Chapter 11: Hospitalization

Sophia POV

I woke up feeling my body sore, my muscles had probably tensed while I was passed out. My mouth is dry and my head is pounding. It's like a hangover, only much worse. I hated it when that happened and it had been so many years since I'd had a seizure.

It seems that meeting the Houroux had brought a lot to light and attacks that I haven't had for years would now occur frequently, panic, fear, anxiety… I don't want this for myself, I need to go back. Coming here was a bad idea.

“I want to leave…” I said, my voice hoarse and dry, but I know he heard me.

I open my eyes and blink a few times getting used to the white light of the hospital room.

“Miss Turner… I'm sorry… It's my fault.” Hyperion's voice is filled with guilt.

"I just... I want to leave, as soon as possible." I spoke again and sat up and saw Hyperion handing me a glass of water. He looks much older now, there are black circles under his eye.

“How long was I unconscious?” I asked and finally realized I'm wearing the hospital gown and I can feel the anger rising. My scars...

“Three days, you had a few stops…” His voice is low now.

I shudder, closing my eyes, trying to control myself. None of this was supposed to happen, my story, my secrets… Of course, they asked for my file for Gillian's hospital and now…

“I am already stable, I want to be transferred!” I yelled, not even able to look at Hyperion again.

I heard a noise outside the room and then Dr. Ioannidis came in along with two nurses and I smelled Perseus outside.

“Miss Turner, breathe… Nothing is going to happen…” The doctor's voice starts to sound, but it fades away.

It's so horrible, this feeling of powerlessness, this unbridled fear. A single trigger was enough to set off a chain reaction. I can no longer perceive the things around me, while my mind starts to send me to the past.

“Soph… Soph… It’s going to be okay… Nothing is going to happen…”

Those words began to penetrate my brain as I felt small sparks spread across my back and arm. There is a comforting warmth in those caresses, that velvety voice and those sparks soothed me.

Slowly I realize that Achilles' scent is strong, that the heat I'm feeling is coming from him, my face is buried in the crook of his neck while my body is curled on top of him.

"What? Why?" I asked in a thin voice, unable to understand anything.

“Xi… don't worry about it now,” Achilles speaks in that tone so calm, so tender, that I cringe deeper, seeking more of his warmth, his touch.

I don't know why I'm feeling so protected with Achilles, maybe it's a defense mechanism, but it doesn't matter right now.

I don't know how much time passed, but I know that Achilles noticed that I had improved and relaxed the hug, I took a few more deep breaths and turned my face away from the curve of his neck.

"Everything will be fine…"

Achilles whispered and placed a kiss on my left temple. It was like I belonged at that moment, my body was relaxed, those little sparks spreading across my skin like it was the most natural thing there was, every part of me wanted to believe those words and wanted to get lost in him. Trusting that he would protect me, that nothing would happen and that everything was fine.

"Why?" I asked again. Since I met that man things were strange, my reactions were so different, so disproportionate.

“It's complicated…” Achilles replied tiredly and I looked up to see his reaction. "It's not that simple and it's not something I can answer for you right now." He wasn't lying, I can see it in his eyes. “But soon, soon I will be able to answer better.”

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, getting off his lap and walking away. It didn't matter, I just needed to leave.

“Okay…” I said at the end and looked around the room. I can feel that my body is recovered. "It doesn't matter. This whole situation, I had symptoms for a while and it only caused everything to explode when I got here.” I finally let my rational part work.

I'm not a child, I've been undergoing treatment for many years and whatever it was, I'm sure my psychologist and psychiatrist would help me get over it, the important thing now was to get out of this environment. I need a safe place, something I already know, and I need my friends.

“Sophia… What's happening, it's not your fault…” Achilles spoke apprehensively.

"I know that." I turned to look at him. “In general, you are not to blame either. As I said, a lot of little things added up and I didn't know how to deal with it... So I'm going to go back to my house with my friends and adjust my meds with my psychiatrist and psychologist."

I made it clear in my voice that all this was a gigantic mess and that there was no one to blame. They were just consequences of things I was already going through.

“Usually people aren't that open…” Achilles was surprised that I didn't hide those traits from him.

“I don't need to be ashamed of undergoing treatment to improve and be able to live with other people and achieve my goals,” I answered and took a deep breath. “Could you call the doctor to discharge me and also bring my clothes?”

“Sophia… Don't go, not yet… I…” Achilles wanted to move closer, but the bed was between us.

“I need to go, the more time I spend away from the safe environment for me, the worse the seizures will get,” I answered and smiled, sincerely. Achilles was worried about me and it warmed my heart in that strange way. Another synonym that I need to get back to my routine. I'm starting to cling to that man as an escape from the whole situation and that wasn't healthy.

"I understand," Achilles replied somewhat defeated. “I will ask them to prepare everything for your departure.” He started to walk towards the bedroom exit but stopped at the door and turned to see me. “I…Perseus is my childhood friend… He is explosive and sometimes he gets out of hand, but he would never be able to hurt you.”

I know Achilles is trying to get me to trust Perseus, but… I touched the scars on my wrists and a small pang of sadness shot through me. I had already heard something similar.

“There is something unpredictable about Perseus. At lunch, I could see it clearly in his voice, in his movements… The way you and Hyperion reacted to him.” I looked into Achilles' eyes. “No matter how much you promise him, if he wants to, whether rationally or not, he can hurt me and there's nothing you can do to stop him. Just because he's your best friend doesn't mean Perseus can't become something you hate." I smiled sadly.

Achilles walked over to me and took my hands, stroking the scars on my wrists.

“You've developed a great survival instinct.” His tone is so soft and gentle, but there's anger underneath, not directed at me, but at the one who left so many marks on my body. “But you missed something. Everyone knows how primal Perseus is... But contrary to what you think, I can stop him. I've done it a few times.” He reached up and caressed my face. "And unlike those who did this to you, Perseus seeks help for this condition, he knows it's not healthy, it's not right. He's extremely proud and hardly anyone knows about it. Unlike you who are open and don't care.”

I leaned my head lightly against his hand and realized that he was happy with that movement, a part of me was too and not just because of that movement, but knowing that Perseus was looking for help, treatment… Why am I happy to know this? It's not just a matter of being a nurse.

"I'll ask them to prepare the helicopter for you to leave," Achilles spoke in a sad tone. “But please, before you go, talk to Hyperion and Perseus.”

"Why?" I asked in a low voice. Now I'm so confused and I felt Achilles hugging me and bringing me close to him.

I know I should pull away, that getting attached like this is not healthy, but I can't.

“I swear everything will be explained later.” Achilles' voice is muffled, his body was somewhat tense. "I can't say more, but I promise that Hyperion will be able to explain everything to you."

Then Achilles released me and before I could say anything else he left the room. I sat on the bed, looking at my hands, trying to reason with everything that was happening, but soon the doctor came back into the room.

“Miss Turner, good to see you on your feet.” The Doctor. Ioannidis spoke, approaching me.

I stayed quiet, I don't know how my tone of voice will come out. There is an inner turmoil that is difficult to understand.

“During the time she was hospitalized, we gave her medication through a drip. With the medical files sent by Gillian´s, we were able to treat his situation better. You've had two stops in the meantime and that's caused a little heart damage. It will be best for you to have cardiac evaluations for a few months at a time to track the progression or regression of this damage.”

I listened carefully to the information while the doctor took my blood pressure and ran some simpler tests.

“Looks like everything is under control now. Aquiles has informed you that you wish to come back, we are preparing all the documentation to send to Gillian´s.” The doctor walked away.

"Thanks. My clothes?” I thanked him and asked.

“The nurse already brings your things.” The doctor walked to the bedroom door. "I hope you recover as soon as possible." He spoke sincerely and left the room.

Again I was alone, but it didn't last that long and soon the nurse came in with my bag and left it on the table, nodding briefly and leaving the room.

I opened the suitcase, saw all my items there, took a simple outfit, a pair of stained gray jeans, a black long-sleeved blouse and went to take a shower and change. It didn't take long, when I finished and looked in the mirror I realized how tired I am.

Even after a shower, my eyes still had black bags underneath, I even lost a few pounds and some of my shine was gone. I need to go back to my friends, to my home.

I came out of that bathroom, took my cell phone and called, there were so many messages. My friends are worried, I opened the guy's group.

[I am fine. I'll be back soon.] I

It didn't take long and soon several messages followed, asking how I was, and when I would be back, but before I answered the door opened and Alex appeared, wearing his usual black suit and white shirt.