She watched the direction the man had taken until he completely disappeared from her view. She paused, thinking briefly, but in the end, dismissed the thoughts. Slowly, she approached the door. Despite struggling to move, as it seemed only one of her legs was functioning, she pressed on. She held onto anything she could—metal railings, the edge of the wall—to keep herself upright.
As she stepped out of the room, a serene scene greeted her. A long corridor stretched out before her, seemingly endless. The area was filled with light, and above her, there were glimmers like stars. She stopped and looked around, glancing to the right and left.
"So bright…" she whispered. "It's true what they say—when you pass into the afterlife, you'll see an endless light."
An indescribable feeling enveloped her. It wasn't fear, nor was it joy. It was a mixture of comfort and confusion. Despite everything, she knew this was something unfamiliar to her.
She clung to the metal railing at the side of the wall and carefully took a step forward. Each step was a struggle, but she didn't stop. As she walked, her mouth hung slightly open, filled with awe and wonder at the lights lining the length of the corridor.
She continued to walk, though her pace was slow and labored. Despite her frailty, curiosity, and determination pushed her forward.
What could be at the end of this path? Was this truly the afterlife? Or was there a deeper meaning to this mysterious place?
She gripped another metal railing along the wall, inching forward while her eyes remained fixed on the endless row of bright lights. Her lips parted slightly in amazement as she took in every detail of the peculiar scene.
Suddenly, she heard the sound of footsteps—quick and hurried, as if someone was being pursued. Accompanying them were voices, speaking chaotically, but their words were like echoes, incomprehensible to her. Despite the noise, the footsteps and voices gradually came closer, until suddenly, the clamor ceased, leaving the place in silence.
She stopped, wondering about the sounds she had just heard. Slowly, she turned around, and there, she noticed a group of people standing not far away. There were many of them—more than ten—all staring at her as if they'd seen a ghost. It wasn't just fear she saw in their eyes—it was fear mixed with shock and uncertainty.
Several were clad in white, their garments clinging to their forms, while others donned a disordered blue, their faces masked. Spotless were their raiments, mirroring the purity of the light that bathed the place. But no matter how beautiful the scenery was, the prevailing emotion in the air was undeniable—fear, evident in their every movement and gesture.
"D-do they know I'm an assassin? Is that why they're reacting this way?" she murmured to herself, trying to make sense of the situation. She glanced at herself—limping, exhausted, unarmed. "I can't even harm them… especially in this condition."
"I-I told you… what I said was true… the dead are alive!" The trembling voice of a man from the middle of the group broke the silence. She shifted her gaze toward him and immediately recognized the man she had seen earlier. His hand shook as he pointed at her, his eyes filled with terror.
"She's alive! I saw her! She's the… she's the reason…" the man continued, but he couldn't finish his sentence. Overwhelmed by fear, he averted his gaze, seemingly unable to face her presence.
Whispers spread like wildfire among the group. Some stepped back, others ran away, and a few remained standing but were visibly shaking. They resembled hawks on high alert for an attack, but this time, she was the focal point of their fear.
She stopped, feeling the weight of their stares. The air seemed to grow heavier around her, and her mind filled with questions. "Who am I really in this place? And why are they reacting to me like this?"
Before she could fully process her thoughts, one of the men removed his white cape in haste. The events happened so quickly that she had no time to react. The next thing she knew, the man approached her swiftly and draped the garment over her exposed body.
She looked down at the white fabric now wrapped around her shoulders and down to her knees. It was clean and carried a peculiar scent that brought her a small measure of comfort and an unusual sense of security. The fragrance of antiseptic mixed with a subtle lavender aroma—familiar, though she couldn't recall when she last encountered it. When she looked up at the man, she saw that his hands were firmly gripping her shoulders. His hold was strong yet careful, as if afraid to cause her any pain.
"What are you waiting for? Get a stretcher! Now!" the man shouted at those behind him, his voice brimming with authority and urgency. Each word was sharp and deliberate, echoing the pounding of her own heart.
He was tall, fair-skinned, and as immaculate as the white fabric now draped over her body. The same clean scent seemed to envelop him, providing a strange but welcome solace amidst the chaos.
"Call her guardian, now!" he ordered again, his tone firm and commanding but laced with evident concern.
The crowd around them sprang into action. Those who had been frozen in place, merely staring, suddenly rushed to perform various tasks. Their movements were quick and frantic, almost chaotic in their eagerness to follow the man's commands.
It wasn't long before a group arrived, bringing with them a bed attached to a metal gurney. The fabric of the bed was blue—clean, fresh, and appearing remarkably soft. It was unlike anything she was used to as if it belonged to a world far more orderly than the one she had known.
Before she could fully grasp what was happening, she felt herself being lifted off the ground. She gasped, realizing only then that the man had carried her. He gently but swiftly placed her onto the rolling bed, his movements careful, as if ensuring she wouldn't feel any discomfort.
She felt the softness of the bed beneath her back, and despite her confusion, she noticed the strange sense of concern surrounding her. Not just the people, but the place itself felt like a dream—too beautiful, too perfect to be real.
The people's faces were a mixture of fear and alertness, their eyes busy yet seemingly stealthily scrutinizing her. The lights around them flickered like stars, but to her, they seemed like tiny eyes silently watching.
She closed her eyes briefly, wondering if it was all real. "Who are they? What are they doing to me? Why does everyone seem afraid but willing to help?" she asked herself, trying to weigh what she was feeling. Her mind was filled with questions, but the exhaustion in her body prevailed. Slowly, her eyes succumbed to sleep, and darkness gradually enveloped her.