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Kai Graves didn’t feel very happy at the moment. Instead of feeling content, he felt drained and irritable.
He had a doctor’s appointment scheduled for today, and after everything he’d endured over the past year and a half? He loathed anything to do with doctors, medicine, or hospitals.
It’s not every kid — ghost or not — who nearly loses their hearing and then gets leukemia in the same year. He understood how traumatic it had been for his parents, especially his mother, Dreama. Still, Kai just wanted to be seen as capable again — not a fragile glass flower waiting to shatter. Part of him even considered faking a coma to get out of going, but he knew it wouldn’t work. He’d end up there no matter what.
With a heavy sigh, the jackal-looking ghost pushed himself upright and padded over to the mirror. It was one of his mother’s enchanted mirrors, reflecting memories rather than appearances. Kai tried to summon a glimpse of who he had been before everything fell apart.
For a moment, he saw it — laughing, racing Danny through the endless skies of the Ghost Zone, hair wild in the wind — but it flickered out, swallowed by nightmares he wished he could forget. "Ugh, I can’t even summon a happy memory to get me through today," he muttered, clenching his fists.
There was a soft knock, and Kai turned to see his goddess-like mother standing in the doorway. Dreama was breathtaking — flawless porcelain skin, starlight-blue eyes, seventy feet of glowing chartreuse hair floating behind her like a living veil. Her beauty wasn’t just skin deep; her soul was even more luminous.
Dreama looked at him, torn between words she couldn’t seem to say. Finally, she managed, "I love you, my son. I hope today goes well. Breakfast will be ready in a few minutes. I made your favorite — deviled eggs and pomegranate juice."
"Thanks, Mom. Is Dad coming with us, or is work getting in the way again?" he asked, voice fragile.
"He’ll meet us there, I promise," she said warmly, drifting over to kiss his forehead before gliding downstairs.
Maybe today won’t be so bad, Kai thought as he tugged on his usual outfit. Maybe if the doctor confirms I’m in remission, they’ll finally be able to breathe again.
Moving carefully, he headed downstairs. The scent of deviled eggs and his mother’s sharp, floral tea filled the air, oddly comforting. Just as promised, Dreama had made his favorite breakfast, though she only managed slow sips of her strange, iridescent tea.
At nine o’clock, it was time to leave. Kai followed his mother through the hall of mirrors, the polished floors echoing under his bare feet.
Few could travel through the Mirror Realm. Dreama — because of her duties — was one of them. She was also the only one strong enough to keep the Mirror Lord imprisoned.
They passed the black velvet-shrouded mirror that contained the Mirror Lord — a grotesque being who fed on fear. Even with his hearing implant, Kai could hear faint curses leaking through, clawing at his mind like skeletal fingers. He gritted his teeth and kept moving.
Finally, they reached the portal-mirror linked directly to the hospital. "Give me your hand, Kai. And before you say you’re not a child — it’s not about that," Dreama said gently. "Your powers aren’t at full strength yet. You’ll need my help, okay?"
"Yeah, yeah, I know," Kai grumbled, but he took her hand without hesitation. Together, they plunged into the mirror, the surface rippling like liquid silver around them.
An indigo-skinned woman with tangled blue hair — wearing an old-fashioned nurse’s uniform — ducked under a desk just as the mirror’s light flashed.
Oversized glasses slid down her nose, and braces glinted awkwardly when she smiled. When the last glittering sparks faded, the young nurse reappeared, brushing dust off her sleeves.
"Forgive me, Mrs. Graves, if I'm being unprofessional," she said, voice shaky. "I’m not used to people coming through a mirror."
"It’s quite alright," Dreama said warmly. "Very few ghosts can do that. May I have your name?"
"Mavis Gray," the woman said, straightening her uniform. "If you’ll follow me, I believe your husband is already waiting."
Her old-fashioned heels clicked sharply against the polished floor as she led them through winding halls. The hospital smelled faintly of disinfectant and lavender — a poor attempt to soften the sterility. As they walked, Kai leaned toward his mother and whispered, "You think she’s a real nurse? She looks like she’s still in high school."
"Kai, don’t be rude," Dreama chided gently. "She’s probably an intern."
Kai sat stiffly on the exam table, the paper crinkling under him with every shift. Dreama hovered close, hands folded anxiously. Cronos — tall, dark, and commanding — stood silently by the door, his long black robes and storm-gray skin seeming to drain the room of color. Even the gleaming blade of his ever-present scythe looked muted today.
But Cronos's presence was solid — a quiet promise Kai could lean on. The door swung open, and Dr. Seraphina entered, clipboard tucked under her arm. Her peacock-blue skin gleamed under the lights, sharp green hair framing her serious face. "Good morning," she said briskly. "Kai, Dreama, Cronos. Thank you for being here on time."
Dreama nodded tightly. Cronos simply watched, a silent guardian. Dr. Seraphina checked her notes, then set the clipboard aside. She pulled on gloves with a snap.
"First, a quick physical check."
Kai flinched slightly as she brushed aside his messy hair to inspect his hearing implant. He stayed still, fists balled in his lap. "Implant site looks good," she said, jotting notes. "Any echoes? Hearing distortions?"
Kai shook his head. "Just tired sometimes."
"Expected," she murmured. She pressed a cold stethoscope to his chest "Breathe in. And out. Again." Kai obeyed, the sound of his breathing hollow in his ears.
Next, Dr. Seraphina rolled over a tray with a hearing test kit. Spectral headphones settled gently over his ears. "You’ll hear beeps. Raise your hand when you hear one."
Everything else faded away.
Beep. Hand up.
Beep. Pause.
Beep. Hand up again, slower.
When the test ended, Dr. Seraphina gave a small nod. "Improvement. You're regaining more range on your weaker side."
Hope flickered to life inside Kai. "Now," she said more quietly, "I’ll need a sample of ectoplasm." Kai’s stomach knotted. He hated this part. Dreama instinctively moved closer, but it was Cronos who stepped forward — silent, steady.
Kai gritted his teeth as Dr. Seraphina prepared the spectral needle. The sting was sharp, followed by a cold, aching pull as glowing ectoplasm filled the vial. "All done," she said, quickly sealing it and covering the spot with an enchanted bandage. "It’ll take about fifteen minutes to process," she added. "You’re welcome to wait here."
The minutes dragged. Dreama whispered encouragements. Cronos stayed close, his steady presence a silent anchor whenever Kai tensed.
Finally, Dr. Seraphina returned. Her grave expression had softened. "Kai," she said carefully. "Your core is stabilizing. Your ectoplasm is clean. No signs of regression. You’re still in remission."
For a heartbeat, the room was silent. Then Dreama gave a choked sob and swept Kai into a fierce hug, her glowing hair wrapping around them like wings.
Kai squeezed his eyes shut, overwhelmed.
But it was Cronos who surprised him most. The Ancient of Death — grim, cold, unshakable — crossed the room and dropped to one knee, pulling Kai into his arms.
Not a careful pat. Not a distant touch. A real hug. Fierce. Shaking a little. "You did it," Cronos rasped against Kai’s hair, voice rough and breaking. "You fought harder than anyone ever should have to. And you won, my son. You won."
Kai froze, stunned — then hugged his father back, hard.
Dreama pressed a hand over her mouth, tears shining in her starlight eyes. Cronos pulled back just enough to look at Kai, hands still firm on his son’s shoulders.
There was no bleakness now — only fierce pride burning in his storm-gray eyes. "I am so proud of you, Kai," he said thickly. "No matter what comes next, remember that."
Kai’s throat was too tight to speak, but he nodded, feeling the truth of it deep inside. For the first time in a long time, he truly believed it too.
Dr. Seraphina gave them a moment before clearing her throat gently. "I’d like to see him again in six months, just to make sure everything stays on track."
Dreama nodded quickly. "Of course. We’ll be here." Cronos gave a silent nod, his hand still resting on Kai’s shoulder.
Dr. Seraphina smiled briefly — rare, but genuine — and handed them an appointment card before slipping out to give them privacy. As the door clicked softly shut, Dreama turned to Cronos, her eyes shimmering. "He’s really okay," she whispered, almost not daring to believe it.
Cronos reached out, cupping her face gently in one gloved hand. "He is," he said, voice low and sure. "Because he’s stronger than either of us ever knew."
Dreama leaned into his touch, closing her eyes to hold onto the moment. When she opened them again, a bright smile tugged at her mouth. "He deserves to celebrate."
Cronos’s lips twitched — the closest he ever came to a smile. "He does."
Kai, watching from across the room, tilted his head. "What are you two whispering about?"
Dreama laughed, light and musical. "We were thinking... maybe we could stop by that new ice cream parlor in the Ghost Zone. The one that makes sundaes the size of your head."
Kai’s face lit up like a sunrise. "Seriously?!"
Cronos’s bleak tone returned — but warmer now, almost teasing. "Only if you can finish it."
"Challenge accepted!" Kai crowed, his spirit soaring higher than it had in months. As they left the sterile hospital halls behind, hand in hand and heart to heart, the worst of the storm felt like it had finally passed. Still standing. Together.