The morning sun streamed through the hospital window, casting a warm glow on Alex's face. He blinked, momentarily disoriented, before the events of the previous day came flooding back. Right. He was Jason Rivers now. Adult film star extraordinaire, owner of a bizarro video game interface in his head.
'Just another Tuesday,' Alex thought wryly.
A soft knock on the door interrupted his musings. Sarah breezed in, looking every inch the efficient PA in a crisp blazer and pencil skirt. Her tablet was clutched to her chest like a shield.
"Morning, Jason!" she chirped, but Alex didn't miss the slight furrow in her brow. "Ready to get out of here?"
Alex nodded, swinging his legs over the side of the bed. "More than ready. Uh, do I have clothes, or...?"
Sarah's eyes widened. "Oh! Right, of course." She bustled over to a small closet, pulling out a garment bag. "I brought some of your things. Nothing too flashy – we don't want to attract attention leaving the hospital."
As Sarah laid out the clothes – designer jeans and a simple black V-neck that probably cost more than Alex's old monthly rent – he caught her stealing glances at him. Her eyes seemed to linger on his face, as if searching for... something.
'Probably checking if I've sprouted a second head,' Alex thought. 'Or maybe she's wondering if I'll strip right here. That's probably normal for Jason, right?'
"I'll, uh, give you some privacy," Sarah said, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. She turned to leave, then paused. "Oh, and Jason? The doctors mentioned you might be a bit... disoriented. If anything feels off or you need help, just let me know, okay?"
Alex nodded, trying to look appropriately grateful and not at all like he was an impostor wearing her boss's skin. "Thanks, Sarah. I appreciate it."
As the door closed behind her, Alex let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. He glanced down at Jason's body – his body now, he supposed – and shook his head.
'Alright, Rivers, let's see what all the fuss is about,' he thought, stripping off the hospital gown. Not to toot any horn, the movies he watched did injustice to what he saw down there.
Five minutes and one minor crisis with skinny jeans later, Alex emerged from the room feeling like an actor playing a part. Which, he supposed, was exactly what he was now.
Sarah was waiting, tapping away at her tablet. She looked up as he approached, and for a moment, Alex could have sworn he saw relief flash across her face.
"You look good," she said, giving him a once-over. "How do you feel?"
"Like I've been hit by a truck," Alex replied honestly. "But I'll live."
Sarah's laugh was a touch too bright. "Well, that's an improvement on yesterday. Come on, the car's waiting."
As they made their way through the hospital corridors, Alex couldn't help but notice the double-takes and whispers that followed in their wake. A few people even pulled out their phones, but Sarah's icy glare seemed to freeze them in place.
'Christ,' Alex thought. 'Is this what it's like to be famous? How does anyone live like this?'
They emerged into the bright Manhattan sunshine, and Alex instinctively raised a hand to shield his eyes. He scanned the parking lot, expecting to see some flashy sports car or luxury SUV.
Instead, a modest sedan sat idling at the curb.
Sarah must have noticed his confusion. "We're trying to keep a low profile, remember?" she said, a touch too quickly. "Can't have the paparazzi tracking your every move while you recover."
Alex nodded, but something about her explanation didn't quite add up. As they slid into the backseat, he found himself studying Sarah's profile. She was attractive, certainly – all sleek lines and professional poise. But there was a tightness around her eyes, a tension in her shoulders that spoke of stress.
'What are you hiding, Sarah Blackwood?' he wondered.
As the car pulled away from the curb, Sarah launched into what was clearly a well-rehearsed spiel. "So, we've managed to keep your hospitalization under wraps for the most part. The official story is that you've been on a spiritual retreat in Bali after your miraculous resurrection. Your agent has been fielding offers, but I've pushed everything back for at least a month to give you time to recover."
Alex nodded, trying to look like this all made perfect sense to him. "Right, good thinking. And, uh, what offers are we talking about exactly?"
Sarah's eyebrow quirked. "You really don't remember? The new Spielberg project, for one. And that indie drama about the jazz musician with a dark past. Oh, and of course, 'Thrust 4: The Final Frontier'."
Alex choked on air. "'Thrust 4'?" he squeaked.
Sarah laughed, some of the tension easing from her face. "Relax, I'm kidding about that last one. Though I'm sure if you wanted to revisit your roots, they'd welcome you back with open arms."
'Note to self,' Alex thought, 'look up Jason's filmography. Preferably with SafeSearch on.'
As they drove through the streets of Manhattan, Alex found himself marveling at the city. He'd visited once, years ago, but seeing it through Jason's eyes – or rather, as Jason – was a whole new experience. People seemed to instinctively turn their heads as the car passed, as if they could sense a celebrity in their midst.
"So," Alex ventured, deciding to test the waters, "how are things looking on the, uh, financial front? I imagine being out of commission for three months can't have been great for the old bank balance."
Sarah's smile didn't quite reach her eyes. "Don't worry about that now, Jason. We've got everything under control. You just focus on getting better, okay?"
Alex nodded, but internally, alarm bells were ringing. 'Under control, my ass,' he thought. 'What aren't you telling me, Sarah?'
The rest of the ride passed in companionable silence, broken only by Sarah's occasional comments about upcoming appointments or messages from concerned friends. Alex tried to take it all in, but his mind was whirling with questions and theories.
Finally, the car turned down a quiet, tree-lined street and pulled up in front of a modest – by Hollywood standards, at least – Spanish-style home.
"Home sweet home," Sarah announced, a touch too brightly.
As they climbed out of the car, Alex couldn't shake the feeling that something was... off. The lawn was a little too overgrown, the paint a touch faded. It was nothing glaringly obvious, but to his accountant's eye, it spoke of recent neglect.
'Curiouser and curiouser,' he thought.
Sarah led the way up the path, fishing a set of keys from her bag. "I had the cleaning service come through yesterday, so everything should be in order. Do you want me to stay and help you settle in?"
There was a hint of worry in her voice, and Alex found himself torn. On one hand, he could use all the help he could get navigating Jason's life. On the other, he desperately needed some time alone to process everything.
"I think I'll be okay," he said finally. "But maybe you could come by tomorrow? Help me get up to speed on everything?"
Sarah nodded, relief evident in her eyes. "Of course. I'll be here first thing in the morning. And Jason?" She hesitated, then stepped forward and gave him a quick, fierce hug. "I'm really glad you're okay."
For a moment, Alex forgot to breathe. Sarah's perfume enveloped him, a mix of vanilla and something uniquely her. He awkwardly patted her back, acutely aware of the way Jason's body seemed to instinctively mold to hers.
'Down, boy,' he thought sternly. 'She's your PA, not a blow-up doll.'
Sarah pulled back, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. "Right, well. I'll see you tomorrow. Call if you need anything, okay?"
Alex nodded, watching as she hurried back to the waiting car. As it pulled away, he let out a long breath and turned to face the house.
"Okay, Rivers," he muttered. "Let's see how the other half lives."
The interior of the house was a study in contrasts. Sleek, modern furniture sat alongside eclectic art pieces. A state-of-the-art entertainment system dominated one wall of the living room, while a well-worn leather armchair held court in the corner.
Alex wandered from room to room, trying to get a sense of the man whose life he'd inherited. The kitchen was barely used, the fridge stocked with nothing but bottled water and protein shakes. The home office, on the other hand, looked lived-in, with scripts and contracts scattered across the desk.
'No computer,' Alex noted. 'Probably for the best, given Jason's line of work.'
As he made his way upstairs, a framed movie poster caught his eye. It showed a younger Jason, eyes smoldering as he embraced a scantily-clad woman. The title, emblazoned in fiery letters, read: "Burning Desire: A Firefighter's Tale."
Alex snorted. 'Subtle. I bet that one's a real tear-jerker.'
The master bedroom was exactly what he'd expected: all dark woods and satin sheets. The walk-in closet was a rainbow of designer labels, and the en-suite bathroom was bigger than Alex's entire old apartment.
As he stood there, surrounded by the trappings of Jason Rivers' life, a wave of exhaustion washed over him. The events of the past day – hell, the past three months – suddenly felt overwhelming.
'I need a drink,' Alex thought. 'Or ten.'
He made his way back downstairs, heading for what he hoped was a well-stocked bar. As he rounded the corner into the living room, a flicker of movement outside the window caught his eye.
Alex froze, his heart suddenly pounding. There, peering through a gap in the curtains, was a face. A woman's face, twisted with an emotion he couldn't quite place.
Before he could react, she was gone.
'What the actual fuck?' Alex thought, stumbling back. He rushed to the window, yanking the curtains aside, but the yard was empty.
Just then, his phone – or rather, Jason's phone – buzzed in his pocket. With shaking hands, he pulled it out and saw a text from an unknown number:
"Welcome home, lover. Did you miss me?"
Alex stared at the screen, a cold sweat breaking out on his forehead. 'Oh, Rivers,' he thought. 'What kind of hornets' nest have I landed in?'
As if in answer, a notification popped up on his mental interface:
[New Quest Unlocked: "Ex-orcism" - Deal with Jason's scorned lover without blowing your cover. Reward: 5000 Cashback Points]
Alex collapsed onto the couch, his head in his hands. "I should have stayed in the coma," he muttered.
But even as the words left his mouth, he felt a spark of something he hadn't experienced in years. Excitement. Challenge. The thrill of the unknown.
'Well, Turner,' he thought, a wry smile tugging at his lips, 'you always said you wanted a more exciting life. Careful what you wish for.'
With a sigh, he pushed himself to his feet and headed for the bar. If he was going to navigate the minefield of Jason Rivers' life, he was going to need some liquid courage.
As he poured himself a generous whiskey, Alex couldn't help but chuckle. Three months ago, he'd been a nobody accountant with a dead-end job and a nonexistent love life. Now he was a famous porn star with a video game in his head, and apparently, a psycho ex on the loose.
'Mom always said I'd do great things,' he thought, raising his glass in a mock toast. 'I don't think this is what she had in mind.'
He downed the whiskey in one gulp, relishing the burn. Tomorrow, he'd face the music – the crazy ex and whatever other surprises Jason's life had in store.
But tonight? Tonight, he was going to raid Jason Rivers' liquor cabinet and try very, very hard not to think about what parts of his new body had been on camera.
Some questions, Alex decided, were better left unanswered.