Falling into Darkness

As evening descended upon the hospital, casting long shadows across the rooms, Harry's condition continued to deteriorate. His body was now wracked with a high fever, his skin slick with sweat as he tossed and turned in bed. The machines beeping around him seemed to be growing louder, a cacophony of sounds that filled the air. The nurse checked on him frequently, her face etched with concern as she monitored his temperature and vitals. But it wasn't just his fever that was causing worry - Harry was also experiencing consistent urinary incontinence, his body unable to control its own functions. The nurse quickly changed his sheets, trying to keep him comfortable as she administered medication to bring down his temperature. But despite her best efforts, Harry's fever continued to spike, his body shuddering with chills. Across the room, Lloyd was experiencing a different set of symptoms. He was disoriented, unsure of where he was or what was happening. He looked around the room, his eyes scanning the unfamiliar surroundings as if searching for something. "Lloyd, can you tell me your name?" the nurse asked, trying to assess his level of consciousness. Lloyd looked at her, his eyes unfocused. "I... I think it's Lloyd," he stammered, his voice shaking. The nurse smiled reassuringly. "That's right, Lloyd. You're in the hospital. Can you tell me what you remember?" Lloyd's eyes drifted off, his gaze unfocused. "I... I don't know," he whispered, his voice barely audible. The nurse nodded gently, taking notes as she continued to assess Lloyd's condition. While Harry's body was failing him in multiple ways, Lloyd's mind seemed to be the only thing affected, his disorientation a worrying sign of what might be to come. As the evening wore on, the hospital room grew quiet, the only sound the beeping of the machines and the soft rustling of the nurses' uniforms. Harry's fever continued to rage, his body weak and helpless. Lloyd's disorientation seemed to be growing, his eyes drifting off into a distant, unknown world. The darkness closing in around them seemed to be growing thicker, more oppressive, as if it was a living, breathing thing that was slowly suffocating them. And as the night drew in, it was clear that their mysterious illness was far from over - in fact, it was only just beginning.