Jetsford lay there listening to the hums of the machine around his head. As the hums died away, the bed moved away from the machine. Jetsford opened his eyes to white. What was with the hospital's obsession with white anyways?
He heard an intercom come on with a screech. "Mr. Gardner, you may get up and go get dressed now."
He got up then went to the changing room, mumbling. "As if I need to be told. Been here enough already to know the drill."
He got to the changing room and changed back to his everyday clothes. Looking in the mirror at himself, he was wearing blue jeans and a white t-shirt. His green eyes looked dead to him, almost as if all joy was taken from him. There were dark rings around his eyes. Brown hair that looked like it never seen a comb. Jet grabbed his wallet, and a picture fell out.
Looking down at the picture of him and his girlfriend, He didn't even recognize himself. His eyes were sparkling, filled with joy. Hair was combed and cut. They were at a mall looking at the next big game release video.
"I can't even remember what the game was. How sad is that," Jet said to himself, sighing.
As he walked out of the changing room, he stood and looked at the machine. He was glaring at the MRI machine. He reached up and grabbed his head. Continuous pain is all he had known for the last three months. They said it's not a brain tumor. It's something new and different. The doctors are all excited. They even brought in new people from around the world just to take a look at his brain. Then say how's it feel to be a scientific anomaly. Looking at the doctors, Jet always thinks. Glad your all so happy that I'm probably going to die soon. He put down his hand then put a brave face on.
As jet walked out the door, he saw his girlfriend out of the corner of his eye. She had been crying again. Quickly looking the opposite way, he heard her get up quickly. After a few seconds, he turned to her then noticed the tears were gone.
"Amanda, I'm all done in there. Want to join me for the results." Jet said while smiling at her.
She darted to him and took his hand. Jet thought to himself. 'I have to put on a brave face for her no matter what.' This girl he met three years ago. She had blue eyes that sparkled. Hair that was black and reached to her hips. She was also wearing a long green dress that reached just above her ankles. He noticed that he might be as tall or taller than her. The last time he had checked, he was an inch shorter. Of course, that was quite some time ago. Since they are both sixteen, she will probably stay at her five-foot-three.
"The doctor will come shortly. Please wait in here." The nurse said while pointing at a waiting room.
Jet walked to the door and opened it. Then went and sat on the couch. When he looked up, a pair of blue eyes stared back at him.
"Are you ok?" Amanda asked with worry in her eyes.
"Yes." Jet answered swiftly.
"Are you sure?" Amanda asked.
Jets's mind went into overdrive now. Every time that a conversation starts like this, Amanda will begin to cry. He was trying to think through the pain in his head. Maybe he could change the subject quickly before it got out of hand. Just as he was about to say something to defuse the situation, the door came open.
"You must be Mr. Gardner. It's a pleasure to meet you. I am Dr. Phil, head of my field in brain chemistry. However, I'm sure you are tired of the same old story from us. I'll get straight to the point your brain is unique." Dr. Phil said before he was interrupted.
"You're right. I am tired of the same old story. Then you start with your brain is unique." Jet said rudely.
This story was old to him now. Doctors come in and tell him his brain is unique. They show him other people's brains just to clarify. His brain looked very different, more compacted than everyone else's, and the same size as others, but far more complex. The electrical currents going through it would roast a normal brain. However, he had an average IQ. So he was the same as anyone else.
As Jet stood suddenly, the doctor backed off, swinging his hands out. Looking at the clipboard in the doctor's hands, he read it. Name Jetsford H. Gardner Age 16 Sex Male Height 5' 4'' Weight 137.
A wave of pain shot through his head, and he fell to his knees. Sweat started forming all over his body. His hands clenched his head as he tried not to cry in pain. Hands had grabbed him to help him up to his feet. As they started to lift him, he pushed them away. Jet got to his feet with one hand still on his head, walked to the door, then opened it to the hallway. Halfway towards the door out of the hospital, he heard the doctor yelling.
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"Mr. Gardner, you need to listen to us. Your brain can't handle the electrical current going through it. We need to run more tests. We can't help you if you leave." Dr. Phil was shouting as Jet went out of the front door.
Pain still was shooting through his head. The world around him was getting dark around the edges. Was this it? First, both his parents died when he was eleven in an accident. Now he was most likely going to die. He couldn't die now. His aunt Jean lost too much already. Her husband had been killed in the accident also. Jet couldn't let her be alone. They had helped each other through the pain of loss. Aunt Jean hadn't had any children. She would have no one if he died. A hand grabbed him and pulled him around.
"I'm not going back there so I can fucking die in a white room. I am tired of all this bullshit. If I'm going to die, let it be at home." Jet yelled.
People were standing all around him, watching. But his eyes were stuck on the blue ones in front of him. The fear in her eyes at his outburst. What had he done? His head hurt so much right now. He had never yelled at Amanda like that. But before he could come out and apologize, her hand had slapped him across the face. Her eyes went wide, and hands went to her mouth. Jet just stared pain forgotten at the moment. That was the first time Amanda had ever slapped him. Tears were falling from her eyes. Something in his heart broke at that moment. Why hadn't he stopped to think she didn't want him to die either.
"I'm so sorry. I wasn't thinking, and I slapped you." Amanda said, holding back sobs.
"No, I needed that. I had no right to yell at you. Amanda, you have stuck by me no matter what has happened. I owe you so much, and I promise I will not die without a fight. For you, I will do anything. But before we go back, let's get some ice cream. Think I need to cool off a bit." Jet said while hugging her.
"Ok." Amanda said in a sad voice.
They walked down the street about two blocks. Walking in silence made it feel like forever. But what could Jet say? His body was starting to hurt all over. Sweat was going to start soaking him soon. His head was going to explode at this rate. He reached in his pocket for his wallet then handed it to Amanda.
"I'll grab us a seat while you get the ice cream." Jet said while putting on a smile for her.
"The usual, I assume, then?" Amanda asked, concern in her eyes.
"With a cherry on top." Jet said while poking her on the nose. He was trying to act like his old self for her sake.
As she walked off, he staggered towards a table. Halfway there, he shut his eyes for a bit. His body shook a little, and the pain seemed to have vanished. A breeze blew by him. It felt good on his sweaty skin. As he opened his eyes, the suns were blinding him. He shut them quickly. His mind raced as he quickly reopened his eyes and waited for them to adjust.
Standing there with his mouth opened at a loss for words. There were two suns, one blue the other red. Also, a green moon in the sky. He looked around, seeing nothing but forest. He noticed it was well taken care of. The grass was no higher than his ankles. Tree limbs weren't touching the ground.
"Where am I.," Jet said aloud, hearing it echo off the trees.
He was in his hometown 50 miles above New York City. Shaten a new city founded in 2049. His parents were one of the first to move there. He had been born there in 2050. He was not in Shaten.
He turned his brain into overdrive, trying to think what could have happened. This place was not the same. The air smelled different. Of course, he hadn't left the city much. But Jet noticed his body felt perfect here. Almost as if nothing was wrong at all. There were no muscle aches. There was no pain at all. Maybe he had died after all.Well, that hadn't lasted long after he punched a tree. Jet had pain go through his hand. Why had he hit a tree?
"Well, I officially feel stupid. I'm not dead. So as my father always said, collect information. Stay calm and get ready for anything." Jet said to himself.
His father had been a navy seal. William H Gardner was his dad and trained him with a few ways to defend himself. So he was in a forest check. There are two suns and a moon check. Sticks are snapping in the distance check. The grass doesn't look like it was cut. If it needed cut, that is considering there are two suns. So he concluded, either it is a dream, and he's in the hospital, or he was screwed.
Snap. Jet turned his head in the direction of the snap. His stomach dropped as he stared. Well, not sure if he was to describe it as a wolf on steroids. Taking a few steps back didn't work. The wolf leaped at him.
Without a second thought, his body moved on its own, and he lifted his arm. The wolf clamped down on it. Blood dripped on his face, wolf on top of him now. The wolf started to pull his arm back and forth. Words went through Jet's mind from his father. Once the dog has your arm, hit it on the neck as hard as you can. It's easier than you think to kill a dog. Just try and keep calm.
Jet hit the neck as hard as he could. The wolf looked down at him like really as if. Letting go of Jet's arm, the wolf backed. It pawed at the ground while lowering its head. Staring right into Jet's eyes with a growl that would shatter glass if there were any nearby.
While the wolf did this, Jet got his pen out of his pocket. He was on his feet, now staring back at the wolf. As the wolf leaped, he raised the bloody arm again. But as it grabbed his arm, he thrust the pen into the wolf's eye.
Cries echoed from the wolf as it pawed at the pen in its eye. Then it finally stopped and looked at Jet, promising a whole world of hurt.
Jet, in the meantime, was getting sluggish. He had lost a lot of blood already. But he stood his ground. He watched as the wolf leaped at him. Jumping to the side, the wolf hit the tree.
Jet quickly got up and ready for it to leap.
After what felt like a lifetime, he moved forward. Leaning down looking at the wolf, he noticed the pen. It had hit the tree face first, jamming the point into its brain. "Well, looks like I win." Jet said while breaking into laughter.
Loss of blood was making him dizzy, but he had wrapped it best he could. He walked through the forest. His arm had swollen and is still bleeding. He had to be hallucinating, he was certain he saw a coffee shop at some point. Walking was a strong word now, more like stumbling around.
Jet fell to the ground then stared at the sky. One sun and two moons now. The blue sun wasn't too bright, maybe getting late, looking at the green moon then the orange moon. He thought the suns and moons all had gone different directions. How do people navigate this place?
Jet started to get up, fell forward, then the world went black to him.