Chapter 9: I can’t see

Chapter 9: I can't see

Within a public hospital in sector 9 of the Hunter state, there is a room in which a father-son pair can be seen. The son was lying on the bed unconscious and the father could only hold his hand hoping that the boy would be ok.

Jack was worried and scared. Samuel is all he has in this world after his mother Sara passed away during childbirth. The only reason he kept on going with such passion in life was due to Samuel. This child kept him grounded and gave him the motivation to keep going and trying to improve his life.

'This hospital room, this environment and the fact that I can only stare helplessly as my son is going through who knows what on this bed. It's just like back then, just like that day' Jack's thoughts were in turmoil. He felt so helpless and all the doctors here didn't understand what was happening to Samuel. All they could tell him was that Samuel's body had experienced a great deal of shock and trauma. The cause of which they do not know, he is in a coma and they don't know when he will wake up. It has been a week since the ceremony and yet Samuel still lays unconscious on his hospital bed. No one has any answers neither to his condition or the strange barrier around his eyes.

Yes, the doctors have analyzed the weird black membrane that has covered Samuel's eyes. They didn't disturb his eyelids but covered his eyeballs. It Is untraceable by technology and seems to be some sort of defense mechanism most likely a result of Samuels Karna. They couldn't find out much about it.

And to make matters worse something unusual was happening to Samuel's heart. When Samuel's body was scanned an alarming discovery was made. Samuel's heart seemed to have vanished under their scans. The doctors knew it was still there but no technology they had could detect it. Thus making even their heart monitors useless. But simple tools like the old-fashioned stethoscope allowed them to hear his heartbeats.

Whatever was happening to Samuel was strange and unusual. They could only determine that this was caused by his Karna and whatever its ability was. They concluded that Samuel's karna was modifying his body. This wasn't the first Karna discovered to change its user's body. So the doctors could only wait for whatever was happening to take its natural course.

"Knock! Knock! Can we enter?" a knock was heard from the door of the room as someone asked to enter. Jack recognized the voice so he responded by saying "Come in." as soon as he said that 5 people entered the room. Billy, Rick, Blessed and surprisingly Jennifer and Tina arrived to visit their friend. "Hey kids thanks for coming to see him. Maybe you guys being here will help him somehow" Jack said with a tired voice. It was clear for all to see that Jack was not in a good state.

His eyes were red and he had visible bags underneath his eyes. " Sorry to impose on you like this Mr Wild. We just needed to see him" Billy said as everyone gathered around Samuel. " No need to apologize you guys are always welcome," Jack said with a forced smile. Jennifer went close to Samuel and grabbed his other hand "When you didn't message or call for 3 days I got worried. So I called the guys and they told me what happened. I came here immediately. I'm so sorry I wasn't there for you when you needed me" Jennifer said with teary eyes.

"How long has he been unconscious?" Tina asked. " A whole week," Jack responded. "When did the doctors say he might wake up?" Blessed asked only for Jack to shake his head "They don't know when or if he will ever wake up."

Those words made everyone tremble. Why was this happening to their friend? No one had ever been hurt during the Karna awakening ceremony, this whole thing was too strange. Everyone even began suspecting that someone might have tempered with the realm tunnel somehow. Just as all of them were consumed by negative thoughts Samuel's eyelids trembled. Jack instantly saw this and stood up with hope in his eyes.

The others soon realized Samuel was showing signs of waking up. By some miracle he began moving his body " Why are all of you so loud? Can't a guy sleep in peace." His voice was low and horse but they all heard him. "Samuel, are you ok? How do you feel? Is there pain anywhere?" Jack constantly kept asking questions. Samuel rubbed his eyes and set up. When he opened his eyes the usual white sclera and brawn iris were nowhere to be seen everything was just black. It looked creepy in a way.

"Hey guys who turned off the lights, that's not funny. I wanna see you guys. I heard Jennifer's voice" Samuel said as he constantly kept on rubbing his eyes. Everyone instantly fell silent a growing fear began to gnaw at their hearts. " I'm here Samuel, no lights are off. The whole run is bright" Jennifer said clear hesitation in her voice. " Jennifer you came to see me thanks. But stop with the jokes everything is all black I can't see a thing. Quickly turn the lights on you guys are starting to freak me out" Samuel said as fear started to rise in him.

Everyone's expression went dark they all shared the same thoughts. Jack raised his hand and waved it in front of Samuel's face. But the boy did not react whatsoever. Jennifer covered her mouth in an attempt to stop herself from crying out loud. " Doctor! Nurse! We need some help" Jack screamed out. "Guys, what's happening? Dad, why are you calling the doctors?" Samuel asked in a panic.

Jack reached out to Samuel placing his hand on his shoulder. Samuel turned to face him. " Calm down son it's ok, the doctors are coming," Jack said trying to calm His son down. " forget calming down turn on the light, turn on the light!" Samuel tried to yell in his weak voice. He constantly kept rubbing his eyes hoping that all of this was some sick joke. Jack grabbed his hands making the boy stop " Samuel the lights are on, Jennifer wasn't lying to you. But don't worry everything will be ok once the doctors come" Jacked said trying to calm Samuel and himself.

Samuel's expression fell as tears fell from his clack eyes staining his face " I, I, I… I can't see" Samuel said in despair. Everyone in the room felt their hearts ach at his pained expression and the words he said.

…

Samuel spent a few days in the hospital during that time. The poor boy cried, screamed, and did anything he could to vent his emotions. He spent one of those few days alone unwilling to let anyone see him. It took a while but he came to terms with his new circumstances. Having supportive friends and family made the process easier than if he had no one. The doctors were all unable to do anything to regain Samuel his sight back. The barrier around his Eyes couldn't be affected by any equipment they used its durability was insane. But they also feared that trying to damage the barrier might negatively affect Samuel so they could only leave him alone. They concluded that Samuel might gain his sight back if he activated his Karnas ability.

Five days after waking up the doctors discharged him due to there being nothing they could do and Samuels relatively good health. Samuel had to say goodbye to his friends as they would be leaving for planet Solomon to enter Celestial Academy the boys would be going for the entrance exam while the girls had to get back to their training.

Although it would be more accurate to say that he forced them to leave. All the boys wanted to go to the academy together, so the thought of going without Samuel made them feel like they were betraying him.

Samuel on the other hand was having none of that, he would never want to be the reason why his friends chose not to chase their dreams. He told them to and that they better make him proud. With all the events that happened on the ceremony day. The group was able to prove most of their theories right. While everyone knew more or less the same amount in regards to fictional content. Those who were more open-minded and imaginative got higher stars than those who weren't. But even with their findings they still could not determine how much of a difference it made. Most awakened 4 to 5 stars while the more imaginative ones got 5 to 10 stars.

In the higher stared group there was still a large gap between those that got 5 to 6 stars as they were 23 people. While those that got higher stars were only 2 people Billy and Rick. Their findings stopped there but they were satisfied with it. The secret club ended with their grade and everyone went their separate ways.

Samuel never talked about what he experienced in the portal and the others didn't push too hard to know about it. The father-son pair arrived at their house and Samuel now found himself in his bedroom. He sat on the edge of his bed and stared at the wall. Not like he could see anything but he sat there thinking about his next course of action. He knew what he had to do, he had to activate his Karna. But he was scared. The memories of what happened that day kept flashing in his mind.

He trembled in fear he kept thinking what if activating his karna would send him to that place again? Would he encounter that being again if he activates his Karna?" Damn it man snap out of it. Stop being so scared. From all the things that voice said it's clear that it had no intention to kill me. Heck, it barely cared about my existence. I get it you scared, it hurt like hell and you don't want that to happen again. BUT STOP BEING SUCH A WIMP!" Samuel said to himself.

He gritted his teeth and clenched his fist trying to fight his fear. Then low light of gold and silver light appeared from his body as 5he cube-shaped Karna appeared. It kept spinning slowly filled with an immeasurable amount of Mythos. Samuel couldn't see the world around him but within the darkness that covered his sight that cube was clear as day. Its design was weird it resembled a cube but different. Its intricate form had multiple segments.

Samuel instinctually knew the cube wasn't his karna. His real Karna was trapped inside it and the only way to get it out was to activate it.

But he was scared he felt it deep within him that he was connected to the cube just as much as he was to his Karna. So if he activates his Karna the cub will also activate. Unlike his karna where he felt an instinctual understanding of its abilities. His connection with the cube gave him nothing. Only a feeling that activating his Karna would activate the cube. He stealer his resolve "Let's do this" he said quietly.