"He's awake." Lara could hardly believe her eyes as she saw Ethan's eyelids flutter.
She had been praying for this moment for the past three hours, ever since she received the shocking news that Ethan's apartment had caught fire and he had been declared dead on the spot.
She had refused to accept it, and had rushed to the scene with Jake. They had found Ethan's body among the ashes, and he wasn't breathing.
But somehow, my magic? By miracle? But now he was awake, and Lara hoped he was fine.
She ran past Jake, who was standing outside the ward, and entered the room. She rushed to Ethan's side and hugged him tightly. She felt his heartbeat and his warmth. She felt his life.
"Ethan... Ethan, you're awake. Thank God, you're awake." She said, a single tear streamed down her face. She kissed his forehead and his cheeks. She looked into his eyes and smiled. She expected him to smile back or at the very least, to say something.
But he did not, at least not right away. He looked at her with a confused expression. He did not seem to know who she was, yet she seemed familiar. He felt a faint memory in his head, a memory of another life.
"Who the hell is this?" He thought to himself. He wished she would let go of him. He felt like pushing her away.
He heard the same mechanical voice in his head, the voice of the system, it seemed it was linked to his neural core as it could read his thoughts.
[Name: Lara Smith]
[Age: 23.]
[Height: 168 cm.]
[Weight: 54 kg.]
[Race: Human]
[Occupation: Demon Hunter].
[Rank: C.]
[Affiliation: Unit 7, Manhattan]
[Relationship: colleague and friend.]
Ethan listened to the voice and tried to process the information. He looked around the room and saw another man standing by the door. He was tall and muscular, with black hair and brown eyes. He was wearing a body armored suit which was similar to Lara's. Lara's own was just …customized in her style.
He looked at Ethan and smiled. He walked towards the bed and extended his hand. He said: "Hey, Ethan. I never knew you'd take Lara's joke of cheating death that seriously. It's good to see you awake, though. How are you feeling?"
Ethan looked at the man and almost immediately, his profile was also displayed in his head.
[Name: Jake Lee]
[Age: 26]
[Height: 180 cm]
[Weight: 75 kg]
[Race: Human]
[Occupation: Demon Hunter]
[Rank: C]
[Affiliation: Unit 7, Manhattan]
[Relationship: colleague and friend]
Ethan knew he was not the original Ethan, but he also knew he had some of his memories and feelings. He knew he had to find a way to balance his two selves, and to adapt to this new reality.
He looked at Jake's hand, then at his face. He saw sincerity and kindness in his eyes. He felt a faint spark of familiarity and trust in his chest. He felt a connection.
He hesitated for a moment, then slowly reached out his hand and grasped Jake's. He felt a warm and gentle squeeze.
"Hey, Jake." He said, softly. "I'm feeling... Just adjusting. But I'm glad you're here." He said, honestly.
Jake nodded and smiled. He felt a glimmer of relief and gratitude.
Just then, three doctors, clad in crisp white coats and stethoscopes draped around their necks, marched briskly into the room, their faces etched with a blend of curiosity and professional detachment.
Lara stepped aside, her grip on Ethan's hand loosening slightly but not fully. He offered them a small smile, as he watched them cautiously.
"Mr. Carter, it's good to see you awake," one of the doctors, a woman with kind eyes and a name tag that read 'Dr. Johnson,' said warmly. She placed a gentle hand on his arm and checked his pulse. "You've given us quite a scare."
"Vital signs are stable, in fact they are overwhelming for someone who was pronounced dead about an hour ago," the senior doctor declared, his voice gruff yet reassuring.
The other doctor, a young man with nervous energy radiating from him, adjusted a dial on the machine beside Ethan's bed. "Brain activity shows... unusual patterns, but nothing concerning. Nothing that a good night's rest and some strong antibiotics won't fix. This Mr. Carter is one tough cookie."
"He sure is," Lara chuckled, her smile strained yet genuine. Jake, the ever-stoic rock, stood by her side, his gaze flickering between Ethan and the doctors.
"So, how are you feeling?" Jake's voice, a deep rumble, broke the silence as the doctors left the room.
"Honestly, It's like I was pulled out from an abyss."
Lara, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears, leaned closer. "More like you cheated death, Ethan. Remember that?" Her voice, a soft melody against the sterile backdrop, held a hint of reprimand.
Just then, a discordant chime pierced the air, breaking the fragile peace. Both Jake and Lara's watches buzzed simultaneously, their faces hardening with grim determination.
Jake pulled out a sleek tablet from his armoured suit, its holographic display flickering to life. "Lara, we've got a Possessed downtown," he announced, his voice tight. "Full-blown Level 3, tearing through the blocks like a rabid dog."
Ethan's heart stuttered in his chest. "Possessed" A term he'd heard in the system's data stream, a creature twisted by demonic influence, driven by a hunger for human souls.
"We need to go." He announced, his voice low and urgent.
Suddenly, the holographic display which was visible only to Ethan lit up again, accompanied by the voice of his system; she had introduced herself as Lilith.
[Task Assigned]
[Task Difficulty: Tier 2]
[Perform your first sexorcism]
[Reward on Completion: 3 Lust Points]
[Failure: Paralysis for 24 hours]
The reward, a cryptic "3 Lust Points," was meaningless to him. But the penalty - paralysis, a living death - sent a shiver down his spine. He had to choose, and he did.
"I'm coming with you," he declared, his voice hoarse but firm.