Richard was busy watching the hospital security footage that had just arrived at his office when his coworker approached, a folder thick with pages in his arms.
"Captain, the lab tests came back on that blood sample. Here." His coworker felt hesitant but was quick to hand the file over. Richard paused at his unsettled expression before taking the file and opening it.
The very first page he opened showed the menacing glare of a mugshot photo and prison records. Richards' already stressed brows collapsed even further as his jaw clenched.
"The blood apparently belongs to a Mr. Jules Vargof. He was in prison for the past 10 years, convicted of multiple assaults, theft, and breaking & entering. He was recently released on a probationary period due to good behavior and has been working for the association in their criminal rehabilitation program."
Richard flipped the page and glanced over the man's record. The following pages were additional records of other convicts who were in the same program. Two of the profiles stood out the most, however. One named Thomas Hargrave, a man that looks horribly aged by years of chain smoking and a diet severely lacking in carbohydrates. He did time when he was caught running an illegal drug lab. The other, Cynthia Moodro. Recently released after having been found guilty for slaying her teammates during a dungeon dive. Of the three, Cynthia is the only one recorded to be awakened with abilities in super strength and agility.
Richard placed down the file and resumed watching the video footage. It hadn't taken him long to find the timestamp he needed. "Bingo"
Grabbing his jacket from its perch like it was routine, he burst from his office to the others outside. "Summon the police, file for an emergency entry warrant and get the team together." He bellowed to awaiting guildmates. They nodded and began to scramble together.
"We're going to go on another rescue mission…"
~
"So going back to the events the other week, the moment when the portal opened…" A supposed therapist was going over the footage that was caught on the street CCTV's. Marcie grimaced at the scene, it was uncomfortable to watch, but even more so having lived it. "It looks as though this man was trying to push you away from the portal but fumbled as you were being pulled in." The man paused the video and pointed to a rather blurry blip on the screen.
Marcie could have sworn she was still a safe distance away until that person pushed her in. There was a very strange texture on the screen over those few frames on the video. The person's movement looked unnatural in the arms when they grabbed her chair.
Marcie's breathing waivered. Did she just imagine it? Was she so used to contempt from others that she began to see it where there was none, was there even any contempt at all? She thought back to the group that she was with in the dungeon. Thinking back on it, they weren't in any position to assist her. Some were also injured from it when they all awoke on that forest floor.
'I was being selfish….' she thought as she began to feel choked up. "Uhm…might I have a moment?" Marcie tried really hard not to let her voice waiver. The therapist stopped and got up from the chair. "Yes of course. We'll stop our session here today. Get some rest and I will see you in the morning."
As soon as Marcie felt she was alone, tears started to stream down her face. She dared not move any of her body though, she knew they were still watching her. Marcie was frustrated. Frustrated with this situation and frustrated with herself.
'I know it's all lies. I know it… but what if it's not?' Marcie began to feel a deep hole in her heart start to widen with self-doubt. It was like it could swallow her whole. Admittedly, for the past two years, it has been hard to find moments of happiness in her life. Everything had changed so fast since her accident that she feared she had turned into a bitter person.
But just as her self loathing engulfed her mind, the fear of her reality had woken her up. This place is dangerous and she needed to get out. But the first thing she would have to do is eliminate the cameras.