Chapter 1002 - Come back to me (2) (1/2)

Aiden was trapped in a void. There was nothing. No sounds, no feelings… deprived of all sensations and thoughts and the concept of time was missing as well.

Then, there was a sense of existence. He was unable to move or feel, but he knew that he exists. Where is he? He didn't know… any thoughts more complex than that were impossible to form.

Occasionally some faint noise reached him. Voices? Music? Cries? He was not sure. Sometimes he would feel like someone is holding onto his arm. And that does not make sense because he doesn't have a body, but… if he had an arm, it would be there… and that is the place where he feels someone's presence.

He could not tell if it's few seconds or days or years. It's impossible to tell in this place where everything is the same.

He didn't know where he is, or what that random noise is, or where is it coming from… but he knew that he is focusing with all his might on that feeling of someone holding onto him. Especially when he didn't feel anything, he would put every bit of his presence into that area… waiting to feel that warmth. Is it warmth? He was not sure, but if there is such a thing as warmth, that is how it would feel.

After some time, he was confident that at certain intervals the area on his right is warming up and it feels good, as if something is calling to him, holding onto him, not letting him drift away… forcing him to focus and to go… where exactly? He didn't know, so he just focused on that warmth. The more he looked that way the more it felt that he can see something. Maybe like a mist, glowing faintly, clinging onto an area where his right arm should be… but there was nothing. Is he going crazy? Is he dead?

Aiden heard silent sobs… it was that mist again… by now, it took some shape, and it looked familiar… Why is she crying? She is calling to him through sobs… She? Is she crying because of him? He was troubled because he wanted to comfort her, but he didn't know how.

”…I am missing you…come back to me, will you?” This time he heard her clearly, and he can see her shape, translucent, curled up by his side, sobbing. And his whole existence ached from the need to comfort her… because he knows who she is. She is his second half, the piece that is missing to make him whole… and the only thing that can cause him pain is when she is hurting… and she is hurting…

Aiden inhaled a choppy breath and slowly opened his eyes.

He is aware of his body, and looking at his right there is that warmth… a girl… Sarah? He inhaled through his nose and remembered the scent of her shampoo. It's Sarah. She is not sobbing, that is good. She is sleeping, he should not wake her up.

Aiden's attention moved to the sound of the heartrate monitor. Why is that here? Is that a machine for measuring the blood pressure, and what else…? He moved his left arm and observed an IV needle… He took in his surrounding and realized that some things are not right.

What is that huge black thing at his feet looking straight at him? It took him few seconds to notice the golden spotted pattern on the forehead, barely visible but it's there… Kitty? Can a panther more than double in size overnight…?

”Eve?”, Aiden called and was surprised that the sound was a whisper. And his throat hurts like hell, but that is good, because it means that he is alive and that this is happening. After such a long time (or maybe few seconds) of not feeling anything, he feels pain. It's horrible and wonderful at the same time.

”Yes, Master?”, Eve responded softly.

Aiden's eyes flashed in surprise. 'Master?'

He looked lovingly at the girl curled up around his right arm. She gave up on Eve to call her 'Master' ? For him? He remembers how Sarah proudly said that she created Eve and that is why Eve calls her 'Master' , and it was important to her...

”What is… the date?” At this point Aiden realized that he can't speak with anything more than a whisper.

”Monday, January 27, 2020… 5:34 AM Pacific Standard Time…”