears his daughter's voice fading in the dark.
Stolas opened his eyes; everything was quiet now. He awoke in his room, with no lights, just silence.
-Your daughter just left – came a voice, and Mabel came to his side.
-I saw you both talking earlier! – Stolas smiled weakly -How did you like her? Isn't she amazing? –
Mabel smiled back -She is all right – then she paused and looked at him seriously -I am sorry you had to miss him as well- she finally said and sat by his side.
-Blitzy finally came! - muttered Stolas with a sad smile – I am sorry he had to see me in that state – Stolas tried to sigh but ended up coughing instead. -I am not going to make it… –
-The usual drama queen! - Mabel rolled her eyes -Come! I wanted to show you something –
Stolas was pulled out of bed like he was the most delicate princess. He was pretty light, but Mabel made him look like he was filled with helium. She floated him out of the room through the window, and they went up to the roof.
There was not a single cloud on that sky night; the air was somehow chilly, and that was when Stolas realized he was no longer in hell.
-Where are we? - he asked, his breath taken away as they reached the top of the building. A starry night opened wide, illuminating an empty dark city beneath. This was no earth either, that was for sure, this was such a quiet place with the most transparent nocturnal sky he had ever seen. He looked around; everything looked frozen in time; nothing was moving, no lights, no one in sight.
-Are we still in hell? - he asked, still taking in the landscape.
-Maybe- she laughs and spins Stolas around. -Have you heard of the backrooms? -
-What? – Stolas said as she spins him out the roof and floats away. The wind came strong ruffling Stolas' feathers.
It was never this cold in hell, so he was not used to it nor dressed for the occasion in a measly johnny gown. He tried his best to cover himself by hugging tightly to Mabel. She quietly laughs -No worries, Prince of the doomed owlets, I'll protect you- She hugged him back. Stolas looked up at her. She was smiling at him.
They were suddenly falling. Stolas held on to her; she landed heavily in front of the now abandoned hospital and let go of Stolas, who floated softly by her side and landed feather-like. All lights were out, and the creepiest silence was around.
-Is this even real? - Stolas wondered as he looked at the empty and dark hospital.
-Stolas, would you come with me? - She extended a hand at him.
He smiled -Where would you take me? - he took her hand without waiting for an answer. She pulled him at her -Where there is no Striker to hunt your dreams…How does a holiday sound to you? -
-I'll love that but, - he turned towards the hospital and looked at it sadly -What about... -
-Your daughter? She will be fine. Besides, the doctor had already warned her that you'd be interned in the asylum…I mean, in a relaxing healing house or something…-
-What? What are you saying? -
-Oh, come on, Stolas, did you really believe you would just kind of heal, and they would send you home? They cannot have wacky royalty having panic attacks here and there. The doctor has already recommended rest, not much for your body, but…- and she taped her head.
-Has this anything to do with my EX-wife? - he said boringly.
-There is nothing you can do to defend yourself; waking in the middle of the night screaming is not helping your case-
-It was one time…- Stolas complained as they started walking back to the hospital. Mabel took him by the arm.
-You know it has been more than that; besides, that's all the excuse they need to lock you in the crazy house and throw the key somewhere. They already have an heir; why would they need to keep up with a loony case? I know what they are going to do to you there; they will stuff you like a turkey with pills and such… Until you forget who you even are…- Stolas noticed the pain in her face; after all, this was a story he knew well; it was her story.
-Will you kidnap me and make me yours then? - he tried to joke to lighten the move.
-Better! - she answered with an ample smile. -I will whisk you away so nobody will be able to find you-
-You will whisk me away? –
-Vanish you, puff you out of existence. Spirit you away! – Stolas fell silent as he contemplated. He looked up yet again at the empty dark hospital.
-You will always be able to come back whenever you want…- She gave him a sad-eyes puppy look – What do you say Stolas? Would you come with me for a bit of vacation? -
He looked again towards the dreadful dark hospital -Octavia will be one phone call away, I will never deprive you of your loved ones – and she waited.
Stolas looked once more to the hospital, then with a sight, smiled at her – whisk me away, please! -
-REALLY! Yeah! - she celebrated and hugged him. Stolas felt her heart beating super-fast with excitement; he hugged her back.
-Off we go then! - she let go and grabbed him by the hand, making him run after her right back to the hospital.
-Like this? - he complained, pointing at his back open Jhonny. She laughed and pushed the hospital's main doors open as they ran past them. The sudden light blinds him.
Stolas opened his eyes; he was sitting in front of a very well-dressed Mable. Not that she was badly dressed before. Now she was dressed like back in the 60s: hat, mink stolas, silk dresses. He notices himself dressed in a white-collar shirt, a floral vest, and pants with suspenders.
Suddenly, voices and noise filled the place. They were in a fancy restaurant decorated with avant-garde motifs. A waiter came and put in front of each blood pudding. They both laugh as soon as the waiter leaves, and they clink their dessert silver spoons.