Chapter 22 Person From the Dream (1/2)
Rhode was back in the past again.
The monotonous, crackling voice through the PA announcement1, the dreary snow-white ceiling, the nostalgic and revolting scent of disinfectant, the bustling doctors and nurses, the faint sorrowful cries of people all seemed too surreal. A burning, numbing sensation wrapped around his body, causing him unable to move.
Turning his head to the side, he discovered a slim figure quietly laying on the bed with her eyes closed. Her sleeping expression was ever so tranquil as if a beauty from a fairytale. At that moment, it was as if she was completely isolated from the rest of the world.
Slowly, the busy crowd had begun to disperse. Leaving only two figures kneeling on the bed, sobbing.
The PA announcements became sporadic, and his paresthesia gradually faded away. But he couldn't bring himself to be happy. All he could do was to stare at that figure and wait for the inevitable truth to arrive.
Eventually, he heard a loud wail, and then the hospital ward turned deathly quiet.
At that moment, Rhode thought that his heart stopped beating.
It had been ages since he felt this tearing feeling in his heart. Now, he felt it once again.
Standing in front of him, was a young girl.
She had dark and shiny long hair which fell down her shoulders like an angel. A hospital gown wrapped around her thin, and fragile body which made her look like she was going to break at any moment. She had an almost-identical face as Rhode. But contrary to her bleak appearance, her black, bright and round eyes emitted an indomitable personality as she stared as Rhode.
Despite having an identical appearance, their personalities were entirely different. Rhode always sported a serious expression. He was the calm and bold man. But the girl was feminine and perfect in every aspect. No matter who was it, they would think that she was the 'dream girl'. Smart, beautiful, gentle and pleasant.
”Brother...” The young girl stretched out her right hand and a trace of doubt flashed across her face.
”Where is this place? Why are you here?”
”...”
Rhode opened his mouth, but no words came out. At the same time, the unconscious self within him started to dissolve his uneasiness in his heart. He didn't know why, but he felt that he did not have to be on guard in front of her. I mean, she is his sister, right?
No. Something is wrong!
Rhode suddenly woke up from his stupor.
His sister was long gone. This woman couldn't be his sister!
It just did not match with his memories!
Rhode felt a chill down to his spine. In the game, he never encountered such a situation. When he thought about deeper into the matter, he realized that his uneasiness might have been born from the game content background description and the subtle contradiction between the player's own experience.
Of course, NPCs in the game could never sneak into a player's memories to use those experiences against other players. But the situation now was different! He was no longer in the virtual world, meaning that there will be changes!
Rhode calmed himself down and he watched the girl in front of him silently.
What should I do?
In the game, the Shadow was supposed to turn into the player's reflection. That was the reason why he could directly cut it down without hesitation. But now? The person that stood in front of him was not his reflection, but his sister's. It made Rhode hesitate. Although his brain told him that the person in front of him was just a virtual image, the girl in front of him was too real; it was too difficult to treat her as an illusion.
”Brother?”
The girl took a step forward and stretched her right hand.
”Why won't you say anything?”
When her shadow moved, Rhode felt his surroundings slowly turn into darkness, and the surrounding air also felt heavier which rendered him panting for air. He opened his mouth, but the oxygen that went into his lungs were as cold as ice.
The darkness spread as quickly as a drop of ink falling into the water. In an instant, a fog wrapped around Rhode.
”Mr. Rhode should be okay right?”
Standing in the distance, Matt observed the swirling fog with a worried expression. He held on to the bag tightly. His eyes kept darted left and right continuously, studying at the fog that turned from white to black. Even Matt could see there was something wrong with it.
”...”
Lize did not respond to Matt question. She clenched her hands and put it in front of her chest.
At that moment, she truly wanted to rush in and check Rhode's situation. Since she was a veteran, she knew that something went wrong. But in the end, she bit down the impulse to rush in as Rhode's words rang in her mind.
”No matter what, absolutely do not come near me. Even if you manage to see my shadow, unless I walk to you, both of you are not allowed to move. The Shadow is very cunning and dangerous. I can't afford both of you to encounter any danger. To be honest, it will just endanger me further if any of you take any rash action.”
When they heard Rhode speak like that to them with his cold and expressionless face, they felt hurt. Lize's was startled by his sharp words, but as a professional mercenary, she understood the reason why he said so. After all, this was a life and death matter.
Lize sighed and kept her silence, but her hands clenched tight.
Meanwhile, inside the dark fog, the girl stretched out her hands and hugged Rhode's neck.
”Why won't you say anything?”
The girl's smile was still as sweet as before. So many years had passed, but her smile was still as gentle as a spring breeze. She had always been so.
Rhode took a step back unconsciously. He could even feel her body temperature. With her face was so close, he couldn't help but reminisce the memories seven years ago. At that time, she also behaved similarly; she sat on the bed, hugging him while he flustered and told her stories about the things that happened outside.