22 A Chance for Change (1/2)

”Who's there?”

Karma, in the midst of darkness, see a figure in front of him. As he approached, he gasped.

It was a distorted figure, proportions out of scale. It was a monster, standing there, piercing Karma with its red eyes.

Karma's legs gave in from the fear and he fell. He tried scurrying back, but he was eventually stopped by an invisible force from behind.

The figure crawled towards him. It was an abomination, a creature of darkness and evil, ready to destroy those in its way.

Then, a light shone from the darkness above onto the figure. As the creature was exposed to the light, it slowly went through a metamorphosis.

As Karma watched, he could see it turn more and more into a human. Then, when it was over, Karma stared in disbelief.

It was himself, standing there. The vile monster from before turned into a exact replica of Karma.

”W-what?” Karma blurted out. ”Who are you?! Why do you look like me?!”

The copy of himself did not respond. Instead it smiled and approached Karma.

It was a sinister smile. Karma was frozen, staring at the evil expression on the copy's face. His eyes was wide with fear. He wanted to get out.

”Please! Whoever is doing this, let me out!” Karma begged.

Upon hearing this, the smile on the copy faded. It was a blank expression now. The copy looked at Karma one last time before walking away. The light disappeared and shoned on Karma. The next moment, Karma found himself looking at a white ceiling.

*W-Where am I? *

Karma sat up. He was in a bed. The light was beaming at him through the bedside window. He looked around. There was a nightstand by his bed. Across from him stood a big dresser. To the side, a closet.

Karma got up from the bed, but a sharp pain ran through his body and he fell.

”Ow...,” Karma said in pain. ”Guess my injuries haven't fully healed.”

Then the door opened. It was the head maid, Maria.

”My goodness!” she said in shock. ”Are you alright?”

”Yeah... I'm fine,” Karma replied. ”My body just aches a little.”

”Stay here,” Maria said. ”I will get you a wheelchair. It won't do to have Miss Shirohana's friend get hurt again after all he has done.”

”Thank you,” Karma said. Maria smiled in reply and left the room. A few minutes later, she returned with several maids. The maids pushed the wheelchair in. They helped Karma get on the wheelchair. It felt really comfortable.

”Do you feel alright sitting in the wheelchair?” Maria asked.

”Yes,” Karma replied. ”This wheelchair is very comfortable.”

”I'm glad,” Maria said, smiling. ”Would you like me to move you to Lady Shirohana's room?

Karma, frightened by his dream and distracted by his injuries, had forgotten that Shirohana and Frank were also there at the fight.

”Are Mr. Frank and Shirohana alright?” Karma asked worryingly.

”Frank might be a little on the worse side, but they are alright, don't worry,” Maria replied. ”I heard from Frank that you fought off the threat and helped them avoid any serious consequences. I'm glad Lady Shirohana met someone like you.”

”I-I'm not really that great...,” Karma said, embrassed. ”Can I visit them? It's my fault that they were involved in any of this.”

”Yes, we'll escort you to their rooms,” Maria replied. She grabbed the handles of Karma's wheelchair and exited the guestroom. Next to the room was the room he had stayed in earlier. It was still under renovations and the damage was still there.

Maria first wheeled Karma to the butler quarters, located in the far east of the mansion. It was separate wing from the house that was connected with a bridge. Karma could see the beautiful greenery of the mansion. The sweet scent filled the air.