RISE OF THE DISCARDED SON-IN-LAW

HOSPITAL CALL

The constant and soft beeping of the machine roused Alarick from his deep slumber. The strong smell of chlorine from the cleaning agents that had been used to sterilise the room filled his nostrils and he gagged. For some reason, his sense of smell was stronger than usual. He tried to sit up and groaned as a sharp pain mostly from his torso, reverberated through his whole body and disoriented him.

He was having a pounding headache so Alarick raised his hands to touch his head to try and reduce the pain by massaging his forehead but something pulled his hand back. The bright light blurred his vision as he opened his eyes to see what was holding him back so he blinked and squinted to allow his vision to adjust.

A moment after his sight had adjusted to the brightness, he could see what held him back. Tubes ran down his hands and fed into the beeping and blinking machine beside him. His body, naked under the blue light material of the hospital gown he had on. Alarick put his hand on his