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Exer had been discharged, no longer in a hospital gown, rather a galaxy wars themed set of pyjamas his father had brought back with him after dropping off Jackson and Lucy-furr, so Exer was now ready to head on out with David and Ron, the girls having left the room just a few moments ago with hushed giggles of a possible girls night and a surprise visit to a certain shaken brunette.
Considering how the day started, Exer couldn't help but crack a smile, he was surrounded by some of his favourite people and no one apart from himself got seriously injured by his magic attack.
That made him feel a lot better...
But...
Exer's eyes wandered to the floor, his eyebrows furrowing lightly the deeper he thought, his smile falling to a thin line.
Jackson. He looked so scared back at the lake, like he was looking at something,
what had he seen?
Was it Exer?
Could he sense the magic attack before it started?
He wasn't ready to deal with the magic again, If only he hadn't pushed-
Harry ruffled Exer's hair with a gentle smile, breaking him from his soundless spiral,
"You ready to get out of here?"
He questioned, tilting his head, his eyes full of warmth and care, a knowing glint reflecting his son's worries.
Exer paused, a hint of guilt in his expression, he didn't want his dad to worry, he's already been enough trouble- he must have been so stressed-
He shook his head, dismissing the thought as he turned back to answer with a newfound energy.
"You know it!"
The magic boy chimed as he gave a beaming smile, his dimples poked into his cheeks. He was so ready to just get out of the sterile environment, the bright white lights, antiseptic smell and constant beeping of machines was driving him rather nuts.
"Could we order food tonight?" He turned to his dad with big pleading eyes, David immediately picking up on it and joining in.
Harry chuckled at his sons antics, a teasing sparkle in his eyes as he replied, "Is my cooking not good enough for you boys?"
Exer perked up like a deer in headlights, "what, no-"
"I'm just kidding!" He laughed nervously, a bit stunned that Exer had taken it so seriously, "Of course we can."
Exer grinned, completely switching up to an innocent smile, "Thanks dad!"
Harry had a moment of relief before going to playfully ruffle his son's hair whom was cackling mischievously as he exclaimed, "not the hair, not the hair!" the two laughed, happy and for a moment, carefree.
David watched on fondly, till Exer pulled him into the lighthearted rough housing.
Ronald perked up as things seemed to grow louder out in the corridor, figuring he'd give the others a moment, he slipped out of the room, his eyes wandering around the blinding environment, the patients coming and going as nurses and doctors seemed to speedwalk across the hall, a sense of panic building in the air. He'd be lying if he said he wasn't curious, his inner gossip wanting to seek out whatever was going on.
Lost in his own thoughts, questions spinning back and forth, he bumped into Pamela who stood as still as a statue, a haunted expression on her face as she appeared to not even react to Ron.
"Ah Pamela, Sorry, did not see you there." he apologised, her eyes glancing to him for just a moment as tears soundlessly dripped down her cheeks,
"Pamela?" Ronald stressed, a growing sense of dread, he didn't mean to upset her, he didn't mean to bump into her-
Brenda turned around, an expression of sheer horror painted across her face as she stepped toward Pamela, gently clasping her hands onto Pam's forearms, pulling her into a comforting hug.
"Ron it's not you, it's-" Brenda's tearful eyes looked to the taller boy as the words didn't seem to come.
"J-Jackson..." Pamela choked before tucking her face more into Brenda's shoulder, the sobs coming in droves, desperately holding onto the other girl to keep grounded.
"Jackson..? But he's-" Ronald tilted his head in confusion, his questioning interrupted at he zoned into some distant voices...
He took a few steps forward, enough to look down the corridor to see none other than Carol and Frank smith, both stood next to a stretcher. Carol had tears in her eyes, her hands in the stretcher, a weak smile on her face as she attempted to cool the shaking arm rested a top the blankets, the figure in the bed painfully familiar.
Ronald stood in horror, all other sounds muffled and distant even as the Campbells and David finally approached Brenda and Pam. He felt this surge of guilt as he ran down the hall, calling out to the Smiths.
Exer was confused, everything seemed to go from zero to a hundred with a flick of a switch, the first thing he noticed was Brenda consoling a distraught Pamela, his dad had rushed over, attempting to offer any comfort he could.
Exer shared a look with David, giving him a nod to go to his sister as he just barely noticed the edge of Ronald turning down a hallway. He squinted, brows furrowing in confusion as he slowly swayed a step forward, followed by a few more till he looked down the same corridor.
G-get away!" Jackson's familiar voice rang out, a delirium clear in his speech and appearance. Blood was crusted on the inner edge of his nosebridge, the right side of his face bloodied as a shard of glass protruded from his left eye, the light reflecting off the sharpened edge. Crimson dripped down his cheek, leaking onto the pillow propping his head up. His usually spiky hair laying sprawled out, some clumping to his forehead, some resting against the stretcher below him. His arms were raised, chest heaving with sharp intakes of breath as he seemed to be pushing anyone away from himself, he looked... Scared.
Ronald said something to him that Exer couldn't quite hear but it seemed to get through to the brunette as his body sunk into the stretcher, a tear teetering on the edge of his remaining eyeline.
His eyelid drooped, the tear fell, and he succumbed to sleep.
Exer froze, watching everything unfold, a bump building in his throat as he felt his guilt bubble up.
How did this happen?
This was his fault wasn't it?
Was this to do with what happened at the lake?
His eyes sharpened, an edge of disbelief,
His eye, it was glowing white.