Chapter Two: The Day After

The morning light streamed into David’s room, casting a soft glow over his belongings—the game controllers scattered on his desk, the anime DVDs stacked neatly in the corner, and the mysterious box that now felt like the centerpiece of his universe. But it was the medallion around his neck, a family heirloom that had been passed down for generations, that held the most significance. Little did David know, this seemingly ordinary piece of jade was about to change his life forever.

At sixteen, David had a lean frame, the kind that made him look a little younger than his age. His jet-black hair, slightly disheveled from sleep, stood out against his pale skin. His almond-shaped eyes, a striking dark brown, usually carried a spark of curiosity, but today, they looked dull and shadowed, heavy with exhaustion. The medallion around his neck gleamed faintly in the sunlight, its jade surface catching the light as though it were alive. This was not the David his family knew, the David who was always full of energy and curiosity. These dreams had taken a toll on him.

David sighed, running a hand through his hair before heading downstairs. The weight of the dreams from the night before hadn’t left him, and he felt like he’d barely slept. The comforting aroma of fresh coffee and toast greeted him as he walked into the kitchen, but even that couldn’t pull him out of his haze. His mind was a battlefield, the dreams haunting him like a relentless enemy. In these dreams, he found himself in a world unlike anything he had ever seen, a world where dragons soared in the sky and a voice, a voice that seemed to echo from the medallion itself, called him her child.

His mom, a warm and caring woman with auburn hair pulled back into a neat ponytail, turned from the stove when she heard him enter. Her cheerful expression faltered as she took in his appearance, her concern for her son evident in her eyes. The warmth of her gaze wrapped around David, a comforting reminder of the love that surrounded him.

“David, are you okay?” she asked, her brow furrowing. “You look exhausted.”

His dad, seated at the table with the morning paper, glanced up. A tall, broad-shouldered man with kind blue eyes, he set his mug down and studied David closely. “Rough night, buddy? You don’t look like you got much sleep.”

David hesitated, shifting uncomfortably under their concerned gazes. “I’m fine,” he mumbled, pulling out a chair and sitting down. “Just had some weird dreams, that’s all.”

His mom brought over a plate of eggs and toast, setting it down in front of him with a worried look. “Weird dreams? Like nightmares?”

“Not exactly,” David replied, poking at his eggs with his fork. “It’s hard to explain.”

“Well, you need to eat,” his mom said gently. “Maybe you’ll feel better after breakfast.”

David nodded but didn’t say much else. His dad exchanged a glance with his mom, concern flickering in his eyes. “If it’s something bothering you, we’re here to listen,” his dad offered.

David gave them a small smile, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Thanks, but I’m okay. Really.”

Emma came into the kitchen a moment later, her auburn hair tied in a messy bun. At seventeen, she had a natural confidence about her, often teasing David but always protective when it came down to it. She took one look at her brother and raised an eyebrow.

“Wow, you look like you got hit by a truck,” she said bluntly, grabbing a piece of toast from the counter.

David rolled his eyes, taking a bite of his food. “Thanks, Emma. That’s exactly what I needed to hear.”

“I mean, seriously, what happened to you?” she pressed, sitting down across from him. “You’ve got these dark circles under your eyes, and you’re like a zombie.”

“Just weird dreams,” David repeated, hoping she’d drop it.

Emma shrugged, smirking. “Whatever. Just don’t fall asleep at the table or something.”

David’s mom gave Emma a reproachful look before turning her attention back to her son. “Take it easy today, David. You’ve got the whole summer to relax. Maybe spend some time outside? It might help clear your head.”

“Yeah, maybe,” David replied, though he doubted anything would help shake the lingering unease from the dreams.

As the day wore on, his parents’ concern stayed in the back of his mind. They were always supportive, always there when he needed them, and he hated making them worry. But how could he explain the vivid images of dragons clashing in the sky or the voice of the Jade Dragon calling him her child? It all felt too surreal, too big to put into words. The weight of these experiences pressed down on him, a burden he couldn't easily shake off.

David found himself staring out the window at the quiet suburban street, his reflection faintly visible in the glass. He looked tired—more tired than he should have felt after a whole night of sleep. The medallion around his neck seemed to pulse faintly, its presence both comforting and puzzling.

“Just a dream,” he whispered to himself, though deep down, he knew it was more than that. The mystery of the dreams hung in the air, a puzzle he was desperate to solve.

The midday sun blazed down on the Hendersons’ backyard, its warmth casting shimmering reflections across the surface of the pool. David stood at the edge, dressed in simple blue swim trunks, his pale skin already warming under the sun. He rubbed his eyes, hoping the pool’s cool water might help shake off the lingering exhaustion from his restless night.

“Come on, slowpoke,” Emma called from the water, her auburn hair slicked back and her laughter ringing out as she splashed lazily. Dressed in a bright bikini that matched her confident demeanor, she floated effortlessly, enjoying the cool relief of the pool.

“I’m coming,” David muttered, forcing a grin as he eased himself into the water. The chill hit his skin, sending a jolt of clarity through him. For a moment, he thought this might actually work—that the water might help clear his head.

He swam toward the center, joining Emma, who was lounging with her arms resting on an inflatable float. “Feeling any better?” she asked, squinting at him in the bright sunlight.

“A little,” David replied, his voice low. “Just... tired, I guess.”

Emma studied him for a moment, her brow furrowing slightly. “You’ve been acting weird all day. If you’re sick or something, maybe you should—”

“I’m fine,” David cut her off, though his tone lacked conviction. “The water helps.”

Emma didn’t push further, shrugging as she leaned back on her float. “If you say so.”

The cool water did feel good at first, wrapping around David like a calming embrace. But as he floated on his back, staring up at the clear blue sky, a strange sensation began to creep over him. It started as a heavyweight in his chest, spreading quickly to his limbs. His breathing slowed, and his eyelids grew heavier.

“David?” Emma’s voice sounded distant, muffled, as though she were speaking from far away. His body felt heavier, the world around him dimming.

Suddenly, exhaustion hit him like a crashing wave, more intense than anything he had ever felt before. His muscles gave out, and he sank beneath the water before he realized what was happening.

The world turned silent and cold as David slipped under the surface, the light of the sun shimmering faintly above him. He felt suspended, caught between consciousness and something deeper. The medallion against his chest seemed to burn with a strange warmth, contrasting sharply with the chill of the water.

Images flashed through his mind—dragons roaring, fire and lightning cutting across the sky, and the voice of the Jade Dragon whispering, You are mine, my child.

The medallion pulsed, and a faint glow surrounded it, the jade carving shining even beneath the water. David’s vision blurred as the weight of exhaustion pulled him deeper into darkness.

Above the water, Emma noticed her brother’s sudden disappearance and sat up sharply. “David?” she called, her voice edged with panic. When he didn’t resurface, she kicked off the float and dove toward where she had last seen him.

Her heart raced as she spotted him sinking, his body limp and unresponsive. Emma grabbed him under the arms and pulled with all her strength, breaking the surface and dragging him toward the pool’s edge.

“David!” she shouted, her voice shaking. “Come on, wake up!”

As she pulled him onto the pool deck, she noticed the faint glow from the medallion against his chest. Her eyes widened, but she didn’t have time to process it. She shook his shoulders, water dripping from both of them.

“David, open your eyes!”

To her relief, David coughed violently, water sputtering from his mouth as he gasped for air. His eyes fluttered open, unfocused but alive.

“Emma?” he croaked, his voice weak.

“You scared me half to death!” Emma exclaimed, her voice cracking with both anger and relief. “What the hell happened?”

David blinked, his mind foggy. He looked down at the medallion, which had returned to its normal appearance, though its weight on his chest felt heavier than ever. “I... I don’t know,” he admitted, his voice trembling. “I just... everything went dark.”

Emma sat back on her heels, her breath shaky as she tried to calm herself. “Well, whatever it was, you’re not okay. We’re going inside. Now.”

Emma paced nervously in the living room, her phone clutched tightly in her hand as she waited for their mom to arrive. David lay unconscious on the floor where Emma had managed to lower him after his collapse. His breathing was steady but shallow, and the sight of him so still sent a chill through her.

When she heard the sound of tires screeching to a halt outside, Emma bolted to the door. Their mom, still in her work attire, rushed inside, her face pale with worry.

"What happened?" their mom asked, her voice tight as she dropped to her knees beside David.

"I don’t know!" Emma cried, her voice trembling. "We were in the pool, and he just... he passed out. I got him out, but he hasn’t woken up."

Their mom quickly assessed David, her hands shaking as she brushed his damp hair from his forehead. "He’s burning up," she said, her tone filled with panic. "Emma, help me. We’re taking him to the hospital now."

Together, they managed to lift David’s limp form. Emma grabbed the medallion hanging around his neck, noticing it was still warm to the touch, but she didn’t have time to dwell on it. They maneuvered him into the back seat of the car, laying him down as gently as they could before their mom rushed to the driver’s seat.

The drive to the hospital was tense. Emma sat in the back with David, holding his hand and murmuring words of encouragement as though he could hear her. "You’re going to be okay, David," she whispered, her voice shaking. "You have to be."

Their mom gripped the steering wheel tightly, her knuckles white as she weaved through traffic. Her mind raced with questions, fear gnawing at her as she glanced at her son in the rearview mirror.

"Emma," she said, her voice strained, "did anything happen before this? Did he hit his head? Did he say he wasn’t feeling well?"

Emma shook her head, tears brimming in her eyes. "He said he was tired this morning, but he said he was fine! He didn’t hit his head; he just… passed out."

Their mom’s jaw tightened, her worry etched clearly on her face. "We’ll figure it out," she said, though it sounded more like she was trying to reassure herself. "We’ll get him the help he needs."

When they arrived at the hospital, nurses and doctors quickly surrounded David, transferring him onto a stretcher and wheeling him inside. Emma and her mom followed closely, their hearts pounding as they were directed to a waiting area.

The hours that followed felt endless. Emma paced while their mom sat with her hands clasped tightly together, her eyes fixed on the door to the emergency room. The unanswered questions weighed heavily on them both.

Finally, a doctor emerged, his expression calm but serious. "Mrs. Henderson?" he asked, looking at their mom.

She stood quickly, Emma by her side. "How is he?" their mom asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"He’s stable for now," the doctor replied, "but we’re running some tests to determine what caused him to collapse. His vitals are strong, but there are some anomalies we’re investigating. Has he been under any unusual stress or had any health issues recently?"

Their mom shook her head. "No, nothing. He’s been a little tired today, but that’s it. He was perfectly fine yesterday."

David's dad rushed into the hospital, his worry etched into every line of his face. He spotted his wife and Emma in the waiting area, their anxious expressions confirming his worst fears. He hurried over, his tie loose from having rushed out of the office.

“What’s going on? How’s David?” he asked, his voice low and urgent as he crouched in front of his wife.

“He’s stable,” she replied, her voice trembling but steady. “The doctors are running tests to figure out what happened. His vitals are strong, but they said there were some anomalies they’re investigating.”

“Anomalies?” he repeated, his brow furrowing deeply. “What does that mean? Did they give any ideas about what could’ve caused this?”

Emma, sitting close by, spoke up, her voice strained. “He just collapsed, Dad. One minute, we were in the pool, and the next, he was unconscious. He didn’t say anything about feeling sick before it happened, just that he was tired this morning.”

Her dad frowned, his jaw tightening as he processed the information. “He was fine yesterday. What could’ve changed?”

His wife shook her head. “I don’t know. The doctor hasn’t given us much to go on yet, but they’re monitoring him closely. We’re just waiting for more updates.”

David’s dad placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “We’ll get through this,” he said firmly. “David’s tough, and we’re not leaving until we know he’s okay.”

His wife nodded, though the tension in her body didn’t ease. Emma leaned into her dad’s comforting presence, feeling a little steadier with him there. Together, they sat in silence, the quiet hum of the hospital around them punctuating the weight of their shared worry.