"That's... Cute," I remarked, my voice still weak.
"H-Hey! I was just worried about you, since we're childhood friends," Sabrina stuttered, a hint of embarrassment in her voice.
"Okay," I replied, my voice still weak.
The elevator came to a stop with a chime, and the indicator displayed 'G.' The doors opened to reveal the hospital lobby. The waiting area was bustling with soldiers, one of whom stood at the front, giving orders and pointing at a blackboard covered in battle plans, likely for defense strategies.
"They seem quite active today," Sabrina whispered, almost to herself.
Doctors and nurses were also present at the reception area, and it was clear that everyone here was either a skilled worker or a soldier. Some of the people we had seen in the cafeteria earlier were also here.
The hallway was spacious, and divided into different sections: the reception area, waiting area, an evaluation zone, and the entrance/exit, which was heavily guarded by at least ten soldiers.
The tall windows were barricaded with scraps of wood and metal. The entire lobby had been transformed into a makeshift military camp.
"Hmmm, let's head to the training grounds and try not to get in the way of the seasoned veterans," Sabrina suggested as she guided my wheelchair down the corridor to the right. This path seemed to lead to the hospital's parking area.
It doesn't make sense, but I vaguely recalled that the entire hospital was the largest in Asia, surrounded by a vast plot of land that would be suitable for a military headquarters.
I struggled to remember more about my past, but it was elusive and incomplete.
As we continued down the corridor, I noticed that it was quite spacious. Soldiers hurriedly passed by us, and the closer we got to the exit, the more familiar faces I saw among the guards stationed there.
The guard on the right was on the heavier side, with a vest that seemed strained to contain him. He wore a helmet and had an M16 rifle by his side. His hair was black, and his face had a slightly chubby appearance.
On the left was a thinner guard wearing a vest that looked like it was meant for a child. He also wore a helmet and had a pistol at his side.
They waved at me with tearful happiness in their expressions. "BOSS!" they shouted.
Despite their familiarity, I couldn't place them or recall any memories associated with them. However, their energy and their mannerisms indicated that they saw me as some sort of leader, perhaps from a past I couldn't remember.
"Hey! You two better not be trying to make Alexander act like ALEXANDER again," Sabrina scolded with a roll of her eyes.
"Come on, he's our leader," the guard on the right said, his expression almost pleading. "Besides, he's changed so much. I think he's been feeling down about something ever since before coming here, which is why we decided to follow him."
The one on the left crossed his arms, "Exactly! Our boss's physical and mental well-being are important."
"Come on now, Alexander? Depressed? That's impossible," Sabrina said, gesturing for the two guards to move. "I need to get him to Shakur too."
The two guards opened the door, "Boss, once you're feeling better, we'll be back as the Rosseit gang," the guard on the right said, while the one on the left added their words of assurance.
Through the open door, I could see what lay beyond—it was a parking lot, although most of the cars were gone, likely stripped for parts and used as additional barricades. The tall buildings on the perimeter were occupied by people.
In the parking lot itself, a crowd had gathered in lines and rows, with Shakur positioned at the front.
"Sure," I replied, although it felt more out of curiosity than understanding.
As Sabrina pushed my wheelchair toward the gathering, everyone turned their attention towards us, and murmurs of conversation rippled through the crowd.
Shakur cleared his throat to capture everyone's attention, "These two individuals are important, especially the one in the wheelchair."
A hand went up from the crowd, and someone asked, "Who are they?"
"The person in the wheelchair is quite unique. For now, we're going to use him as an example," Shakur responded, pointing at me with a stick.
Sabrina, as she continued pushing the wheelchair forward, asked, "Who are those people?"
"People with significant aura networks. Some blessed, some cursed," Shakur's voice echoed in my mind.
My thoughts began to piece together fragments of information, connecting dots that were blurry before. The concept of "Blessed ones" referred to individuals born before and after the Rapture. My brain struggled to recall something crucial, but the memory slipped away, fading just as Sabrina halted the wheelchair.
Now, standing before me were people with "Blessed and Cursed powers." It was evident that Gustav had been withholding something from me, or perhaps someone was manipulating the truth. I was left wondering if this situation was real or some sort of illusion.
"Now, I will activate his aura network for all of you to witness," Shakur declared, his voice coming from behind me. Sabrina stepped away, making room for Shakur to be directly behind my wheelchair.
The air crackled with an electrifying sound as pain pierced through my shoulders, radiating upward to my head and downward through my torso to my toes. Every cell in my body seemed to protest, screaming for the agony to stop.
Clamping my teeth together, I fought against the urge to resist the pain, feeling my muscles cramp and spasm in response. Each second dragged on, feeling like hours. The intensity of the pain escalated, and I couldn't hold back a scream, "STOP!"
As the words left my lips, I sensed a shockwave emanating from my core, rippling outward. Everything in our vicinity trembled and shook abruptly.
"Take cover! Move!" Shakur's voice echoed urgently, mingling with Sabrina's grunts.
In an instant, silence hung in the air before a deafening explosion shattered the quietness. The sound swelled, transforming into a ringing crescendo that surged outward like a powerful shockwave. It was as if a nuclear blast was emanating from me, pushing aside everything in its path. Sweat dampened my skin, and a sensation of every inch of my body tingling coursed through me, bringing everything back to normal.
Slowly, I opened my eyes, my gaze landing on the hospital building. Heads poked out, curiosity evident in the people from outside who were trying to understand the sudden turmoil. The scene was one of destruction, with shattered glass and debris scattered around. The individuals who had gathered earlier were now on the ground, cautiously raising their heads to assess the aftermath.
A reassuring pat on my shoulder pulled my attention behind me. "You can stand now," Shakur informed me.
With his words as encouragement, I gradually attempted to stand. It was surprisingly easy, as if my body had never suffered injuries in that forest. Questions flitted through my mind—should I return to the forest to help them? Who were they, and what was this forest?
"Alexander, you must hurry," a voice echoed in my mind, urgency laced within.
Suddenly, a booming roar erupted, shaking the surroundings. Once again, the hospital's windows shattered, and the sound of gunfire pierced the air, enveloping the hospital grounds in chaos. My memories seemed to jumble—a white-haired girl, a small child wielding a gun—all tangled in my thoughts.
Before I could gather my bearings, a force struck me, the impact shattering my ribs. I was sent hurtling toward the hospital, my consciousness waning as the world spun around me.