Drowned Wednesday

Thirty–two

"ARTHUR, ARE YOU sure you're okay?" asked Emily. She was hovering over his bed again.

The boy looked at her, but did not speak or meet her gaze.

Emily turned away to check the readouts on the diagnostic equipment next to the bed.

"Come on, son," said Bob from the other side. "Just tell us you're okay. I know it must have been a terrible shock to have that water main exploding like that, but you're all checked out now. No injuries."

The boy rolled over and buried his face in the pillow. Emily and Bob exchanged glances over his back.

"We're just going outside for a little while," said Emily. She gestured at the door. "But we'll be close."

"There's no water main here, either," added Bob. "I've checked. Nothing can go wrong."

Arthur's parents tiptoed out and closed the door. In the corridor, they both took deep breaths.

"He's never been like this before," said Emily. "Never, even when he's been barely conscious with a whole team working to re-establish his breathing."

"It was a weird accident though," said Bob. "Must have been a huge shock. That sudden over-pressure in the firefighting riser. No one's been able to explain it to me."

"Budget cuts," said Emily wearily. "The hospital hasn't been properly maintained for years. I just don't understand why Arthur won't talk. He just... I don't know... he just doesn't seem himself."

Inside the room, the Skinless Boy grinned and let the illusory flesh that covered half his body slide away to reveal the red ochre bones of the skeleton beneath.