Chapter 68 Awaken
Phoebe
I had just sat up when my phone buzzed loudly on the nightstand. My eyes were still heavy, but panic jolted me wide awake as I saw five missed calls from Mom.
I hadn’t even washed my face, let alone brushed my teeth. Still tasting sleep on my breath, I hit redial without a second thought. Once. Twice. No answer.
I tried Dad. Same result.
My heart was pounding now, a frantic rhythm against my ribs.
“Did something happen?” I muttered to my reflection in the mirror. My face was a mess. Hair tangled. Emotions? Even messier.
I splashed cold water on my face in the bathroom, trying to snap out of the haze. My hands moved fast, pulling on an old T-shirt and wrinkled training pants I’d dumped in my closet after practice. I didn’t care if I looked like a zombie. I just needed to get to the hospital—now.
I looked for Finley. Hayden was gaming on the couch and casually said Finley was out in the garage, washing his bike.
Zion called out to me from the staircase, but I left him behind, jaw still hanging open.
I found Finley polishing the body of his already-shiny motorcycle.
“Finley, I need a ride. My mom called me five times. Now she’s not answering at all. Can you take me to the hospital?”
He froze mid-wipe and looked up with sudden concern. “Of course. Give me ten minutes, yeah?”
Ten minutes later, we were speeding down the road. I held on tight behind him, the morning wind slapping against my face like ice.
“Why do you think they kept calling?” I asked, raising my voice to cut through the wind. “I forgot to charge my phone last night. Fell asleep listening to music.”
“Maybe it’s something about Phoenix. Let’s hope it’s good news,” he shouted back.
“I hope so. I had a weird dream last night.”
“Don’t tell me you fought a monster or something.”
“Not a monster. A giant jellyfish,” I replied.
He laughed. “That’s insane. Might be a sign you need a vacation.”
When we got to the hospital, Finley pulled up near the front entrance.
“Go ahead. I’ll grab some sandwiches. We can eat together upstairs,” he said.
I nodded and rushed inside, breath catching as I took the stairs two at a time toward Phoenix’s room.
But when I opened the door... The bed was empty.
No Phoenix. No IVs. No machines humming. Just neatly folded blankets.
Panic surged up my spine. I turned around, scanning the hallway for a nurse, a doctor—anyone. Then I saw Mom across the corridor, standing outside another room. Her eyes were red, but her expression was filled with relief.
“Mom!” I gasped, half-running toward her. “I’ve been looking for you. What happened?”
“Phoebe, why was your phone off?”
“I forgot to charge it. I’m sorry. But... Phoenix? What happened to him?”
“Phoenix woke up. He’s been asking for you since this morning.”
My hand flew to my mouth. The tears came instantly. “He’s really awake?”
Mom nodded. “Come on. He’s doing some tests now.”
We walked quickly down the hallway. On the way, she told me how Phoenix had suddenly regained consciousness earlier that morning, and the doctors immediately moved him for a CT scan, MRI, and a bunch of neuro tests to assess his brain and body function.
I stood behind the observation window as he was tested. He looked tired, but fully awake. His eyes followed the doctor’s finger, his grip weak but steady on the edge of a blanket.
After nearly an hour, he was wheeled back into his room. I stepped in slowly. And for the first time in months, our eyes met.
“Phoebe...”
I froze. My brain glitched. I just stood there like an idiot, gaping while he grinned at me.
What the hell, I rushed all the way here and now I couldn’t move? This moment that I’d been dying for—why did my heart suddenly feel like it was stuck in my throat?
“Phoenix,” I finally managed, and took a shaky step toward him.
That was all it took. I collapsed into his arms, kissed her cheek, and sobbed like a little kid.
“God, I missed you so much. I was scared... I was scared you’d never wake up.”
He chuckled softly. “Come on, don’t cry. I didn’t turn into a ghost. Well—kind of—but that’s a whole other story. How’s my reckless little sister doing?”
“All over the place. But it’s a long story too,” I sniffled, wiping my face.
We both laughed. I sat beside him on the edge of the bed, holding his hand like I was afraid he’d disappear again.
“Feels like I’ve been asleep for decades,” he said.
“You’ve been in a coma for six months. You scared the hell out of everyone.”
“And you’re still the same annoying Phoebe, huh?” he teased.
“Bad habits die hard,” I grinned.
A moment later, Finley stepped in with two sandwiches and bottled teas. He hesitated at the door, then walked in awkwardly.
“Hey, look who’s finally awake,” he smiled.
Phoenix raised an eyebrow. “Oh, hey Finley. How’ve you been? You two came here together?”
“Yeah. Your sister was freaking out. She woke up late and looked like a zombie, but I felt bad for her messed-up face so I brought her,” he joked.
I swatted his arm. “Rude!”
We all laughed.
“So… how’s the game scene now? Anything new?” Phoenix asked.
“Loads,” Finley said, handing him a sandwich. “But... Phoebe filled in for you this year. The team’s through leg one of the tournament.”
He went on, filling him in about Divergent Howls, how we were doing. I let him talk—Phoenix deserved to know. I wasn’t ready to tell him about the drama that had gone down with the team.
He turned to me, wide-eyed. “You replaced me?”
I nodded, chewing my sandwich. “Yeah. Not as wild as you, but I held my ground.”
“She was MVP in the first match,” Finley added proudly.
Phoenix squinted at me. “You might actually be better than me.”
“Don’t say that. I might cry,” I said, nudging his shoulder.
After some talk about META heroes and new skins, the vibe started feeling normal—like it used to be, before everything changed.
Finley sat by the window and cleared his throat. “Phoenix, uh... I should tell you something.”
He turned to him, curious.
“Me and Phoebe... we’re dating.”
Silence.
Phoenix stared at me. “Seriously?”
I nodded, a little sheepishly. “Yeah. Wild, right?”
He opened his mouth, closed it again, then chuckled softly and leaned back against the pillows.
“I was only out for six months and everything’s changed,” he said, smiling to herself.
“Life keeps moving,” I replied.
“But what about your old boyfriend—what’s-his-face, Hayden the Robot?” he smirked. “Anyway, you two actually make sense. As long as Finley doesn’t make you cry.”
Finley raised a hand solemnly. “Wolf’s honor. I won’t.”
I knew I’d have to tell him everything sooner or later—the messy parts too. Phoenix would probably tease me, maybe even scold me like always. But I’d rather have him ranting than lying there pale and silent in a hospital bed.
“Phoenix, there’s something else you need to know about me.”
“You’re being serious... That’s new.”
I didn’t answer. My hands were shaking a little, so I laced my fingers together and looked him in the eyes.