Chapter 24


    *Phoenix’s POV*


    I woke to the sound of beeping. I was confused as I opened my eyes and was met with the makings of


    a hospital room. I tried to sit up but immediately regretted it as a piercing pain stabbed my side. I


    wheezed as the beeping sped up.


    "Don''t try to move. You cracked a few ribs," I heard Braden said as I felt a hand on my shoulder. I tried


    to rx and the pain eventually started to subside.


    "Why am I at the hospital? I thought I asked... not to tell your parents," I wheezed. He sighed before


    holding my hand in his gently.


    "I know, but I couldn''t leave you like that. You were having trouble breathing and I couldn''t sit back and


    watch. I want to ask you something, and I know you won''t want to answer... but I saw it. I saw you


    disappear, Phoenix. What''s happening to you?" He asked. I felt and heard my heart rate pick up as I


    looked at Braden. I disappeared in front of him? There wasn''t a reasonable exnation for it. My only


    option was to tell him was the truth.


    "I''m not from here... or even this year. The truth is... my dad is a world renowned scientist in the year


    2026. One day, my friend Merlyn and I snuck into hisb at the time they were testing a machine. I got


    sucked in and dropped here, in 2017," I admitted. Braden sat back as he took a breath and tried to


    process what I told him.


    "So you really time traveled here? You''re from the future? You realize how insane that sounds, right?"


    Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    He asked.


    "You said you saw it for yourself. My dad has been trying to bring me back. That''s why I disappeared


    for a while, but they couldn''t get me out of the warp. The trip takes a heavy toll on my body. Ie


    back worse the longer I''m in it, and I recently found out that if I get pulled back and forth too often, it


    could kill me. I also can''t control when I get pulled in," I exined honestly. He stood and ran his hand


    through his hair. I could tell it was taking him a while to process everything.


    "That''s why I yed dumb. There are things I can''t tell you because it may ruin the future. Also, this is


    something you can''t tell anyone... ever. That''s also why I didn''t want to tell your parents," I finished. I''d


    talked too much and my sides were starting to hurt again. I winced as I tried to calm my breathing down


    again. He sat by my side again and grabbed my hand in his.


    "I won''t tell anyone, but still I couldn''t watch you be in this state without doing something," he exined.


    I took a shallow breath and rxed against the bed. After a short while, George came into the room


    with a chart.


    "Oh Phoenix, you''re awake. You have major bruising centralized around your torso. A few on your


    extremities, but our main concern is your ribs. They were probably already sensitive from before and


    this incident was enough to crack a few. You''ve been in a unconscious for a few days. Do you


    remember what happened?" He asked as he checked the monitor and brought a stethoscope to my


    chest. A few days? How much of a toll did that trip take on me?