I stood back in disgust when I look upon myself to see that those irritations that have been causing my eyes to burn like those logs people use to start a fire; is not normal. When I take another look to see those black vine marks again, it seems it rooted from outside in the corner of my eye and like a vine it grows creating little marks and then those marks create more marks.

            I was not too happy to see that. How it got like that. If I am not mistaken, I had seen my dark me kind of looking like this. But it was a daydream. Or is it? Feeling desperate, I head out of the bathroom back to my desk. I sit down and rush to get the laptop on. I get on a search engine and start typing words like eye irritation and marks on eyes caused by irritations.  As I search for clues, how did this thing spread so fast?

            I look back at the laptop screen to see the potential results; looking over, all I see is results that lead me to pink eye, Scleritis, and other degenerative diseases to the retina, iris, and chorea. I never even heard about some of these diseases except pink eye. Yet out of all those results, none shown anything that related to my type of problem. I even look at picture results—some just nasty to look.

This irritation I have is not even in the same ballpark. I wonder if my mom knows. Yet do I have to tell her I have a strange illness.

I turn my head back at that outdated clock that always give me issues with that stupid alarm sound. 12:05 AM

I realize I have to go to practice at 7AM. Knowing I have no choice but to forego the research about this problem and pray to the heavens this can go away. Shutting the laptop down, I close it while I’m getting up from my chair. I take a quick sneak peek inside the second desk drawer where the journal is still there. I close the drawer knowing it is there safe. I head to my bed. I pull the covers down. I get in and put the covers back on me. I’m just hoping I will have four hours of peace. I see the alarm clock—knowing how I am still angry how it operates, I put the alarm on making sure I will wake up at least two hours earlier. After checking the alarm on, I lay my head back on the pillow and just wonder if those marks will fade away. All I can do now is just watch what happens next.

***

I wake up after hearing the sound of my alarm clock; as much the sounds making me wish I sleep more, it is really powerful waking me up. I slam my fist at the contraption stopping the noise.  I sit up starting to roar like a mountain lion. I shake my hair as well seeing the clock.

6:15 AM.

            Great! I rise up from the bed and as I start preparing myself for soccer practice. I suddenly thought about those black marks around my eyes. I head to the bathroom to glance at the mirror. As I look at myself, I’m in total relief. The marks seem to vanish at the right time. How it got there remains a mystery. I put on my typical, everyday clothes on after washing myself and packing my booksack and heads out

***

After a tenuous soccer practice, I almost felt tired, but I need my energy at best seeing that I have to go to my four classes. As the hours continue to pass, I complete my Geometry, History, Biology, and English classes for the day. All in all it has been a total of eight long hours, from the time practice started to the time I reach my bike to head home.

            Oh no!

            I forgot that I need to meet up with Liana today. As I take my bike and get on, I pedal my way from school near West Congress Street then three miles away from there to Huffman Drive near downtown. Nearby the local pizzeria, is Zephyr’s Café. This place is usually the fun place me and my friends head to a lot for drinks and hamburgers.

            One day, I took my laptop at the café because I had to do a research paper. I felt the café was so hip and fun, I literally wrote my entire paper there. No joke. In fact I’m thinking of doing more of my homework here. Another time, me, Liana, Eric, and another friend of ours named Terry went here to grab a piece of hamburger because nobody does hamburgers better than at Zephyr’s. I met the owner one of those many times I came here. She was fun. No wonder the reason the place was so fun in the beginning was because of the fun and uniqueness the owner given and as well the employees. I wish I work there one day. I may have time but with practice and everything else; it may be a while.

            As I get inside smelling the great smell of their crispy, tartly fries and hamburgers, I look three tables to my right where I finally see Liana waiting for me. I approach her and sit on the other side. I look at the table where I only see the napkins, salt and pepper shakers, and as well the ketchup and mustard bottles. But no food. Weird. Liana usually orders first, and the staff here brings the food out quick. Guess she’s been waiting for me, so I guess we can start ordering as we talk.

            “What’s up?” I say.

            “Good! And you.” She says.

            “Fine, I didn't see you at Biology.” I say.

            “I had to leave early to do something for my grandmother.” She explains

            The waitress with her curly red, short-cut hair walks towards us while holding her notepad waiting for us to order. I look back to Liana.

            “You’re ready to order.”

            “Yes.”

            Liana starts ordering first wanting a tuna fish sandwich and iced tea. The waitress jots down her order; and soon the waitress glances over to me.

            “I will like to have a cheeseburger with fries and a root beer.”

            “Your order will be up in ten minutes.” She says.

            As the waitress getting both of our orders, she heads out. I glance back at Liana ready to start our conversation. As if yesterday, were not any different. Then after a minute, the waitress brought us our drinks.

            “So what’s been going on with you, Caden?”

            “Crazy stuff.” She has no idea the crazy stuff I have gone through.

            “Meaning what exactly?”

            “Just I had been having pain in my eyes”

            “Are you okay?”

            Looking at Liana, she worries about me a lot. That is what friends are for; being there and having your back. One thing I will not try to do is to ignore Liana’s concerns about me. Just like my mother, Liana will do anything to help me find solace through a tough problem. But what makes Liana special in this scenario is that she probably understands me more than anyone including my mother.

            “Do you think your eye pain will be an issue when you start playing soccer? Are you going to tell your coach?” She asks.

            “I hope my eyes wouldn't be irking me when I play, and I don’t think Coach Hansen should know.” I respond the most honest way I can because even though I’m not saying this to Liana; I have little doubts that it could come back. And start doubting I should play. I look to the metallic napkin container and see almost a sluggish reflection of my face. I see around my eyes if those marks could have come back. For now, it has not reappeared.

Sigh!

I exhale my breath internally. Looking back at Liana, she is getting baffled in the way I just interacted just recently. The waitress finally brings us our food. I start taking a bite out of the delicious cheeseburger. The melt cheese and juicy burger patty both bring in a mix of splendid flavor.

Ready to change topics, I overtly try to think about the trails. I begin thinking about the first trial…learn the prophecy of the Devos from the Alpheus prophecy.

“Hey Liana, have you ever heard about the Alpheus prophecy?”

“I do.”

“How?”

“My grandma told me something about a prophecy made by these mystical prophets.”

“Mystical?!”

“Listen this is what my grandma told me. She told me these prophets over ten centuries written a lot of predictions that affect the balance of light and dark.”

“Did you believe any what she told you?”

“I just listened. I don’t fully understand, but she said the Alpheus prophecy is like a bible full of mystical sayings and prophecies.”

“Well if you know where it is, I’ll be happy.”

“Actually my grandma mention the only place that could have it is in the Edith Library.”

Strange, the Edith Library is near a college campus. How in the world I can get there and find that prophecy.

“Well, let’s team up and find it.” She says.

I pause sort of with no utter remark back. It will be cool if we did this together, but the only way to complete the first trial, I should do it alone. Yet with Liana having a real interest in this, I keep being hesitant either I should do this alone or do it together. When I glance at her, Liana is standing there being patient and waiting for a response. For over a minute, I ponder about this and finally make my decision.

“Alright, let’s do it.” I say.

I see her grin with a smile and feeling we should start now. However, before we even mention the time and day to start, my iPhone alerts me of a message. I get my phone out to check the incoming messages. It seems it is a text sent by my mom.

Mom

Meet me at the hospital. I have a task for you.

“Something’s wrong?” Liana asks being concerned.

“My mom; she needs me.” I reply.

“Go!” She says.

“But, what about the prophecy?” I ask.

“Next time.” She replies.

“Fantastic!”, I stand up drinking the last bit of my root beer and grab one last, big bite of my burger before I head out.

“Call you later.” I say.

“Go boy!” She yells.

I exit out of the cafe. I hop back on my bike after unlocking it. I start pedaling my way to the hospital. 

***

Inside Oakston Memorial, I’m walking across the main hallway and then seeing a Wet Floor warning sign, it reminds me of a story my mom told me during one of her work shifts.

It happened month ago; my mom told me she had to treat a young businessman. He was getting an exam for a cut on his right arm. He told her how he had that cut was from a fall he had while he was working. He did not pay attention to the “WET FLOOR WARNING” sign, and naturally he slipped on the floor. The main reason why it is one of my favorites is that my mom bandaged his wound and told him to be careful of those wet floors. Of course he should have listened, but no. Just the next day, he came back and this time he broke his right arm.

My mom was a bit upset, but tried to show a respectful, helping tendency towards her patient. How he broke his arm was because of that wet floor again. It seemed the reason he slipped again was because the sign was right outside his own office. Even his own people told him to be careful. He had an excuse claiming he was on the phone. Shame and crazy for him; he has 20/20 vision. Nearly most people would see a bright yellow, triangular shaped sign forewarning you about the floor being wet. In this case, the man failed both times. I wondered since that day, he rarely been coming back. Maybe he finally got the message.

I finally reach towards the emergency desk, and there mom is waiting for me. What my mom has not discussed on the text what was this task she wants me to do. I’m literally walking into the unknown because I may not like what is coming after.

“You made it, sweetie.” She says as she pecks a kiss on my right cheek.

“So what is this task?” I ask.

“My shift is about to end early so I was hoping you could bring this package to room 241.” She says.

“That’s it?!” I ponder.

“Well I wanted to see you first of all, and second I kind of sweet talk my boss in letting my son do this.” She states.

“Okay, if this is only a package. Why can’t you do this?” I question.

            “My shift is ending in ten minutes, yet I have to do something and I really need that package sent over to the patient.” She tells me.

“Whatever you say. For you, mom.” I say.

“That’s my boy.” She kisses me on the cheek once more and walks down the hallway.

I grabbed the brown paper-wrapped package and begin to take the elevator to the second floor. Once there, I stroll down the hallway passing each room starting with 230 until I get to see 241 stamped near the door. Cannot believe my mom is making me do this. I would rather spend time with Liana searching for that copy of the Alpheus prophecy. However, I will do this just because she is my mom.

I take a sneak peek inside where I see an old man sitting in his couch seat near the window. I knock on the door to get his attention.

“Hello?!”

The old man turns to see me and replied back in a rusty, gentle tone, “Hello to you, young man.”

“I’m here to give you this.” I pass over his bed where I show him the package that sent for him. After glancing at it the man takes hold of it. I feel my time is done here and proceeded out.

“Young man!”

I turn around to check to see what else he wants.

“I would love for you to come and sit, just to see what it is inside.”

Being hesitant and knowing my mom’s shift ends in ten minutes, I feel what’s not to lose. I pass over his bed again, this time sitting on the edge of it while he starts opening the package. After a few seconds, he opens it where it is a retro gift box. Then I see him chuckling.

“You know what that is, sir?”

He looks up at me while still chuckling, “This is my candy.”

“That’s candy?”

The man opens the lid from the box revealing several small golden color, bar shapes. He takes one and pops it in his mouth like it was like a tart. I did not know what to expect from seeing that, nor do I do know what kind of candy that is.

Still chewing, the man responds, “My daughter makes this after learning from her mother, my wife.” He says.

“What are those things?” I ask curiously. “Taffy?”

“Taste likes fudge, but it’s a concoction of peanut butter, cinnamon, honey, and fudge.” He replies. “Have one.”

“I really…”

“No, my treat.”

Feeling there no budge; I agree and take one of the candies. I take a bit of it and chew it. To my surprise, it actually tastes good. Really good.

“You said your daughter made this for you.”

“Yes.”

Still chewing, “This actually tastes good.”

“Good to know, young man.”

            “So why are you here?”

            “Here for chemo. I have stage three pancreatic cancer.”

            “I’m sorry.”

            “That’s okay. My daughter and my two small grandchildren come see me time to time. Unfortunately, they couldn't make it today. However, my daughter, made my favorite candy so I know I have a piece of home.”

            “Wow, well I hope you feel better. This is actually the first time I seen someone battling cancer.”

            “It’s an illness no one should have, but I sense if my time should pass; I’m ready.”

            Amazing to see this sweet old man is willingly allowing this cancer to take his life. Maybe he thinks he fulfilled his life. I surely do not even know what my role in life is. Even though I’m just sixteen, I feel like a walking blank slate. Suddenly, I look at my black-covered watch and notice the ten minutes are almost up.

             “I should go. Thank you for this talk, Mister.”

            “Mr. Rauch.”

            I shake his hand while I reluctantly look down to see if I can take some few bars on the go. If like he was reading my mind, he realizes what I was doing and he shakes his head in agreement. I smile and grab two bars to go.

            “Thank you, again!”

            “No problem…”

            “Caden.”

            “Nice to see you, Caden.”

            “And to you, Mr. Rauch. I hope you feel better.”

            Having a nice conversation with Mr. Rauch, I exit out of his room and try to meet mom downstairs.

***

 I take my bike out of mom’s car. Wondering if one day I could be getting my driver’s license, I think riding my bike is good enough for now. As I put my bike back to my spot, I walk with my mother to actually give her thanks.

            “Thank you.”

            “For what?”

            “I don’t know if you knew, but I had an interesting time with a nice patient.”

            “Yeah I was wondering, about those golden bars you been eating. Had fun?”

            “I hope to see him again.”

            “Okay. I’ll see what I can do to arrange another meeting with you and…”

            “His name is Mr. Rauch; so sweet for a man who’s dying from cancer.”

            “See mom knows best.”

            For once she was right. She did the best improvable way to allow me to bring Mr. Rauch’s candy to him. Having a conversation with a man like Mr. Rauch who knows his days are coming to end and will just talk to anyone. Let anyone into his heart. I like that. Hope I see him again. For once, I have my own hospital story.

            Inside the house, I head to my room putting my backpack down to the floor. I then realize I need to continue my research on Dantailon if any, as well try to see where the copies of that Alpheus prophecy could be. While I walk to my desk, I hear the doorbell ringing. Knowing my mom will take care of that, I focus back on what I need to do. As I open the desk drawer hoping to have a major item in my possession to continue to unravel this perplexing puzzle Dantailon created for me. However, there is a dilemma.

A major dilemma.

            The journal is gone.