[What's happening to me?] "What's happening to me?"
Daniel's words reverberated through the room, his voice followed immediately by the raspy, primal echo that sent a shiver down his spine.
His pulse quickened. His eyes darted around the sterile hospital room, scanning for the source of the second voice. [Who's there?] "W-who's there?"
The same voice repeated his words, mirroring them exactly.
"Show yourself!" he demanded, the words leaving his lips in tandem with the beastly echo.
The silence that followed was suffocating. Panic surged within him, twisting his thoughts into knots. What's going on? Who is doing this?
His imagination conjured a sinister entity, invisible yet present, lurking in the shadows and toying with him. He held his breath, his mind filling with wild assumptions.
For a long moment, Daniel didn't dare speak again. He sat there, straining his senses against the quiet hum of the machines, his entire body tense.
But the voice didn't come.
When the silence became unbearable, he hesitated and spoke cautiously: [Is there an entity here that wishes to communicate with me?] "Is… there an entity here that… wishes to communicate with me?"
Nothing.
The absence of a reply was almost worse than the echo itself. His irritation began to grow, feeding into the fear clawing at him. [What do you want?] "What do you want?"
The primal echo returned, mocking him.
Daniel's temper flared. "[Stop copying me!]"
The words left his lips as a fusion of his voice and a guttural growl. The sound startled him into silence, his heart pounding in his chest.
And then it hit him.
"Wait."
What if the voice isn't someone—or something—else?
The idea settled over him like a chilling fog. His mind raced, piecing together fragments of memories and feelings he couldn't explain. The visions he had seen before waking. They weren't just random figments of imagination.
Ethan's words from that conversation replayed in his mind:
"The Baron built the castle because he believed he died somewhere in the mountain range in a previous life."
"Previous life? You mean like… reincarnation?"
Daniel's breath hitched. He felt as though he were teetering on the edge of an incomprehensible truth.
But his logical mind resisted. It was too absurd, too impossible. His thoughts spiraled into chaos until—
The door creaked open, and a nurse stepped inside.
"Daniel, are you alright?"
Her soft voice startled him, pulling him from his thoughts. He looked up at her, hesitant.
"I… don't know," he admitted, his voice trembling.
The nurse approached his bedside, her gaze filled with professional concern. "What's wrong? How do you feel?"
"Wrong," he whispered. "My body feels wrong, like it's not mine. And I keep hearing… a voice."
The nurse frowned, her expression thoughtful. "Can you describe the voice to me?"
"It's… it's like an echo of my own words," Daniel explained, his hands trembling. "But it's different. Rougher. Like it's not really me."
The nurse's frown deepened. "Are you hearing it now?"
Daniel opened his mouth, then stopped.
The realization hit him. The voice was gone.
"N–No," he said finally. "I don't hear it now."
The nurse hummed thoughtfully, placing a gentle hand on his forehead. Daniel tensed at her touch.
His senses flared to life, hyperfocused on her. He could smell her skin—a mix of antiseptic, faint sweetness, and lingering perfume. His eyes zoomed in on every detail: the fine hairs on her arm, the delicate lines of her fingers.
The sound of her breath filled his ears, each exhale like a rushing wind.
"Your system is still recovering from the coma," the nurse said after a moment, her voice breaking through the sensory storm. "It's likely your body and mind are adjusting. Rest is the best thing for you now."
Daniel nodded numbly, his senses still heightened as she withdrew her hand.
"I'll let Doctor Aksel know about how you're feeling," she added. "For now, try to get some sleep, alright?"
The nurse offered a reassuring smile before leaving the room.
Daniel stared at the door for a long moment, her parting words echoing in his mind. Sleep. He didn't think he could, but he lay back against the pillows anyway, his thoughts churning.
"I guess I'll sleep after all," he murmured, his eyes slowly closing.
~~~
Daniel woke to the sound of familiar voices, distant but growing closer. He blinked, his vision adjusting to the sight of multiple figures standing around his bed.
Mister Rowen and Miss Dahlia stood closest, their expressions a mix of relief and concern. Behind them were two unfamiliar adults, along with Doctor Aksel.
"Daniel!" Mister Rowen exclaimed, his tone warm and animated. "It's so good to see you awake!"
Miss Dahlia chimed in, her voice gentle. "You've had everyone so worried. We've all been praying for you."
The other two adults introduced themselves as teachers from his school, though Daniel struggled to place them.
The group asked about his condition and encouraged him to recount what he remembered of the accident. Under Doctor Aksel's guidance, they listened attentively as Daniel began to narrate.
He described the events leading up to the crash: the reindeer, the chaos, the bus slipping off the road. His memories aligned perfectly with the reports the teachers had given.
But then he kept going.
He spoke of awakening in the forest, of the reindeer's return, and the brutal fight that followed. His words grew more vivid as he recounted the injuries he'd sustained, the chase through the trees, and the strange way the forest seemed to shift around him.
The room grew quieter with each word.
Daniel described his desperation, the moments when death felt inevitable. He spoke of his body breaking, his arm being taken—
"That's enough," Doctor Aksel interrupted suddenly, his tone firm but calm.
Daniel blinked, his words faltering. He looked around the room and saw the adults' expressions. They were polite, but their eyes betrayed something else.
They didn't believe him.
"You don't believe me," Daniel whispered, his voice trembling.
"Of course we do," Miss Dahlia said quickly, brushing his titian hair in a comforting gesture. "We believe you."
But Daniel could see the truth beneath her kind smile.
[Liar.]
The primal voice finally spoke again, clear and cold in his mind.
Daniel's stomach churned as despair crept into his chest. He looked away, shutting his eyes tightly.
"Why don't you believe me?" he whispered, more to himself than anyone else.