Chapter 4
Chapter 4: The Weight of Sleep
Kyle wakes in the hospital, his body and mind strained. Dr. Anya Sharma visits him, concerned about his condition and the effects of the pills. She advises rest but Kyle is terrified of sleep. He reveals some of his fears, but not the full truth. The chapter ends with Kyle alone, dreading the night ahead, feeling the Jester's presence closing in.
The hospital room was quiet, save for the steady beep of the monitor beside my bed. The fluorescent lights hummed overhead, casting a pale, sterile glow on everything. I stared at the ceiling, my mind a fog of exhaustion and fear. Don was asleep in the bed next to mine, his chest rising and falling in a peaceful rhythm. I envied him. Sleep, for him, was just sleep. For me, it was a doorway.
I tried to move, but my body felt like it was made of lead. Every muscle ached, and there was a deep, hollow ache in my chest that I couldn't explain. The doctors had said I was dehydrated and suffering from severe sleep deprivation. They'd pumped fluids into me and given me something to calm my nerves, but it didn't touch the real problem.
The Jester.
Keep reading "Chapter 4: The Weight of Sleep"
Open the same story in AIBookCraft. Later chapters may require an active subscription.
Free on iOS & Android · No signup to read