A lot happened in a very short amount of ti after I woke up.
It didn't take long for the United Nations' agents to fill my room. I was given so water and allowed only a few minutes of rest before they asked to retell the entirety of the ti I spent within PORTAL's world.
Naturally, I couldn't talk more than a handful of words before my throat hurt and coughing fits shook by body. As it beca apparent that I wasn't as healthy as before, I was moved to a hospital.
Why they hadn't done this before, while I was still unconscious was beyond . As we left Erik's mansion in an ambulance, I caught a glimpse of so construction being done at their large garden facing the front of the house. That must have been the noise I heard as soon as I woke up.
Agents, who I later learned weren't simple police officers, never left my side as doctors did their tests. I was given several different drugs, leaving my mind and body in a ss. I even suspected a truth serum of so kind was among them, as monts after the doctors left, the agents began questioning again.
I told them of what transpired, but not before warning them of the mory losses I constantly suffered from within the ga.
How much of what I told them they believed, I wasn't sure. If their cold gazes and harsh voices were any indication, I'd say not much.
Only that night, long after dusk did I get so ti for myself. Only then did the cold gazes finally leave as the nurses nearly kicked them out of my room.
And only then did I try to stand up from my hospital and fell on the ground imdiately.
Everything was wrong. My height was wrong, my sight was wrong, my strength was wrong.
I sohow pulled myself back on the bed, and took the small mirror on the desk to look at myself for the first ti since… I don't know. Since before I was trapped in PORTAL's virtual world.
Blue eyes, fiery crimson hair, and pale skin. That was alright. The I rembered.
Though now my hair was ssy and way too long, my eyes had lost their glimr and my skin was nowhere near healthy – was more grey than just pale.
I looked thin and unhealthy. I was thin and unhealthy. My body had lost the muscles I had built over the years. I clenched my hand into a fist and punched the pillow.
I had beco sothing weak and pitiful.
But I was alive. I had survived till the very end of that nightmarish ga. Muscles could be rebuilt, strength could be gained anew. I was alive, with my mind still sowhat sane.
I fell asleep soon after, with a heavy heart as the mories of those who hadn't survived were fresh in my mind.
"Wake up." A harsh, cold voice woke up with the first says of sunlight. A man in a suit and a woman in fancy clothing were the first thing I saw when I opened my eyes.
"John Whittaker," The man said with the sa cold, emotionless voice. "I'm an inspector from the United Nations council." He offered his hand, which I took after I pushed myself up to a sitting position.
"Veronica Mueller." The woman introduced herself. "I'm his boss," She glanced at Inspector John. "And the person whose job is to clean up OTHERWORLD's ss." She sighed. "I heard the n they sent yesterday already took your statent and were… less than kind about it."
I hesitated. "Well-" My dry throat protested at my speech and the ensuing coughing fit didn't help at all either.
"I think we can take that as yes, they were not kind at all." Inspector John's voice sounded. He sighed and I felt him tap on my shoulder as he gave a glass of water.
"Thanks," I mumbled after I finished drinking it and my throat allowed to speak again. "Sorry you had to see that." I cleared my throat and placed the glass on the nightstand. "And to answer your question: no, they were not kind at all."
Miss Mueller seed a bit surprised, but Inspector John was quick to try and change the subject. "Our apologies about that. I know it's the last thing you want to hear right now, but would you mind answering a few questions right now?"
I sighed. "Can I even say no?"
They glanced at each other. "I thought so," I said with a shrug. "Ask away, I guess." I gestured him to continue.
Inspector John seed hesitant for a mont.
"Thank you." He said, taking a deep breath. "The agents have already taken your statent on the events that transpired during the ti you were trapped within the PORTAL device. What we would like to know is what transpired before that." He glanced at his boss, who nodded lightly.
"What do you want to know?" I asked, my eyes slightly narrowed.
"First of all – and excuse for saying this – your financial situation seed rather… inadequate to be able to afford to join the testing of the PORTAL device. Prior to this incident, you also lacked the connections to OTHERWORLD to get a chance to try the device." He made a vague gesture. "You're a martial artist – the youngest of your uh… clan?" He asked, clearly sowhat confused.
I chuckled. "We're not a clan." What was he thinking even suggesting that? "My family own and runs the training hall of our martial arts style." I chose my words in a way that would make sense to him. "Several other families joined as ti passed, which is how we ca to be in our current state." I raised my eyebrows. "Though, I don't really see how that is relevant to PORTAL."
Miss Mueller sighed. "Then I will be blunt."
"Please," I said, glaring at her. I was already sick and tired of the endless questioning.
"I don't see how you are, or were, relevant to PORTAL at all. How did you beco a part of the testing group and why were you at the CEO's house?"
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