Chapter 85 - 85. Failed? (1/2)

Mack opened his eyes and, still a bit dizzy, tried to stand up.

But something was odd.

”The hell I am?”

He looked at the white walls around him and to several hospital machines and recognized the place.

”A hospital?”

But even if was a hospital, something was odd about that place that Mack could not pinpoint.

Mack raised himself from the bed and stood up.

He passed his hand over one machine.

Dust..

There was dust everywhere.

”Is this the same hospital that I was before entering the tower?”

Asked himself Mack, not sure about why he was there.

[Correct. You had been sent back to Earth. To the same place you were before entering the tower]

”Fuck! did you send me here old man?”

[Oh shit. I forgot to erase your memory. Ah Nevermind.]

”Erase my? ....The heck? Just kill me already... why erase my memory?”

Mack saw something moving in the corner of his eyes and there it was.

An old man eating ramen.

”You know... I really don't want to kill you. But I will if you bother me while I'm eating.” said Harlack.

Mack stood there watching the old men eat ramen, not sure what was happening.

Was not he supposed to be dead already?

'The fuck is going on? And why I'm on Earth?'

”You know I can read your thoughts, right?” said Harlack

”So answer me. What the heck is going on?”

[You failed] said Harlack, using the mind link.

”Failed?”

[Yes, you failed the 9th gate. But we opened an exception for you. You will be able to try again in the future]

”Why would I? I don't care about that tower”

[You will not ask me how you failed?]

”I don't care either. Why you keep talking in my mind when you have a mouth and you are so close to me? It's annoying.”

[Because I'm eating, it's practical]

Said Harlack, pointing his finger at the ramen.

”So....you are not going to kill me?”

[No]

”Fine then. I'm leaving, you can enjoy your food”

Said Mack, leaving the room.

”How much time will take for him to come back?”

Said to himself Harlack, already putting the finished ramen to the side and crossing his legs, as if a grandfather patiently waiting for a kid to stop his dramas.

Less than a minute later, Mack was back.

”There is no one in this town. What you did?”

[Me?]