48 We Meet Again (1/2)

When Mina opened her eyes, she was in another dark space. There was a lingering chill in her body but it was tolerable. Unlike earlier, she couldn't make out any figure as there was total darkness. However, her body felt lighter. She could move freely although she couldn't see a thing. Unable to do anything, she tried to feel her way through the darkness.

Mina sat down cautiously. When she saw nothing blocking her path she raised one hand above her. As she was lowering her hands, she felt something solid right then in front of her.

'A wall. But this... it feels like I was transported in another location.'

Mina trailed her hands on the wall, slowly rising up to feel how long it extended. While stuck in a squatting position, she felt nothing but air. Her hands continued to feel through the area until she touched a cold and flat surface

'This feels familiar.'

While swiping through the entire area, Mina pushed something down and almost instantly, the entire area lit up.

'I've been here before!' Mina couldn't help but exclaim. 'This is the Egg Pod.'

The last time Mina dreamed about this place, there was a magical view. To confirm her suspicions, she leaned forward with excitement. But before she could enjoy it, she banged her head on the glass. Clutching her head, she crouched down on the floor and slipped out of consciousness.

When Mina opened her eyes, she saw a pair of eyes. The eyes were the color of midnight and they belonged to a fury, red-orange creature whose hands were on either side of her body.

Mina shot the animal a questioning look while recalling a vague memory.

'This creature seems familiar.'

Before Mina could figure out why the animal felt like someone she knew, the orangutan broke the silence.

”We meet again! I bet you got smacked on the head for a second time!” the monkey chattered with confidence before reassuring her, ”Don't worry, that is a regular thing inside these Egg Pods.”

The monkey scanned her body calmly to check if she was alright but there was a change in the animal's expression when the creature saw her foot. Alarmed, the animal bolted away on its hind legs while using its furry hands for support. As the animal walked towards the direction of a cleaning cart, a flash of recognition appeared in Mina's eyes.

'It's the cleaning monkey!'

While Mina assumed a sitting position, she saw the orangutan flip the cleaning cart. As if by magic, the mop, pail, and rags were replaced with an emergency medical kit complete with an oxygen tank. Mina shut her eyes momentarily, wondering if she was in a dream but when she heard a rummaging sound, she had to open her eyes again. What she saw was the same monkey searching for something inside one of the pockets of the kit. After taking out a green pouch, the orangutan walked back towards her.

Now closer, the orangutan handed her the bag, which looked similar to a blood bag but with green liquid inside. As if remembering something, the monkey offered a wide straw, the same one used to serve bubble tea, with another hand. The monkey looked at Mina and nodded as if to tell her to take it. Mina simply stared back while thinking that it was a ridiculous situation.

'If a monkey handed you a drink, would you take it?'

Before Mina could do anything, the monkey punched a hole on the bag with the straw and handed it over to her.

”You need this.”

'Did this monkey just treat me like an invalid?'

Before she could think of a wise comeback, the animal gave her another instruction.

”This works better than an emergency heat patch.”

Mina couldn't help but look at the monkey in front of her who was still extending the suspicious drink. She felt more confused than ever.

”You're lucky! If you didn't do first aid thawing, you could be trapped in that place.”