Chapter 4

"So?" Drew asked, impatiently, "How do we wake her up?"

Dr. James was standing in front of Kevin, Lea and Andrew, unsure of how to explain it to them. "Andrew, I've already told you how we intend to wake Lydia up."

Lea folded her arms across her chest, "Ok, but you haven't told us." She waited, expectantly, but Dr. James said nothing, "Tell us."

Andrew stepped in and told them, "We have to go into her subconscious." Kevin blinked, once and then again, not believing anything he was hearing. "Go into her subconscious? Like jumping into her head?!" Andrew and Dr. James gave a slight nod.

Just then, Lea began to laugh, "You're kidding, aren't you? Very funny joke, but can we be a little more serious please." She shook her head and waited for them to laugh along with, saying it was all a big joke. But they never did. Instead, Andrew and Dr. James looked at Kevin and Lea tentatively. Lea's arms dropped to her sides, and her mouth hung open. "You're being serious?" Kevin reached over and shut her mouth with his hand. She turned to look at him and saw no reaction to what they had just heard. Along with that, she was also shocked at that tiny, probably meaningless, gesture. Now she had even more questions – not just about Lydia.

Ignoring how fast her heart was beating, she shot Kevin an incredulous look, before asking, "Do you believe any of this? Do you even understand it?" She then directed her next question to all of them, before Kevin could even open his mouth. "Do any of you understand this? Do you even realize how stupid it sounds?

"We know it may sound a little out of the box, but –" Andrew starts, but Lea interrupts. "Out of the box?! It was never even in the box! That's how CRAZY THIS IS!!"

Lea takes a deep breath, "How is this even possible? It's only 2022. The world's advanced, but not enough, that something like this could be possible."

"I know who can help us. Someone who knows what they're doing. He's smart." Dr. James reasoned. But Lea just shook her head, "It doesn't matter. You know why? Because we don't even know that this is going to work. Or if it's dangerous." Confusion filled Dr. James' eyes. "Has this been done before? Has this been tested? Because if it has, tell me. Did it have a good outcome? Show me some proof and I'll agree right away." Lea was met by silence. She bit the inside of her cheek and nodded. "That's what I thought. You don't know the consequences of doing something like this – which by the way I don't think can be done. How do you that this won't worsen Lydia's condition? How do you know that this won't affect us?" Again, silence. "I want Lydia to wake up too." Her voice hadn't risen much, but her face had become red. She needed to cool off. Lea started walking backwards, "But I'm not going to do this. I'm sorry." She shook her head, "I won't. I can't."

Lea began walking to the front door. Andrew called out her name, making her stop. "What, Drew?" She asked, exasperated. "Lea, I know you're worried. I am too, but I'm willing to do this if it means getting my sister back. I trust that this will work. Please, at least trust me. I really want you to come."

She sighed, "That's just it. I don't trust this and I can't trust you." She put her hands on her temples, "I honestly don't even know why I'm here – why he called me here." Lea gestured to Dr. James. She opened her mouth to say more, but just took a deep breath and went to the front door. She turned her head slightly, "I'll see you back at home."

"You can't go." Drew tried, again. "I have the keys to the car."

But Lea just opened the door, "I think I'll walk." And then she was gone, slamming the door behind her.

As soon as she left, Andrew let out a disgruntled sound. He didn't know why he wanted her to agree. Maybe it was because he didn't want to admit that he had thought about all that stuff too. He ran a hand over his face, trying to rid his mind of all those questions. Instead, he focused his attention on Kevin. "Care to tell us your opinion now?" When Lea started ranting, Andrew kind of forgot that Kevin was there too. But he knew now and he wanted an opinion.

Kevin looked to Andrew, unsure of what to say. He wanted to get Lydia back and he would do anything to do it, but Lea did have a point. Instead of beating 'round the bush, he simply voiced out his thoughts. "Listen," He began, hesitant to go on. "If you think it'll work, I'll do it." He paused again, "But, I mean, she did kinda have a point...." Kevin trailed off, as he gestured to the front door, through which Lea went.

Dr. James nodded. Andrew didn't even try to convince him. He was too tired. So, he went to their couch and sat down. Kevin's father, on the other hand, put in more effort. "I understand where you're coming from, Kev," He looked from Andrew to Kevin, "But I know this man and he knows what he's doing. Just think about it, Lydia could wake up." He finished, watching his son intently, waiting for an answer.

Kevin took a minute to think, then sighed in agreement, "Fine." He rubbed his eyes with one hand, the other on his waist, "Fine, I'll – uh I'll do it." Kevin put both his hands behind his neck and rested his head on them, before realizing he could do something to convince Lea. Plus, he was still uncertain about what he had just agreed to and needed some air. Two birds, one stone.

"I'm going to go find Lea. Maybe I can change her mind." Dr. James nodded. He knew Kevin needed some time to think. Andrew knew that too, although he was ecstatic about the fact that Kevin had agreed. Drew asked, "You sure you can catch up to her? Or even find her?"

Kevin just chuckled, "She's walking. Couldn't have gone that far. And I have a car, dude." Kevin went to the front door and grabbed his jacket, "And did you see the shoes she had on?! The heels were like nine inches tall!!" He exaggerated, before taking his keys and heading out the door. Seconds later, Andrew and Dr. James heard the rumble of a car engine.

Dr. James turned to Drew, "So, you staying here tonight?" Drew just sheepishly smiled, "If you don't mind, Keith?" Dr. James just raised his hands, as if to say whatever, and in a loud announcer's voice, said, "The James House – open to all!" Drew shook his head, the corners of his mouth upturned.

"No?" Drew shook his head. "Oh, okay. I'll work on it." The look on Drew's face after Dr. James said that, was a mix between disgust and shock. "Please don't." He said.

Dr. James nodded, embarrassed, and began walking to the kitchen, "I'll just get you guys some lunch then." Drew smiled, letting out a chuckle, before making himself comfortable on the couch.

He felt happy. He was about to get his sister back. How could he not be happy? Even though there was this quiet voice in the back of his head, that kept telling him something was going to go wrong. Drew ignored the voice and decided to occupy himself with Netflix.

In hindsight, he probably should have been a little more worried.

~ ~ ~

Lea was on a sidewalk. It had been ten minutes since she had walked out of the James house and she was now regretting the decision. Her feet had begun to ache about four minutes into the journey, so she had taken off her heeled boots and was now carrying them in her hand, swinging them by the laces, as she walked.

"Why did you have to wear these today?" She mumbled to herself. She knew where she was going, but she was tired. Not just physically, but emotionally. Did she regret saying no? No, she knew what she was saying was true. But did she still feel a little guilty? Yes.

"Ughh!" She groaned in frustration, as she sat down on the sidewalk. She felt like pulling her hair out. "Why does everything have to be so complicated?!" She yelled, not loud enough to bring people out of their homes, but enough to make the one other person on the sidewalk to give her a strange look.

"Because life is like that. Unfair and complicated for everyone." A car had stopped by her and inside was Kevin, smiling, with an elbow sticking out of his window. Lea rolled her eyes and walked to the other side of the car. Opening the door halfway, she threw her shoes in the car first before getting in herself. She plopped down in her seat, put on her seatbelt, and leaned back.

"Regretting your decision?" Kevin questioned. Lea had her eyes closed, but she was awake, "To walk? Yes." Kevin shook his head, grinning, "You know that's not what I meant."

Lea opened her eyes and gave him a sideways glance, before closing them again, "I know."

A few minutes later, the car was still not moving, so Lea opened her eyes, only to find Kevin watching her intently.

"What?" Kevin simply shook his head and looked forward, "Nothing. I'll take you home."

"Okay."

A few minutes into the drive, Lea spoke, "I feel bad, not going. But I also know that whatever I said made sense." Kevin remained silent, listening as Lea spoke, "I have questions, buttercup. And no one's answered them. How can I be sure?"

"You can't." He said suddenly. They were nearing the Marshall house and he wanted to change her mind before she got out of his car. "But we also don't know that it won't work. It might. I'm willing to take that chance. I'm asking you to do the same." Lea smiled, but it soon faded when Kevin added, "For Lydia's sake."

Lea's shoulders dropped, she grimly chuckled, "You know, this would've been a hell of a lot sweeter if it were for my sake."

"Is this what this is about?" Kevin asked, turning onto the Marshall's street. "You're grudge against Lydia? You're jealous of her? Even when she's in a coma?" The car came to a complete stop and Kevin turned in his seat to face Lea.

"I'd be lying if I said my life hasn't been slightly better without being compared to the great Lydia Marshall! But that is not what this is about! How could you even think that?!" Lea was appalled, on the verge of yelling.

Kevin, however, wasn't listening. He was already fuming, "It's not like she had a perfect life. She had problems just like everyone else. Just when I thought you were getting better, but no, instead you're letting a childish rivalry stop you from helping your family! What the hell is wrong with you!?"

Lea inaudibly gasped, and let out an almost silent laugh. "You know, I don't know what's wrong with me. I guess family doesn't mean as much to me as it does to all of you." She mocked. She undid her seatbelt and opened the door. "And I guess you forgot that I was still a bitch."

Lea slammed the door shut and through the open window, she said, "Have fun playing superhero. I'm gonna go ahead and stay alive." She frowned. "But if you do win the day, let me know, so I can get the hell out of your way when you celebrate." With that, she turned around and walked into the house.

Kevin watched her walk, about to call out her name so he could apologize, but she had already slammed the front door shut. He hit his head on the steering wheel, groaning in frustration. "You were supposed to make her come back, not drive her away, you idiot." He scolded himself. He didn't mean what he said and he knew it was out of line, but it just came out.

Kevin stared at the door, wanting to make things alright, but he didn't. Instead, he started his car and drove away. What he didn't know was that Lea was watching him drive away through the window.

A part of her hoped he would come back and apologize, while the other wanted him to go away so she couldn't drive her fist into his face. That's how mad she was.

"He had no right," Lea whispered, as she slid to the floor, leaning her back against the door. "But was he right?" Lea closed her eyes, thinking hard. In the end, she refused to think that he was right. Because he wasn't. Lea was not that petty.

She wanted Lydia to wake up, but there had to be another way. Something a little less nonsensical.

It didn't matter now. Drew and the other were already preparing. Lea just had to wait.

~ ~ ~

"So, how does this work?" Kevin asked, already confused. He wasn't studying to be a doctor like his father or an engineer like Drew. He was studying business.

"A coma is a state of unconsciousness, with minimal brain activity. But if we can access the part of Lydia's brain that is connected to her subconscious or even the part where she dreams, we may be able to speak to her. And from there we can figure out how to get her back." Dr. James explained.

"That's just the dumbed-down version. There's more to it, but we'll leave that for later." Said a short, balding man. His name was AJ Turner and he was the man that Dr. James had been talking about; the man that was going to help. He was 5'3, had a beer belly, but was incredibly smart. At that moment, he was tinkering around with the machine, under a tarp, that was going to get Kevin and Drew into Lydia's brain.

"I'm still confused," Kevin admitted, slightly embarrassed.

Dr. James began to speak, but AJ took over, taking out a screwdriver from his toolbelt, one attached to his overalls. "Think of it this way. There are doors in Lydia's brain. Those doors are certain parts of her brain and we need to open the door that will lead us to her subconscious. This machine will open that door for you. And when you're there, you'll find Lydia or her subconscious in the form of Lydia. So basically, through this machine, I will be sending both of your," He paused, gesturing between Drew and Kevin, "subconscious' into her mind."

"Now, I get it." AJ smiled, nodding and went back to work. "But," AJ turned and glared at Kevin, who just smiled sheepishly, "how exactly are we going to wake Lydia up?"

AJ sighed, thinking it over, before answering, "Well, first things first, you need to understand, that this is all just a theory. It's only been tested once before, but the results were inconclusive. Meaning, that the ways to wake her up, are only theories. None of them have actually worked, simply because they haven't been tested. The theories that make the most sense and the ones you're going to have to try are, physical pain or any extreme emotional change."

Drew nodded, "Okay, I get it. We have to hurt her or make her feel a lot in her subconscious." AJ nodded. "Basically. One of these will wake up Lydia and then when she's awake, I'll bring you two back."

Kevin frowned, "Not to sound like I'm complaining, but, - uh – what if neither works?"

"Then you'll have to figure something else, out on your own, I'm afraid." AJ smiled sadly as if anticipating that exact situation.

Drew picked up on that sad smile and asked, "You look like you're expecting that exactly." AJ stayed silent. "Are you?"

AJ sighed, "This could go very wrong, very quickly, Andrew. There's nothing really stopping it from going wrong. We're only hoping that it won't." AJ went back to work, but Drew wasn't done. "What do you even get out of this?"

AJ answered with no hesitation, "Nothing." This time Kevin asked the question, "Then why are you even doing this? Helping us?"

"Owed your Dad a favour. The man saved my life. This was the least I could do. It isn't much. I just have to use my brain" AJ finished messing around with the machine, and stood up, wiping his hands on his overalls. Then he took off the tarp that was covering his creation.

The machine was humungous. It was at least 7 feet tall and took up the whole living room. It was blinking all over the place and had wires coming out of it, connecting it to a computer. A holographic computer. Everyone's eyes widened. "Stuff like this only exists in movies...or the future." Kevin remarked, turning to look at AJ, "How can-?" He was enraptured.

AJ smirked, admiring his invention, "I'm ahead of my time." He chuckled at Kevin, who was pinching himself, making sure that he wasn't dreaming.

Andrew, on the other hand, got over the machine quickly. He was staring at the computer. It was showing Lydia's brain scan from four years ago. AJ fiddled around with the screen for a moment until it was showing two brain scans.

"This is Lydia's brain activity from four years ago when the accident first happened." Dr James pointed to the first scan, on the left. "This is her brain activity a few days ago." He pointed to the one on the right. "As you can see, they look very different." He paused. Andrew and Kevin shared an uneasy glance. "The thing is...they're not supposed to look different. Comatose patients have minimal brain activity, to begin with, and they aren't generally put in situations that can cause such changes in their brain unless they wake up. But Lydia isn't awake and this brain scan isn't supposed to change unless she's awake."

"So why is it changing?" Andrew asked, his voice wavering slightly.

AJ and Dr. James shared an uneasy glance before AJ gave a slight nod to the doctor, whose hands were fidgeting. Andrew narrowed his eyes, noticing his hands and wondering what was going on when finally, the doctor looked at him.

"I believe," Dr. James started, softly, "it might be because she's..." He trailed off, unable to finish his sentence. Lydia was like a daughter to him, so even he was afraid off finishing the sentence. Because then it would become real. Realer than it already was.

Kevin smiled, confused as to why his father was hesitating. He let out a quiet chuckle, "Dad, what is it?" He turned his head to look at AJ, who had his face turned away and was fiddling with his machine, "AJ?" No answer. Kevin turned to look at Drew, whose face had become sullen like he knew what Dr. James was going to say.

"Seriously what is it?" The smile had slipped off his face, and the mood had become tense. Dr. James was still quiet, his eyes trained to the ground. "Dad, we can take it." Kevin assured, referring to him and Drew.

Just then, Drew walked up to the doctor. He stood in front of him, "Keith." The doctor looked up and met his eyes. Drew let out a breath. "Say it." He knew exactly what the doctor would say. He needed to hear it. It had to be real, even if it almost destroyed him.

"Say it." Andrew repeated. The doctor sighed and nodded. "The brain scan might be changing," The doctor began, "because Lydia is..." He trailed off again, just to take in a breath.

"Lydia is what?" Kevin asked. By now even he had an idea of what his father was going to say. He was just hoping it wouldn't be true.

Dr. James gulped and everyone held their breath. It was completely silent, and the only noise that could be heard was the faint humming of AJ's machine.

Finally, he spoke. "Lydia's dying."

And with those two words, the two young men in that one room, had their worlds come crashing down.