Hospital Meetings.

Alex lay in his hospital bed, gazing at the sterile ceiling tiles. Deep down, he understood that the strange dreams he'd been having felt real, despite his better judgment. The sound of trickling water, the pain in his chest when the butterfly burst from its cocoon—everything had been uncannily vivid.

Jane entered the room, holding a bag of sweets and soft drinks. Her eyes met Alex's briefly, but she didn't rush to check on him. Instead, she went straight to the small table in the room and began organizing the items she'd brought.

"Finally, you woke up!" she exclaimed, still with her back to him.

Alex shifted on the bed, trying to sit up. "How long have I been asleep?" he asked.

"About half an hour," Jane replied coolly.

Alex was taken aback. He had thought he'd been out for hours, if not an entire day. But he knew that dreams could play tricks on the mind. As he contemplated his dream, one face lingered in his thoughts—Annalina, the mysterious girl who seemed to be at the center of all the turmoil he'd experienced.

"Mom?" Alex inquired cautiously.

"What is it, dear?" she responded, her tone flat as she continued to arrange her things on the table.

"Do you know a girl named Annalina?" Alex ventured, though he had little hope of receiving an answer. After all, Annalina had been a figment of his dreams and hallucinations.

To his surprise, Jane froze. Though he couldn't see her face, he observed her body language. Her lipstick slipped from her hand and clattered to the floor, forgotten.

"What a strange name," she finally replied, her voice trembling slightly. "Where did you hear it?"

Alex decided there was no point in concealing his dream, given that it was just that—a dream. "I had the weirdest dream," he confessed.

Before Jane could respond, a knock at the door signaled the arrival of the doctor, who then entered without waiting for a response. The doctor bore an uncanny resemblance to Jane, with blond hair, blue eyes, and pale skin. Their facial structures were nearly identical. Alex couldn't help but wonder if they were somehow related.

"Okay, how are we doing today?" the doctor inquired, not bothering to look at his patient.

"I'm feeling fine," Alex replied, noticing the doctor's brief surprise when their eyes briefly met. He managed to catch the name "Mordor" on the doctor's name tag. "Mordor? Who names their child that?"

The doctor continued his examination, asking, "So, it's Alex, right?" without making direct eye contact.

"Do you feel dizzy? Is the room spinning?" the doctor continued, still avoiding eye contact. Alex replied in the negative, confirming that he felt perfectly fine.

"Great, then you're free to leave," the doctor said, jotting something down on the chart without ever looking at Alex.

"Already? Shouldn't he rest a bit longer, doctor?" Jane's voice cut through the air, its coldness unmistakable as she addressed the doctor without even glancing in his direction.

"No, he's a strong kid. He'll be fine," the doctor replied. He turned and headed for the door but paused to offer a warm comment as he left. "Welcome back."

"Thanks," Jane replied tersely, still without acknowledging Alex.

As the doctor left the room without sparing another glance for his patient, Alex couldn't help but wonder if Mordor was his father. The doctor's prior knowledge of his name, along with the strange looks exchanged between Mordor and Jane, piqued Alex's curiosity.

"Mom..." Alex began.

"No, he's not," Jane interjected abruptly, turning toward him. Her eyes were red, and it was clear she had been crying or was on the verge of tears. "He is not your father."

Taking a deep breath, she approached Alex and settled in a chair beside his bed. "Your dad was the bravest of all. He fought in many wars and always emerged victorious."

"He's a war hero?" Alex asked in disbelief. For seventeen years, he had believed that his father had abandoned them, but now it seemed there was much more to the story.

"He is a hero, indeed. He'll tell you all about the wars he fought once you meet him," she assured him, leaning down to kiss his forehead.

Jane stepped outside to call for the nurse and let her know they were ready to leave. Alex examined his chest, expecting to find burns or scars, but there was nothing. It had all been a dream, yet the pain he'd experienced had felt so real.

The nurse arrived with Jane and checked his chart. "You're the lucky one," she commented. "You were in a coma when you arrived. It's a miracle you're leaving so soon."

"In a coma?" Alex wondered to himself. Perhaps the dream had triggered his condition, or maybe the coma had given rise to the dream.

"Yes," she confirmed with a nod. "We believe in miracles here."

Turning her attention to Alex, the nurse added with a smile, "So, let's get you changed and ready to go."

"Mom, help!" Alex cried out as the nurse began unzipping his hospital clothes.

Jane burst into laughter, watching as Alex emerged from the ordeal with a few bruises and a flushed face. They left the hospital together, but Alex couldn't help but overhear a group of rowdy teenagers in the corridor. They were running, shouting, and showing no consideration for the sick patients around them—the typical high school bullies. Alex had always had trouble with such individuals at every school he'd attended, and he couldn't stand them.

"Shut up!" the nurse shouted angrily at the unruly group.

"Who are they?" Alex asked, relieved to be out of the room and away from the uncomfortable conversation about his father.

"They're students from Iolani School," the nurse explained. "Annoying and full of themselves. By the way, which school are you going to, son?"

Alex wasn't sure which school he was supposed to attend in a few days, so he looked to Jane. However, she seemed lost in thought, her gaze fixed on something down the corridor.

"Why are they so annoying?" Alex asked the nurse while she filled out the release papers.

"They've been like this ever since they won the championship two years ago. No other school can beat them," the nurse replied, glancing at the group again as they waited outside the physical examination room. "Yep, they're strong, alright."

"Bitty, stop feeding him lies," a girl behind the counter interjected.

Bitty turned toward the girl and smiled. "You know me, I never lie. Ever since Cain joined them two years ago, they've been champions, and no one could defeat them. Not even your little bird."

The girl jumped up, glaring at the nurse, and then cast a curious glance at Alex. "So, he's the new kid?"

Alex turned to see who was speaking—a girl with sky-blue eyes and dark golden hair that seemed to ripple in response to the air conditioning. She wore a white blouse with blue denim shorts, and her pale skin suggested that she rarely saw the sun. Her intense blue eyes captured Alex's attention, drawing him into their depths. Ashe introduced herself to them.

"Hello!" she repeated, snapping Alex out of his trance. Then she looked at Jane and inquired, "And you are?"

The girl exuded arrogance, showing no respect for the age difference between herself and Jane.

"She's your aunt," a male voice from behind the counter explained. Alex turned to see Dr. Mordor approaching.

Both Alex and the girl, Ashe, reacted simultaneously. "What?"

"Why didn't you tell me I had an uncle?" Alex asked Jane, while Ashe directed her question at Mordor. "I had an aunt all this time, and you didn't tell me?"

Bitty, who was still arranging files, burst into laughter at their synchronized exclamations. They both turned to her with puzzled expressions. "What's so funny?" they asked in unison.

Alex looked at Dr. Mordor. "So, you're my uncle?"

"Not exactly," he replied. "I and your mother both lived and worked in the same orphanage. We're like brother and sister."

"Both of us were orphans, and we were raised and worked in the same orphanage," Jane explained to Alex. As his imagination spun countless scenarios, one in particular stood out. "Is that where you and Dad met?"