Today is a happy day for Theo. He has been looking forward to this moment—today is the day he's getting discharged from the hospital. After a long seven days of observations, physiotherapy, tests, countless blood draws, and last but not least, psychiatric evaluations, the doctors have finally agreed that Theo is healthy enough to go home.
This past week, he had desperately wanted to be left alone, but he never got the chance. After the slumping-on-the-floor incident, Theo was rarely left unattended. There was always someone with him in the VVIP suite.
Because of this, his mood had soured and hit rock bottom two days ago, making everyone—from the Montroses to the hospital staff—tiptoe around him.
Now he stands confidently on his own two feet beside his bed. Both the hospital staff and Thea's family insisted on following the hospital's discharge regulation, which requires the patient to be wheeled out to the lobby in a wheelchair.
Theo had tried to argue that he was strong enough to walk on his own. I was walking for four kilometers on the treadmill yesterday, for the love of my King!
He conveniently forgot that he did this against the physiotherapist's advice, scaring the poor man into calling Arthur to stop him.
The VVIP suite door slides open, and Arthur enters with the wheelchair in question. Theo is ready to argue his way out of riding it—until he sees it.
It is called a wheelchair, but it has no wheels. It's floating. Wonderful!
Everyone waits for him to throw a tantrum, but it never comes.
Theo stares at the floating wheelchair with the curiosity and bafflement of a child. Arthur seizes the chance and zooms the chair in front of him.
"This is not the hospital's wheelchair. This is the latest invention of Montrose Corporation—the state-of-the-art Montrose Horizon." Arthur slips into sales-pitch mode, enticing Theo to sit on it. He quickly glances at Julian, signaling him to speak too.
Julian needs no further encouragement. This is one of his proudest "babies."
"Thea, this is a prototype. The only one outside my lab. No one else has it or has ridden it. You'll be the first. So be gentle with her."
Theo looks at Arthur and Julian. He sees the same level of excitement in both of their eyes, even though Arthur doesn't really show it on his face.
"What does it do besides being a floating wheelchair?" Theo asks.
Julian gasps dramatically. "Oh my God! Just a 'wheelchair'?! Sweet Thea, this is absolutely not just a wheelchair! It's the Horizon! You know what horizon means, no? Sweetheart, you're killing me!"
Julian quickly takes the chair from Arthur, eager to show off its mind-blowing features.
"One, it floats. Meaning it's the smoothest ride you'll ever experience.
Two, it climbs stairs. Wheelchairs don't climb stairs—they use ramps. But this baby right here doesn't care if it's stairs, ramps, or bumps. She'll conquer them all.
Third, the control is very simple. You can do it with one hand.
Four—"
"Julian," Arthur cuts in, "let's get her home first before you drown her with your sales pitch."
Julian clamps his mouth shut and winks at Theo. "You're right. She's been in this hospital far too long. It's time to return home."
Arthur looks at Theo. Julian looks at Theo. Both of them wear the same eager expression. Theo cannot help but feel it as well.
So, he nods firmly and settles into the Horizon.
"Okay. First, don't drive it. I'll push it. You need to learn how to handle it before you can enjoy riding it. We'll do that at home," Julian explains.
"Okay." Theo deflates.
Julian laughs. "Trust me, once you know what this thing can do, you'll be ecstatic."
Theo doesn't reply. He just faces forward.
Julian pushes Horizon slowly, with Arthur and Sam following behind.
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The elevator doors open.
A very sleek and sophisticated floating wheelchair glides out of the elevator. A handsome young man pushes it forward, and two good-looking men follow behind. Together, they draw nearly every pair of eyes in the lobby.
Julian smiles widely. He's certain everyone is staring at Horizon. Meanwhile, Theo believes the onlookers are admiring Arthur, Sam, and Julian. But not him.
He doesn't realize that not everyone is looking at the men. They're also looking at Theo. With almost waist-length, slightly wavy, pure snow-white hair, beautiful almond-shaped eyes, a perfect nose, light pink lips, and a flawless face, he is every bit as striking as the other three.
And sitting on the Horizon, Theo looks fragile and small. But this fragility, paired with Thea's beauty, is a devastating combination.
The group steps quietly outside into the lobby.
Theo looks around. It is his first time seeing this new world outside the hospital.
As far as his eyes can see, there are buildings called "skyscrapers." Theo has seen them in Thea's memories, but seeing them with his own eyes is a whole different experience.
He tries to take in as much scenery as he can from his vantage point.
He is so busy absorbing the city view that he doesn't notice a floating "carriage" stopping in front of them.
"Thea, Sweetheart." Julian is giddy and excited like a child. "You see this?" He points at the floating car.
Theo shifts his attention, following Julian's finger.
"This is also a Horizon—but this Horizon is different, yet similar."
The overall look is very much like his Horizon Pod, only larger. And yet, it's still compact and sleek.
As Theo compares it to the other vehicles passing by, a few words pop into his mind: sophisticated, high-tech, powerful.
Thea's vocabulary is helping him, because on his own, all he can think is floating carriage. A closed canopy shields its passengers from heat, cold, rain, and dirt. But if he said it that way, Theo is sure the Montroses would ship him off to a psychiatric facility.
Seeing Theo stay silent, Julian assumes he's speechless. Taking a long, dramatic breath, Julian launches into a string of introductions, explanations, and sales pitch. Arthur only rolls his eyes.
"This," Julian points at the car, "is called the Horizon Pod Duo. That," he points at Theo's chair, "is called a Horizon Pod."
"Horizon Pods are basically a means of transportation. But we, at Montrose Corporation, take it a few levels higher.
"The Horizon Pod can be used as a wheelchair, or as a personal vehicle you can drive on the road. Just switch to Road Mode, and off you go.
"Now, the Horizon Pod Duo has the same concept, but it's for two people…"
"Julian," Arthur cuts in again. "Let's just get home before Mother kills us all."
Julian sighs in defeat. "Okay." Then he turns to Theo. "Sorry, I'll explain everything later."
He clicks a few buttons on the Pod's control panel, and it glides gently toward the Duo before attaching itself smoothly to the larger vehicle.
"Voilà! Now it's a car for three. It's called Horizon Link." Julian can't help himself.
Theo doesn't reply—not because he's unimpressed, but because his mind is blown. His brain is blank, with nothing to say.
All he can do is look at everything, touch everything, and try to burn the moment into his memory.
Before entering the Link, Arthur turns to Sam. "Go back to the office. I'll return later."
Sam nods.
The Link's glass door materializes, looking very much like Theo's energy shield. It covers the sides and curves overhead. Theo can't help but feel as if he's inside an aquarium.
The Link glides forward smoothly and exits the hospital premises.