When I opened my eyes… I felt dizzy, like someone had hit me in the head. My head was pounding, and everything seemed to be moving in slow motion.
There was no sound. The silence was so intense that I could hear my own breathing.
I'd never paid that much attention to it before… How short and uneven it was… Why hadn't I noticed it until now?
It felt like there were weights hanging from my eyelids.
That's how hard it was just to open my eyes—but I had to see where I was. Maybe this time, there'd be something… or someone… who could help me figure out what's going on. Maybe even how to get back…
I forced my eyes open and blinked a few times until things came into focus.
I couldn't believe it… Again? Why again? What happened?
I tried to remember my last memories, and it didn't take long to realize—I hadn't passed out here.
So how was I here now?
There was no one else in this damn building. I tried to concentrate… Maybe I had woken up and come back somehow… or maybe I passed out again and just forgot…
No… I remember clearly. I blacked out right next to the door of Unit 43.
I remember there was a flowerpot outside that door—the plant was dead, all dried up.
It was obvious no one was taking care of it.
But the pot itself… it was beautiful. Whoever owned it had amazing taste.
Weird… Why would someone leave a place like this behind? Why wouldn't they water the plant?
What happened in this building?
My thoughts were all over the place, flooding my mind, but now wasn't the time for thinking.
I was full of questions, and I needed answers.
So despite the numbness in my body, I pushed myself to stand up.
The dizziness…
That was the first thing that told me I was really awake.
I was definitely awake—but nothing about this place felt real.
It was like being stuck in a dream.
I struggled to my feet and stood up.
My vision went black for a second… and the dizziness, mixed with that darkness—it's not something easy to ignore or just power through.
But as hard as it was, I started to walk…
I walked toward the door, stumbling along the way…
It felt like the whole world was spinning around me.
And the strange thing was—the sounds were gone this time.
I made it to the door and placed my hand on that crystal orb…
I prayed, silently, hoping that damn door would open.
That maybe, just maybe, I wouldn't be stuck in here again like last time…
With all the hope I had left in me, I turned the orb.
The door opened.
I slowly pushed it open, careful—just to make sure there was no danger outside… or at least to know if it was day or night.
It was daytime.
The sunlight hit my skin instantly.
I closed my eyes, just for a second, soaking in the warmth.
A faint smile crossed my lips.
For a moment, I felt alive again—like I was coming back to life, back to reality.
I slowly opened my eyes again, ready to take a step forward—
And that's when I saw them.
A pair of green eyes staring straight at me.
I froze.
God… how beautiful those eyes were.
They looked full of life.
So kind.
So warm.
But then
"Are you okay?! You're about to fall!"
My eyes widened, and I just stared at them, still frozen.
What the hell had happened to me?
I wanted to speak. To say something.
But… I had no voice.
What was going on…?
I was still lost in my thoughts when he took my hand in his.
"Why are you so cold, girl?"
Cold?
Me?
Then why couldn't I feel anything?
He pulled me along and started walking, and I followed without resistance.
I had so many questions, I didn't even care where we were going.
I just wanted to see. To find something—anything—that could help me figure out what the hell was going on.
We reached the stairwell and he stopped.
He paused for a second… then suddenly let go of my hand.
He placed one hand behind my back, the other under my knees, and before I could even react—he picked me up and started carrying me down the stairs
It was… kind of a weird feeling.
The shock of how sudden it was.
The fear of maybe falling.
But those butterflies in my stomach…
What were they?
That feeling of being held. Of being taken care of.
Of being safe…
His body was so warm.
He felt like life itself.
I rested my head against his chest and closed my eyes.
My mind started drifting… thinking about him.
What's his name?
How old is he?
Does he live here?
Can he help me?
What does he want?
What if he hurts me…?
But those green eyes of his didn't look dangerous.
They didn't look wild.
In his eyes, I saw calm.
Worry, even.
Like he actually cared about how I was doing.
Funny, isn't it?
That a total stranger…
Cared about me.