Chapter 20

Darkness. Thick pitch-black darkness flowing like a river into the sea. Juwan couldn't sense anything. All he felt and saw was darkness. Then there was a tiny light that was becoming bigger by each second. It was not any light. It was radiant red scaly reptile. Huge enough to swallow a whale yet it seemed tiny due to the gap between them. Juwan's mind raced to find a way to escape from his condition while the red abomination came closer and closer. As the figure neared its features became much more clearer. It had a conical face with a flattened mouth, revealing huge yellowish canines. It's red scaly skin radiated in tge darkness. Soon its body became visible. It had a massive belly radiating the similar red scales. Its limbs were in proper proportion to its body. It had a long tail with uneven spikes surrounded. As it came close it opened it's mouth showing a void of and blood and death. It's forked tongue licked its teeth and lips hungrily. Suddenly there was no gap between Juwan and the monstrous hole covered with razor-like teeth. A disturbing stench of blood, flesh, acid and many other intestinal chemicals hit Juwan's sense. Juwan gave up hope and closed his eyes since death was not even an inch far away.

BOOM!!!!

The next minutes Juwan was in the lavatory. 'What happened?' Juwan wondered, 'What was that thing? Was it a dream? Am I hallucinating due to the medications?' Before leaving the hospital, Juwan did buy some of the medications the doctor prescribed for his eye. He had hoped that the tumour would wither away with the drug effects before becoming active.

There was silence for the next few minutes. Juwan stared at himself blankly through their mirror. He could literally see his right eyes twitch and enlarge randomly. There was can't gold glint in the right eye. Then there was a sudden increase in the pupil's width that last long. Actually Juwan had been trying to control his power till then. And felt a little control over the eye but it didn't last long. A low harmonious pleasure passed through his head and then all of a sudden snap from the past started showing in his head. The worst part was, it accompanied an unbearable pain. The snap contained bloody gross deaths to fights. A crimson covered mutilated body limbless, Ms Susan with a golden pupil and wicked grin, Juwan hanging himself in the same place where Ms Susan took her own life. All of it crossed his brain quickly overwhelming him with pure pain. Unable to withstand the pain anymore Juwan let out a loud, long cry and collapsed on the floor.

--*---*---*--

"Juwan? Wake up Juwan. Wake up. wake-" Mary's loud, hysteria filled Juwan's head when Juwan's conscious started returning.

"Thank God. What happened?" Mary shouted at him. Juwan vision was a bit blurred but slowly it was organizing itself into order. Mary was on the floor, leaning over Juwan, spraying water from a cup. Karthick was at the door with a mixed expression of confusion and seriousness.

"I...I..." Juwan tried to form a sentence but his lips didn't have tge strength to speak out. His body hadn't fully recovered. Partly he could still feel that his body was unconscious.

"Here, let me help you..." Mary put the cup down and helped Juwan lift his upper body.

"What's wrong with him?" Karthick who was silent till then suddenly asked Mary.

"It...I...Its nothing. Guess today's not a good day for me..." Juwan murmured and rubbed his head which was sore due to the impact of the fall.

"What can I do to help?" Karthick asked but his expression was the same. He came closer to Juwan and pulled him to his feet. Mary too got up. Another wave of pain shot through Juwan's head and he pressed his palms on the sides of his head and moaned in pain.

"What is it?" Mary asked concerning.

"My head.....It hurts!!!"

"Here let's get out of here." Mary grabbed his shoulder and partly carried him out of the lavatory. Karthick stood frozen, fixed to his position. He didn't stop them. He could barely control himself. He could break into tears at any moment. He hadn't disclosed the main part. He was scared of what they might think. As a police and as a human being he had failed. His heart ached as he replayed his thought, again and again, immersing himself with guilt.

Without looking at Karthick, shocked Mary half-carried Juwan to her car.

"Don't worry Juwan I will take you to the hospital. Just hold on." Mary assured and started the engine. Slowly Juwan eyes starred getting alright again and the sunlight entered his eyes like a ray of hope. His vision was returning to normal.

"It's okay. Last, just go home." Juwan murmured baring the misery with a clenched fist.

"But you are not in good shape. This could be something to do with the cancer." Mary said while still having her eyes on the road.

"I don't think so. However, when we reach home it will be time for my medicine."

"Are you sure you will be alright?" Mary took a quick peek of Juwan who was getting his colour back.

"Probably. But it would be better to rest in the house. I really don't want to be in amidst that smell. I just hate." Juwan was back to normal. He adjusted himself in the seat and took a deep breath.

"Oof!" Juwan blew out the air and wondered, 'Could this day get any worse?'