On a bright morning, a man with messy black hair and deep, dark eyes woke up. Like any other day.
Yawning and feeling thirsty, he got out of bed and headed to the kitchen for a drink. Suddenly, he slipped over a piece of paper that had mysteriously appeared on the floor.
"Ugh..."
He picked it up, crumpled it, and tossed it in the wastebasket. But as he did, something caught his eye.
"What the...?"
He retrieved the crumpled paper and smoothed it out.
________________________________________
Greetings! I bet you crumpled this paper, right, professor ■■■? (｡･ω･｡)
No worries! (≧∇≦)/
Don't stress about how this paper ended up in your room. (≡^∇^≡)
Even if I explained, you wouldn't believe it! (•ˋ _ ˊ•)
Why? Because it's totally illogical! ヽ(`д´;)/
Now, enough chit chat! ヾ(＾-＾)ノ
I've got something important to tell you, professor! (≧∇≦)/
You've been chosen to go to a truly extraordinary place! ٩( ᐛ )و
Shocked? Confused? Ψ(≧ω≦)Ψ
Don't worry! It's a blast! (≡^∇^≡)
If you're good at being independent!(↑ω↑) Even if you don't want to go, you'll be forced to! (•ˋ _ ˊ•)
Why? Because you're one of the lucky ones! (/ω＼)
So, be grateful! (•ˋ _ ˊ•)
That's it! See you there!
From, Mr. Handsome DEXM (つω`*)
________________________________________
Puzzled by the message, he crumpled the paper again and tossed it back in the wastebasket.
"I don't have time for this nonsense. I've got work to do," he muttered.
He continued to walk to the kitchen, eager to quench his thirst. He grabbed a glass cup, but as he lifted it, it slipped from his grasp and shattered on the floor, the sound echoing through the quiet house.
The man sighed deeply, scratching his head in frustration.
"Hah... Seriously?"
He fetched a broom and began to sweep up the broken shards. As he worked, a strange and intense buzzing filled his head, unlike anything he had ever experienced before.
"UGH!" he groaned, clutching his head in pain.
Staggering to the living room, he opened a desk drawer and retrieved a bottle labeled 'Paracetamol'. Just as he was about to open it, his vision blurred, and he collapsed to the floor. As his eyes fluttered shut, he faintly heard a woman's voice calling out to him.
"Prof... Professor!"
He had no time to see who it was before he lost consciousness, a single thought crossing his mind: Am I dead?
Darkness enveloped him, waiting for something, anything, to happen.
Beep—! Beep—! Suddenly, the piercing sound of a monitor beeping reached his ears, reminiscent of a hospital setting. He struggled to open his eyes, but they felt as if they were weighted down, impossible to lift.
"What's wrong with him, nurse?"
He recognized the voice from earlier, now filled with fear and concern.
"We still haven't found the reason yet, ma'am. Please be patient for a moment."
Another voice, familiar yet distant, responded.
Isn't that the voice of the nurse who works with Doctor ■■■? he thought, his mind grasping at fragments of recognition. It was indeed the nurse who always accompanied the doctor during his hospital visits.
Shrr—! The door opened, the sound distinct and clear in the stillness.
"Ah, Doctor ■■■!" the woman exclaimed, relief and urgency in her tone.
"Sorry I'm late, ma'am," the doctor replied, his voice steady and calm. He recognized that voice, belonging to Doctor ■■■.
"I don't care if it's late or not! I just want to know why!?" The woman's voice quivered with fear and desperation.
"We can't talk here, ma'am. Follow me," the doctor said gently.
Shrr... Thud! The door closed as they left the room.
What are they talking about? he wondered, anxiety gnawing at him as he lay there, helpless.
Time seemed to stretch endlessly, each moment filled with uncertainty. After that, the door opened again.
Who is that? he thought, hearing footsteps approach. He hear a woman's sobs. A woman's sobs grew closer, and he felt her hand grasp his, warm and trembling.
"Thank God..." she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. It was women from earlier.
Is it bad or good? Please! he pleaded internally, his mind racing with possibilities.
"Thank God... It's not as serious as I thought," she said, her words a balm to his anxious thoughts.
So it's not serious.... Relief washed over him, a comforting warmth spreading through his mind.
Buzz—! Buzz—! The phone rang, its sound jarring in the silence. The woman released his hand, sniffing and walked towards the door.
Shrr....! The door opened.
"Ah, I'm sorry," she murmured.
Shrr... Thud! The door closed, but moments later, it opened again.
Shrr... Thud! At that moment, he knew it wasn't the same woman returning. The footsteps were heavier, more deliberate. Perhaps it was a doctor.
The sound of shoes approached him, each step resonating in his ears. Though he couldn't see, he sensed the presence drawing near, a face leaning close to his own.
Who could it be? he wondered, his mind swirling with questions and uncertainties.
"To think you're still here, Professor ■■■."
A pleasant male voice reached his ears. This voice was not that of Doctor ■■■. He realized.
Does he know me?
"Of course I know you, Professor!"
Startled, he realized the man had answered his unspoken question.
At that time, He thought, Did he read my mind?
"Exactly! How can one read another's mind? Sounds crazy, doesn't it?"
He was utterly taken aback. This man could literally read his thoughts. Without hesitation, he ask a question.
Who are you?
He asked, his tone serious and wary.
"Jeez, relax. I didn't come here to cause trouble."
Then tell me your purpose.
He said, his instincts tell him that this man was no ordinary person.
"You're so harsh, Professor. Well, since you want to know, I'll tell you. My purpose is... to take you back."
...What?
The words left him bewildered, a thousand questions swirling in his mind.
Thump—! Suddenly, an intense pressure crushed his chest, a bone-chilling cold seeped into his bones, and he felt the unnerving sensation of floating as if submerged in a dark, bottomless sea.
What!?
He struggled to open his eyes, each attempt met with resistance until finally, they snapped open, and he gasped in horror.
Gasp—! What in the world...
He was submerged in deep, dark water, far below the surface, with no light above. He was suffocating, the water pressing in on all sides.
Desperately, he looked around for any sign of help, but all he saw was an impenetrable darkness. His hands flew to his neck, trying to keep the water from filling his lungs. Gradually, his strength waned, and his vision began to darken, just as it had before.
In the consuming blackness, a faint voice reached his ears, cutting through the suffocating silence.
"Prof..."
He yearned to find the source of the voice but found himself immobilized. The voice grew louder, more insistent.
"Profess... Professor!"
Thump—! He jolted back to reality, finding himself in the hospital once more. A woman's hand, warm and reassuring, clasped his. His senses slowly returned, and he realized his eyes were open.
Surrounding him were familiar and unfamiliar faces alike: one doctor he knew well with Defibrillator in his hand, two strangers in lab coats, one nurse he recognized, two others he did not and a woman that clasped him.
He glanced at a mirror across the room, catching sight of his own reflection: his body drenched in sweat, shivering violently, and his skin a ghostly pale.
As his vision blurred once more, he felt the pull of unconsciousness taking hold again.
"Professor!" The cry pierced through his fading awareness, but it was too late. He already closed his eyes, slipping away into the depths of his mind once more.
After some time passed, his vision began to clear, the blurry edges of his surroundings sharpening into focus. Slowly waking from unconsciousness, he groggily turned his head from side to side.
The room was eerily silent, save for the beeping of the IV pump beside him. He felt a cold sweat covering his body, and shivers ran down his spine.
Determined to get up, he took a deep breath and tried to move his body, which felt heavy and unresponsive. With great effort, he managed to swing his legs over the side of the bed, his muscles protesting with every movement.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, he took a moment to gather his strength, his hands trembling slightly as they gripped the sheets for support.
With a shaky hand, he reached up and removed the oxygen mask from his face, the cool air stinging his skin. He winced as he pulled the infusion needle out of his hand, a sharp pain shooting through his arm.
Slowly, he stood up, his legs quivering under his weight. For a moment, he thought he might collapse, but he steadied himself, drawing on a well of determination he didn't know he had.
Each step toward the door felt like a monumental effort. His heart pounded in his chest, and his breaths came in ragged gasps. As he approached the door, something caught his eye.
Through the small window, he saw the side of the unknown man's face, smiling at him before moving away. The sight jolted him, sending a surge of adrenaline through his veins.
Driven by a sudden sense of urgency, he quickened his pace, his bare feet slapping against the cold floor.
Shrr—! Thud—! Reaching the door, he flung it open with such force that the handle banged against the wall, the sound echoing down the hallway. The sudden noise startled everyone outside, and they turned to look at him with wide eyes.
But he paid them no mind. His focus was solely on finding the man. His eyes darted left and right, scanning the corridor with frantic intensity. He spotted the a man wearing a business attire with only his black vest walking calmly down the hallway to the left, as if he had all the time in the world.
"Wait!" he shouted, his voice hoarse and desperate.
Ignoring the shocked and confused looks from the nurses and patients around him, he took off down the hallway, his legs still unsteady but driven by a fierce determination.
His heart raced, each beat echoing in his ears, and the corridor seemed to stretch on forever.
The man ahead glanced back briefly, his smile widening, then continued walking at the same leisurely pace.
Frustration and fear gnawed at the professor, but he pushed himself harder, his breaths coming in ragged gasps.
"Wait!" he shouted again, louder this time, his voice echoing off the walls.