In Your Time

*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 relax 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 explanation 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 his lab 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?" 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. I come 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 explained 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 played 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 explained. I took a shallow breath and relaxed 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?☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐