ATHERAMOND: Lord of the Cursed Pact.

The sound of hospital machines filled the air, each one emitting a steady, rhythmic beep that echoed throughout the room. The machines monitored Shanane's vital signs, their displays showing a steady heartbeat and stable breathing. A saline solution dripped steadily into her veins through an IV line, its slow, steady rhythm matching the beeping of the machines.

Shanane's eyes fluttered open slowly, her vision blurry and unfocused. The brightness of the room stung her eyes, and a wave of disorientation washed over her.

The memories of what had happened were hazy and disjointed. She felt confused and disoriented, her mind still reeling from the events that had lead her to the hospital.

Looking around the room, she saw the white walls, a nurse nearby checking her vitals, and various machines surrounding her. A dull ache echoed in her ears, and her body felt heavy, weary.

She tried to speak, but her throat was dry, and her voice came out as a hoarse whisper. She attempted to sit up, but a wave of dizziness immediately made her lie back down.

Her heart was pounding in her chest, and a thousand questions swirled in her mind. What had happened? Was she okay? Why was she here?

The nurse had been monitoring her vital signs when she noticed her stirring. She turned and saw that her eyes were open, and a look of relief crossed her face.

"You're awake," she said gently, her voice soft and soothing. "How are you feeling?"

"I... I'm not sure." Shanane managed to croak out, her voice hoarse from the dryness in her throat. She tried to sit up, but her limbs felt heavy and unresponsive.

The nurse quickly moved to her bedside, gently pushing her back down. "Don't try to get up yet," she said, her tone firm but kind. "You need to rest."

'"Let me get the doctor," she said, patting Shanane's hand comfortingly. "He'll want to see you and check how you're doing."

With that, she walked out of the room, closing the door quietly behind her. The room was once again filled with the hum of the machines and the sound of the IV drip. Shanane lay there, feeling vulnerable and alone, waiting for the doctor to arrive.

The wait felt like an eternity, each minute ticking by slowly as the young woman lay in bed, feeling weak and disoriented. Finally, the door opened, and the doctor walked into the room. He was tall, with a serious expression on his face.

"Hello, Miss Shanane," he said, as he approached her bedside. "I'm Dr. Adams. You gave us quite a scare earlier."

He picked up her chart and looked it over, his eyes scanning the notes and test results. "How are you feeling now?" he asked, turning his gaze back towards her.

"Weak... Dazed," the black woman managed to croak out, her voice still raspy. She tried to moisten her lips with her tongue, but her mouth felt incredibly dry.

Dr. Adams nodded, putting the chart back down on the bedside table. "Your vital signs are stable," he said, his tone reassuring. "We've run all necessary tests and everything appears to be normal. Your body seems to be responding well."

He gave her a small smile. "You should start feeling better soon. But I suggest you rest for now and let your body recover."

A weight seemed to lift off Shanane's shoulders at the doctor's words. She felt a wave of relief wash over her, knowing that she was not in any serious danger. But her mind was still filled with questions.

"If everything's alright then why was I unconscious... and my ears bleeding? she asked, her voice a little more steady now.

Dr. Adams frowned for a moment, his expression becoming more serious. "We're not entirely sure," he admitted. "There were no signs of physical trauma or any obvious illnesses. The best explanation we have is that it was a reaction to a sudden shock or extreme stress. Your body simply couldn't handle it and shut down momentarily."

"But the bleeding ears..." Shanane interjected, her voice tinged with worry. "What caused that?"

Dr. Adams shrugged, a pensive look on his face. "It could be related to the sudden stress or shock that you experienced," he explained. "Sometimes intense emotions can manifest in physical symptoms. It's rare, but I have seen similar cases before."

Dr. Adams looked at her with a stern expression. "I strongly recommend that you rest for at least 3 days," he said firmly. "Give your body time to recuperate. No stressful activities, no heavy work, and no exerting yourself. You need to take it easy to fully recover."

She sighed, feeling frustrated. Three days seemed like an eternity. But she knew the doctor was right. She had to listen to his advice if she wanted to get better.

"Okay," she said, nodding slowly. "I'll rest. But... can I have visitors at least?"

Dr. Adams smiled sympathetically. "Of course. You can have visitors, but please keep it limited. Too many people coming in and out can be overwhelming and hinder your recovery."

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∆ ☆▽⁠ ATHERAMOND ▽☆ ∆

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As the door opened, Aurora walked in, a worried expression on her face. Her eyes darted around the room, taking in Shanane's face and the machines surrounding her.

"Oh, thank God," she said, rushing to her bedside. "I've been so worried about you!"

Shanane managed a small smile. Seeing Aurora's concerned face made her feel both relieved and guilty. She knew her friend had been worried about her.

"I'm okay," she whispered, trying to reassure Aurora. "The doctor said I just need to rest for a few days."

Her friend's eyes widened in disbelief. "A few days?" she repeated, her voice filled with worry. "You're in the hospital, Shanane. You collapse, your ears start bleeding, and you need a few days rest? That doesn't sound okay to me!"

The black woman sighed, feeling the weight of concern on her shoulders. "I know it sounds worse than it is," she tried to reassure her. "But the doctor said I'm fine. It's just a reaction to stress or shock. It happens, you know."

Aurora's brow furrowed, her expression skeptical. "And the bleeding ears? Is that just a 'stress reaction' too?"

"I guess... it could be related to that," Shanane said slowly. "That loud scream and the weird voices we heard... It was all so sudden and intense, it must have been too much for my body to handle."

She shuddered again, the memory still fresh and unsettling.

Aurora's brow furrowed in confusion, her expression turning serious. "Wait a minute... what scream and what voices?" she asked, her voice laced with disbelief.

Shanane looked at her, surprised. "When I fell... didn't you hear it too?"

Aurora shook her head, her eyes filled with confusion and a touch of concern. "No, I didn't hear anything. I just saw you collapse, and then I called the ambulance."

The black woman frowned, her mind racing. The memories of the scream and voices were so vivid. Had she imagined them? It didn't make sense.

"But... I'm sure I heard something. A scream, multiple voices..." she insisted, her voice wavering.

Aurora looked at her with a mixture of disbelief and worry. "Maybe it was just your mind playing tricks on you," she suggested, her voice sympathetic. "I mean, you were under a lot of stress. Maybe your brain just... I don't know... created the sounds to cope with the situation."

Shanane fell silent for a moment, considering her friend's words. Could she have imagined the scream and voices? It seemed so real to her.

"Maybe," she said uncertainly. "But it felt so vivid, so real. I can still hear the screams echo in my head."

Aurora placed a comforting hand on Shanane's arm. "It was probably just a hallucination. You've been through a lot, and your body and mind were under a lot of strain. It's not unusual for hallucinations to occur in those kinds of situations."

She wanted to protest, to insist that she had heard something. But the confusion on Aurora's face was unmistakable. Maybe her friend was right. Maybe it had all been in her head.

"Yeah, maybe you're right," Shanane muttered, still feeling a pang of doubt. The idea that she had hallucinated the whole thing felt strange, unreal, but the alternative was even more perplexing.

"I must have just been really stressed," she added, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

Aurora gave her hand a comforting squeeze. "Don't worry about it too much," she said soothingly. "Just focus on getting better. Three days of rest, and you'll be back to your old self in no time."

Shanane nodded, her mind still buzzing with confusion. But she tried to push the thoughts aside and focus on the doctor's advice. Rest and recovery, that's what she needed right now.

"Yeah," she murmured, forcing a small smile. "Three days of rest. I can handle that."

Aurora smiled back, her eyes filled with relief. "That's the spirit," she said, her voice filled with encouragement. "I'll be checking in on you every day. And I'll bring you some books and magazines to keep you entertained."

Shanane chuckled at that. "Thanks," she said, genuinely grateful for her friend's support. "I'm going to be bored out of my mind stuck here for three days, so your visits will definitely be a lifesaver."

"You know I won't let you get bored," Aurora replied, her tone light but full of promise. "I'll make sure you have plenty of things to do. And no worrying about school or work! This is your time to relax, got it?"

"Got it," Shanane said, feigning resignation. But in her heart, she was grateful for Aurora's company and her understanding.

She then decided to tease her. "You would do an amazing girlfriend you know.... It's a shame you're already taken."

Aurora gave a playful scoff, pretending to be offended. "What, you trying to steal me away from my boyfriend now, huh?" she said, her eyes twinkling with amusement.

Shanane chuckled. "Hey, I just recognize talent when I see it," she teased back. "You're supportive, attentive, and always know how to cheer me up. I mean, come on, that's some serious girlfriend material right there."

Aurora rolled her eyes, but her grin widened. "Oh, so now you're an expert in girlfriend material?" she retorted, shaking her head. "I think there's a little matter of attraction you're forgetting, miss."

Shane smirked, always ready to spar with her witty comebacks. "Oh, I wasn't ruling that out either. Let's not forget you're easy on the eyes, too."

As the young women continued their playful banter, the nurse entered the room, clearing her throat to get their attention. "I hate to break this up, girls," she said, her tone gentle but firm. "But it's time for Shanane to get some rest now."

"Looks like my time's up," Aurora said with a hint of reluctance.

She gave Shanane's hand a gentle squeeze. "I'll come back tomorrow, but for now, you need to rest. No more of your flattery, miss. Doctor's orders."

She didn't want her friend to leave but she nodded ,"Fine, I'll be a good patient. Just don't forget about me, okay?"

Aurora laughed, rolling her eyes at Shanane's dramatic display. "As if I could forget you," she teased. "You're too hard to ignore. Rest well, okay? I'll see you tomorrow."

The room seemed eerily quiet as the door closed behind Aurora. The only sounds were the low hum of the machines and the soft beeps of the monitors, keeping track of Shanane's vital signs.

The black woman shifted on the bed, feeling the weight of solitude as the silence settled around her. The white walls seemed to press in, like they were trapping her in their sterile embrace.

The memories of the strange voices and the blinding light from earlier felt even more vivid in the silence. She tried to push them to the back of her mind, but they gnawed at her thoughts, persistent and unsettling.

She glanced around the room, the dim light from the machines casting shadows that danced on the sterile surfaces. It was going to be a long night.