The bright lights above me flickered, casting strange shadows across the glass tube I found myself in. I pressed my small hands against the cold surface, and the sensation sent a shiver down my spine. My heart pounded in my chest as I tried to make sense of my surroundings. The room was sterile, eerily quiet except for the faint hum of machinery.
I studied my reflection again, disbelief clouding my thoughts. The face staring back at me was undeniably mine, yet it was a younger version—a version I hadn't seen in years. My eyes, wide with confusion, trailed over the unfamiliar yet familiar features, trying to comprehend the impossibility of it all.
Suddenly, memories from the nightmare began to surface. Shadowy figures, snippets of conversations, and the sensation being burned and falling into darkness. Could it have been more than just a dream? I racked my brain, searching for any clue, any fragment of memory that could explain why I was here and why I looked like this.
A soft beeping sound interrupted my thoughts, drawing my attention to a monitor beside the tube. It displayed various readings, none of which I could decipher. Panic bubbled up inside me as the reality of my situation began to sink in.
"Ahhhh—it's hurts!" A sharp ache shot through my head. The sound of gunfire reverberated, and jumbled memories or visions from an alternate reality flooded my thoughts.
The machinery issued a warning, causing all the machines in the experimental lab to react chaotically to my screams. The lights flashed erratically, and alarms blared, echoing off the sterile walls.
I clutched my head, trying to make sense of the cacophony both inside and outside my mind. Just as the chaos reached a crescendo, the door to the lab swung open, and a group of military man in crisp uniforms rushed in, their expressions a mix of urgency and concern.
"There is a survivor here!" one of them shouted, his voice cutting through the noise like a beacon of hope. They moved swiftly, with precision that suggested they had trained for moments like this. One of the officers, a woman with a calm yet commanding presence, approached the glass tube. Her eyes softened as she took in my bewildered state.
"Easy now." she said gently, her voice soothing amidst the chaos.
I blinked at her, struggling to process her words through the fog of confusion and fear. The military personnel worked quickly, tapping on digital panels and speaking in hushed tones, their movements a blur of efficiency.
The woman continued to speak, her words a lifeline anchoring me to reality.
"You've been through a lot, but you're safe now. We'll get you out of there."
As she spoke, a window suddenly pop out in front of me.
< SYSTEM ERROR >
< LOADING... >
< OVERRIDE MODE ACTIVE >
< WELCOME PLAYER >
< OPEN PLAYER MENU >
< ERROR >
A rush of bewilderment swept over me as the display changed before my eyes.
"Player? What does that mean?" I thought, my mind racing to comprehend this new twist in my surreal situation. The woman outside the glass tube exchanged a look with her colleagues, her brow furrowing in concern.
"Sweetie, we'll have you out in no time..." Her voice was calming, yet the bizarre message on the screen persisted in my mind, amplifying my confusion. I nodded slowly, attempting to concentrate on her words instead of the enigmatic display. It felt as though I was the only one able to see this translucent window.
As the military team worked diligently around me, the machinery began to whir and shift, and I felt the tube I was in slowly begin to open. Cool, fresh air rushed in, replacing the sterile scent that had surrounded me. I took a deep breath, savouring the sensation and trying to calm my racing heart.
"Unknown skill been activated." Suddenly, a voice echoed in my mind, accompanied by a brilliant flash of light. The light enveloped me, warm and comforting, as though it was wrapping me in a protective embrace. For a moment, the chaos and confusion faded away, leaving only a sense of peace.
Then, as quickly as it had come, the light receded, and I found myself standing outside the tube, supported by the woman who had spoken to me. Her eyes were filled with kindness and a hint of curiosity.
"You're alright sweet heart." she assured me, steadying me as I adjusted to standing on my own two feet. The room around us was still bustling with activity, the other officers working to restore order to the lab.
"Thank you." I whispered; my voice barely audible over the din. Despite the lingering confusion, gratitude surged through me. She smiled, a reassuring beacon amidst the uncertainty.
"All survivors have been successfully rescued. Transport everyone to the hospital immediately!" A tall officer barked orders, his authoritative voice cutting through the remaining chaos. The team moved with practiced precision, ensuring that everyone was accounted for and escorted to safety.
As I was led out of the lab, I couldn't help but glance back at the strange tube that had been my prison and the mysterious messages that had appeared before me. Questions swirled in my mind, each more perplexing than the last. What had truly happened to me? And what did the cryptic messages mean?
The corridors outside the lab were a blur of activity, filled with medical personnel and other survivors, each with their own stories etched into their weary faces. The gentle woman who had first spoken to me stayed by my side, her presence a comforting anchor in the sea of confusion.
As we boarded a transport vehicle bound for the hospital, I allowed myself to relax, if only for a moment.