chapter 2

"Desiderio!" Sam's voice was a distant echo in the chaos of his mind. The pain was unbearable, like a thousand needles piercing his skull. Desiderio's legs buckled, and he collapsed to the floor, unconscious.

Panic rippled through the classroom. Some students stood up, craning their necks to see what had happened, while others shrank back in their seats, fearful and confused.

Without a moment's hesitation, Sam knelt beside his friend. "Desi, stay with me!" he urged, his voice trembling. He shook Desiderio gently, but there was no response. The glowing symbol on Desiderio's wrist slowly dimmed, leaving behind a faint, almost imperceptible trace.

Sam's heart pounded as he hoisted Desiderio into his arms. "Move! Out of the way!" he shouted, his voice cutting through the shocked silence. The students parted, more out of surprise than obedience.

With Desiderio cradled in his arms, Sam hurried through the door and down the hall. Each step echoed loudly against the tiled floor, matching the rhythm of his racing thoughts. What had just happened? What was that light?

Bursting into the nurse's office, Sam gently laid Desiderio on the nearest bed. The nurse, Mrs. Harper, looked up from her desk, her eyes widening in alarm. "What happened?" she asked, rushing over to examine Desiderio.

"He just... collapsed," Sam managed, his breath coming in short gasps. "There was this light, and he screamed... and then he fainted."

Mrs. Harper nodded, her face a mask of concentration. She checked Desiderio's pulse and examined the strange symbol on his wrist. "He needs to rest," she said finally. "I'll call for an ambulance. You did the right thing bringing him here, Sam."

Sam nodded, his gaze fixed on Desiderio's pale face. He felt a knot of fear tighten in his stomach, but he pushed it aside. Desiderio was strong. He would get through this. As the nurse made the call, Sam sat by the bed, holding his friend's hand, silently willing him to wake up.

"The Wish Equivalent Exchange 1.0 activating …. 100%

The Wish Equivalent Exchange 1.0 activated" could be heard in the dark room as Desiderio fainted. 

The room was a blur of activity as the paramedics arrived, their faces set with professional urgency. Sam watched anxiously as they transferred Desiderio onto a stretcher, checking his vitals and speaking in low, efficient tones. The symbol on Desiderio's wrist had faded to almost nothing, but Sam couldn't shake the image of its intense glow from his mind.

"Can I go with him?" Sam asked, his voice steady despite the turmoil inside.

One of the paramedics, a kind-eyed woman with a soothing demeanor, nodded. "Of course. Are you a family member?"

Sam hesitated, then nodded. "We're like brothers."

With a reassuring pat on Sam's shoulder, she guided him into the ambulance. The ride to the hospital was a whirlwind of beeping monitors and medical jargon, and Sam felt a profound helplessness wash over him. He gripped Desiderio's hand tightly, willing him to wake up, to open his eyes and tell him it was all just some weird dream.

At the hospital, they were rushed into the emergency room. Nurses and doctors moved with practiced efficiency, assessing Desiderio's condition. Sam was ushered into a waiting area, told to sit tight and wait for news. The sterile, impersonal environment only amplified his anxiety.

Minutes felt like hours. Sam's mind raced with questions and fears. What had caused Desiderio to collapse? What was that light, and why had the symbol on his wrist reacted that way? He wished he could do something, anything, to help his friend.

Eventually, a doctor approached, her expression a mix of professional calm and concern. "Are you here for Desiderio?"

Sam jumped to his feet. "Yes, is he okay?"

The doctor nodded. "He's stable now. We ran some tests, but we need more time to understand what happened. That symbol on his wrist... have you seen it react like that before?"

Sam shook his head. "No, never. It just... it just lit up out of nowhere."

The doctor sighed. "We tried to contact his mother, but we haven't been able to reach her. Is there anyone else we should notify?"

Sam's heart sank. Desiderio's mother had been struggling ever since his father died two years ago. She worked long hours, sometimes disappearing for days trying to make ends meet. "No, there's no one else," he said quietly. "His father's dead, and his mom... she's hard to reach sometimes."

The doctor gave him a sympathetic look. "We'll keep trying, but in the meantime, we're keeping him under observation. You can see him now, but only for a little while."

Sam followed her down the hall to a private room where Desiderio lay on a bed, looking small and fragile amidst the medical equipment. His eyes were closed, but his breathing was steady. Sam sat beside him, relief flooding through him just to see Desiderio peaceful and alive.

"Desi," he whispered, squeezing his hand. "You're gonna be okay, man. I'm right here."

A few moments passed, and then, slowly, Desiderio's eyes fluttered open. He blinked, disoriented, then focused on Sam. "Sam... what happened?"

"You scared the hell out of me, that's what happened," Sam replied, his voice shaky with emotion. "You passed out, and there was this light, and that mark on your wrist..."

Desiderio glanced at his wrist, the symbol now barely visible. "I... I don't know, Sam. I felt this pain, like something was burning inside me."

"We'll figure it out," Sam said firmly. "Together. You're not alone in this."

Desiderio managed a weak smile. "Thanks, Sam. For being here."

Sam nodded, his resolve strengthening. Whatever was happening, they would face it together. The judgment and disdain of their classmates seemed insignificant now, overshadowed by the mystery and danger that lay ahead. And for the first time, Sam felt a flicker of hope, a belief that they would find answers and overcome whatever challenges awaited them.