《Filigran's End [Isekai, Sci-Fi]》


 Chapter 1: Before the End

    "Is it possible to come back?"


    It was early in the morning. I just woke up in my apartment.


    "that dream felt weird." I murmured.


    The college is out of commission for a week. I didn''t have to study, as my grades were always average. And my shift at my Job is still around sunset, so I still had a lot of time.


    Well it turns out that I have my hands full on this day, as my phone rang quite loudly in the desk by my side. My father was calling me.


    "What is it dad?" i annoyingly asked.


    "You are not going to believe what news I have for you!"


    My dad was weirdly excited about something. it was pretty weird since my dad wasn''t the type of person to be hyped about something.


    "Alright calm down for a minute." I felt weird about this so I calmed him down.


    "So? what is the news you are so hyped about?" I asked.


    "Its your mother! She''s back! and she wants you to visit her."


    "what?" I was understandingly confused and thought I didn''t hear correctly.


    "Can you repeat what you said?"


    "Your mom finally came back here!"


    I was more startled than hyped. after all these. years, why come back? I don''t even know her face, or anything other than what my father told me. That she was Swedish and super rich or something. But I didn''t know her. She left us when I was barely 3 so it was understandable on my part. But one question was lingering in my brain.


    "Why did she leave us?"


    That was the one question that I really wanted to ask her. I didn''t want to meet her, but this may be the one chance to ask her that question.


    "what place does she want to meet?"


    "Its in (xxxxxxxxxx) near chiyoda ward. Your mother is in a business trip so you shouldn''t bother her too much"


    "Its been 19 years and you still didn''t move on?" I murmured.


    "What was that?"


    "Don''t mind it dad."


    "Its been a while since I visited dad", I thought to myself.


    "Dad, are you still there?"


    "What is it sweetie?"


    "I''m going to visit soon."


    "Really? would it not bother your studies?" my father asked.


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    "Don''t worry, I would visit in the weekend. But I should get ready to visit her"


    "Be careful okay? there are many missing cases lately."


    "I will dad."


    we said our goodbyes on the phone. Little did I know, this would be the last goodbye that I told my father.


    1.2


    I walked to the place. It was pretty close, about 30 minutes from my home. Its been a while since I last walked through this place, so there were some new places to pass through. I also saw a crepe stand on the way, which looked delicious. so I bought the strawberry flavoured one.


    "Delicious." I murmured to myself.


    I finished my crepe before heading to the destination, Thinking about this weird day. That call from dad, about mom coming home. And that dream.


    "What a weird day" I murmured.


    I arrived at the destination. weirdly enough, It was in a tall skyscraper downtown. I asked the guard at the entrance about this skyscraper.


    "Uhmm, what kind of place is this?" I asked.


    The guard was startled but answered me anyway.


    "Well, This is the Teele Tower. Why are you asking?"


    I was understandably nervous, since I was in an unknown place, at least to me.


    "Sorry for the Inconvenience, but I''m supposed to meet someone here. Do you know someone by the name Alva?"


    The guard was startled by the name, Which confused me. I get that it''s a weird name by our standards, but he shouldn''t be that startled by it.


    "Um, excuse me miss. What was your name again?"


    Him asking about my name just confused me more.


    "Its Hikari, Hikari Daisuke."


    The guard was surprised by my name. He Confusingly called a formal lady in a reception table.


    "Oh! I''m sorry for making you wait young miss. Please follow me."


    Understandably Surprised, I followed the lady. Not showing my confused brain in my face. She brings me to an elevator, and pressed the third highest floor that was in the buttons, which is floor 53.


    Curious about things, I asked the lady about it. "Umm, where are we going?"


    Her answer just tops the cake in my confusion.


    "We are currently going in Miss Alva''s Office. I believe she will explain everything about it to you young miss."


    Her answer just confused me even further. But before I could think properly, a sound was heard.


    Ding!


    It was the sound of the elevator which announced that I have arrived. I was a little nervous, with my hands feeling the coldness of the air conditioning.


    I followed the lady until the last room in the giant hallway. And the lady suddenly talked.


    "Please enter the room young miss."


    I nodded tinily and entered the office, But no one was in it. The door suddenly shut itself as I sat down a sofa which is way comfier than my bed.


    As I was relaxing, a sudden handkerchief covered my nose and mouth. And it was getting harder to breathe.


    "Who is this person?"


    I tried fighting the person holding me, but I couldn''t. My body was getting weaker by the second. My eyes began to close and before I lost consciousness, I heard someone talking. To me?


    "I''m --r--, bu- ---- -s --- ---- --- - ---l- ----- -- -- --v- --u"


    Then, I lost consciousness.


    1.3


    Two Adults and a young kid was entering the airport together, with the guy Carrying the seemingly outspoken child and a lady with a suitcase.


    "Mama! Mama!" The young child called.


    "What is it sweetheart?" The woman answered.


    When are you coming back? The outspoken child asked.


    The lady was startled by the question. Not knowing how to answer it. The guy tried to talk to the child, but the child was focused on the lady.


    Seemingly found an answer to the child, the lady pats the child''s head.


    I won''t see you for a long time, but I promise that I will come back and protect you.


    The child giggled, not understanding what the lady meant. Which made them both giggle as well. But this memory became further and more vague. Until its no longer distinguishable.


    A memory in which only three people remember. But one had forgotten.


    1.4


    About 5 hours later.


    I suddenly woke up. The feeling of the handkerchief covering my nose and face was still distinct.


    "Was that a dream?"


    "No, it felt too real to be a dream."


    "I have to calm down."


    As I calmed down, I noticed something. I was in an unknown room.


    I stood up from the uncomfortable bed and looked outside the window.


    It was surprising.


    Tall skyscrapers that looks taller than the Burj khalifa, A giant city with seemingly no nature whatsoever, and a giant wall surrounding the whole place. A place that you can only see in science fiction. An unexplainable place.


    Where am I?

 Chapter 2: The Worst Nightmare

    "What a weird Dream" I thought to myself.


    It was rare for me to even have dreams.


    I whispered, "It''s not always that I have dreams"


    Maybe I thought I was still in a dream. after all, I was naive back then. And one that doesn''t know anything about this cruel world.


    I looked around in what looks like a bedroom


    "This room looks horrible" This was not an opinion, but a fact.


    The room is tiny, The walls were made of rusty metal, there is almost no furniture whatsoever, and the only furniture that IS in the room is an old rusty metal table in the corner. Which appears to have something stuck on it.


    I looked more closely at the table.


    It has a piece of paper stuck in between the holes of said table.


    When I looked closer, there appears to be something written on it which interested me. I tried to read it from the bed but I wasn''t close enough to read it properly.


    "Won''t hurt to look" I thought to myself.


    I stood up and walked to the table to read the piece of paper hoping for any information. But the information that I hoped for wasn''t there. Instead, what I got was confusion.


    "Find the secrets of this world, before it all ends"


    ".........what?"


    This was my honest reaction. What does it mean? as time passed, I was overthinking more and more.


    "What does this note mean?"


    "Where am I"


    "Why am I here?"


    "Was I kidnapped?"


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    My thoughts were getting worse and my head was hurting, so I stopped myself from overthinking further.


    "I should try to explore cautiously" I said to myself.


    I walked to the rusty door and opened it. As I was opening it, the door creaked loudly, as if it was saying it was old. I looked outside and to my surprise, it was in an old alleyway.


    I looked at both sides before I cautiously walked out of the tiny room that looked to be a metal box.


    "It looks like a jail" I thought to myself.


    As I was looking around, I saw a light. Which I followed. As I was following it I was looking at my surroundings, it was looking like a slum. It smells horrible, alleyways snake the sides, With almost no light except the one I was following.


    As the alley widened, I was greeted with a view that honestly made me in awe despite the horrible place that I''m in.


    It was a City. But not like any city that exists. It looked more like One of those sci-fi cities that movies would be in rather than regular cities. With most of the skyscrapers being a drab gray in contrast with the warm and bright lights that were within them. With a super tall skyscraper in the middle of everything that was seemingly touching the sky.


    As i stood in awe of the view, one thing suddenly popped up in my mind.


    What is this place and why am I here?


    It was an obvious question. I was in a place that didn''t exist. Yet here I am, in that place that supposedly didn''t exist. And this place felt too real to be a dream.


    "I need a plan" I thought.


    "But what should I do? Maybe I''ll try to find a person and ask him for information"


    So that was the plan. But I didn''t want to come back to that alleyway, so I looked around and walked.


    And I walked,


    And I walked,


    And I walked. but seemingly, there are no people in sight. I was almost about to give up when I heard a loud noise.


    BANG!


    I ducked down in shock. "Are those..... Gunshots?"


    Gunshots were heard, a lot of them.


    At that point there was only one thing in my head.


    RUN


    And I ran, I ran as far as I could. As I ran, I covered my ears away from the gunshots behind me. Terrified that I would be hurt or worse, die.


    "I can''t die" I thought to myself.


    I ran until I came back to that old and rusty room. I quickly shut and locked the door. It was the only place I know where I can hide.


    I was further from the gunshots, but I could still hear them, which made me terrified. It was hell for me. My head started to fill with negative thoughts and things that would happen if I die.


    "I want to see dad" I said to myself.


    At this point I started to tear up.


    "Haha, I haven''t even finished my degree yet"


    "I didn''t even pay dad back for everything"


    "Dad, I want to see you again"


    Tears came spilling down my face. And my tough mask came crumbling down to earth. Thinking that I wouldn''t see my father again.


    "I want to visit dad"


    "I want To go back home"


    "I don''t wanna die"


    "Dad, I don''t wanna die"


    This truly was the worst nightmare.

 Chapter 3: Help

    I woke up in the corner.


    "Ouch"


    My body was in pain, it appeared as if I cried myself to sleep.


    I stood up and looked at the mirror.


    "Haha, I look horrible" I said to myself.


    I still hadn''t forgotten about the hell that I''ve experienced last night. But after that sleep I''ve been feeling better and wanted to put my mind somewhere else.


    I looked outside the window. It appears to still be nighttime.


    "How many hours did I sleep?" I murmured


    All I thought about was surviving this hellhole.


    I sat down in the bed and started thinking about my plan for today. I''ve been feeling hungry and thirsty since I woke up, and I need to go somewhere safe. But where?


    I stood up and tried to open the door but I suddenly stopped.


    "Wha-"


    My hand was shaking.


    "Haha, should I just stay here?" I thought to myself as I held my shaking hands together.


    "Yeah, if I just stay here maybe someone will come save me." I said to myself.


    "For sure, at least the police are coming right?" As I try to convince myself. Shaking, as I sat back down.


    These are just wishful thinkings. This is not fantasy. Thinking back to that moment, this was very cowardly of me. But as I was a naive nineteen year old girl back then, it was all i could hope for. I didn''t know what to do. All I could do was ask for help. I was not thinking logically and did nothing but cower.


    All these stress made me faint once again.


    I woke up in the bed. My body feels sluggish as I have yet to drink or eat. It was almost at the dangerous levels of hunger and thirst.


    I had a dilemma. To stay here and die of thirst and hunger.


    Or To go outside and try to find help.


    This time there was no shaking at the thought of going outside. It was all about survival at this point.


    "I''d rather have a tiny chance surviving than die alone in this room"


    I came out of the room with a weak body, looking for any chances of survival.


    The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.I walked, not even thinking about anything but survival.


    I walked, looking for every chance to live


    I walked, trying to survive in this hell on earth.


    It was a walk that felt like forever.


    "Ah"


    I stumbled into what looks to be like a decrypt building. At this point, I was barely able to walk properly. But I was keeping myself awake. Just for the chance of even seeing a person.


    And my prayers were answered.


    "Finally" I thought to myself.


    I saw a person. I finally saw a person. I was relieved.


    It was then where the last of my strength withered. I fell down the ground unable to move.


    3.2


    "Look! It''s snowing!"


    A child was running in the snow.


    "Dad! Dad! let''s make a snowman!"


    The child was pulling her father in the snow, seemingly having fun.


    "Haha, what should we put in it''s face hikari?"


    "A Carrot!" The child answered proudly.


    Ah, it''s my memories.


    "Good girl! I''m proud of you."


    The father held the child and headpatted her, seemingly proud of his child.


    "That tickles dad." The child was laughing along.


    "Now get some carrots in the kitchen while I create some snowman okay hikari?"


    "Yes dad!" As the child ran in the house.


    The father was diligently creating the snowmans just for his child.


    "Dad...." I was reminiscing my memories with my father. But all of a sudden, my view of the memories was blurring.


    "Wait!" I was terrified


    "Dad wait! Take me with you!" I shouted with all my might. It felt like it was the only time I would see my father again.


    And the memory disappeared.


    "DAD!" I shouted as I woke up. My hands were stretched up as to try and reach something unreachable.


    I wiped the tears in my eyes and tried to calm down. As I calmed down, I noticed the new place that I was in.


    I looked around, this place looked better than the first place I woke up in. Although not that much better. As I realized that I was in a completely different place, I tensed up. As I was in a completely unknown place.


    "Where am I?" I murmured to myself.


    Whilst I was looking around in my bed, someone came in and opened the door.


    "Ah, figured it''s about time you woke up." A completely unknown person suddenly talked to me.


    "Here, I bought you some food. You looked like you haven''t eaten in days" as he gave me the plate.


    The plate had stale bread and some soup. Not ideal but at this point I would eat anything. I ate a lot as I was very hungry.


    "Whoa, you''re hungrier than I thought" He said as he sat down.


    I didn''t mind him since I wasn''t thinking and was eating as much as I could.


    "Calm down, no one''s gonna take your food. You can eat slowly"


    As I heard that I stopped chowing down my food, calmed down and just nodded. This time I ate slowly.


    As I finished eating my food he gave me some water, which I took and drank quietly.


    "So are you good?"


    I nodded


    "So.... Can''t you talk?" He asked


    I was still cautious of him despite him giving me food, so I was very quiet around him.


    "I can" I murmured


    "So you can speak. That''s good. So is your body fine?"


    I nodded.


    "So you won''t speak to me huh?" He spoke as if he''s disappointed.


    "Well, you should get some more rest. after all, you just woke up from fainting. Well, I''ll get out of your way now"


    He stood up and walked to go outside. But I needed to ask some questions so I toughed up and called him.


    "Wait!" I exclaimed.


    "I need to ask something"


    The guy turned around as if expecting me "well, you''re ready to talk? Ask me anything."


    "Um, what place is this" I asked


    "Wait, you came here without knowing what place this is?" He was flabbergasted.


    "Well...." I was about to explain what happened when he cut me off.


    "Well, don''t worry. At least you''re safe in this place" he smiled at me, as he opened the window view.


    We were inside the building, but it was bright. The inside rooms became makeshift homes. And there are people walking around as if this place was peaceful.


    "Wha-"I was surprised.


    He grinned. "Welcome to camp corin, stranger"

 Chapter 4: Fear and Sorrow

    "Corin?" I asked.


    Corin, The Latin name for spear. I remember once reading that in a trivia game.


    "Is it the name of this city?"


    He looked surprised at what I asked, As if I was an alien.


    He stared, "Don''t tell me you don''t know what this place is."


    I shook my head. He sat back down and talked more. His looks hinted that his age was around the same as my father, Which made me less cautious.


    "Do you remember nothing?" He asked


    This question made me think. "Should I lie?" I thought to myself. But what I needed the most right now is information. And it''s probably the only plausible way to gain information from him.


    "I''m sorry, I don''t remember this place" I said


    I was still cautious of him and was watching his actions, but he does seem more trustworthy than others.


    "So that was why, and you''re still young too" he shrugged.


    "You looked so clueless when I showed you the view" he laughed, which made me embarrassed in return.


    "So what is this place?" I asked


    "Ah, I should explain this place." He sat down and explained properly


    "This is Filigran. The Last City"


    "The last city? What does he mean by that?" I murmured.


    "Wait, what do you mean by the last city?" I asked him.


    "So you really don''t remember anything, huh?" He said.


    "It''s as I said, it''s the last city on earth"


    "Wha-" I was speechless. I wanted to shout What the Hell! To him, but I stopped myself. As it doesn''t change anything. I calmed myself down, i wanted to ask more about this world, but fate would not be kind to me once again.


    A siren sound filled the room we were in. Which made him tense up and stand. Suddenly, Gunshots could be heard once again.


    Once I heard those Gunshots, my body shook once again. The memories of yesterday rushed into my mind. As I tried to cover my ears, he suddenly held my hand pulled me.


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    "Follow me!" He exclaimed.


    He pulled me to a metal cabinet within the room and hid me there.


    "Hide here, It''s safe. And don''t open the cabinet to anyone but me, okay?"


    I nodded. Gunshots could be heard near here. I was still terrified at the thought of the night before, as it was fresh in my mind.


    "I will be right back" he tried to run but I held his hand firm, I was scared of being alone once again.


    "Um! Your name." I asked him, shaking.


    "Haha" he laughed and patted my head in return. Somehow he reminds me of my father.


    He replied with a slight grin.


    "It''s Bert, remember that kiddo" as he closed the cabinet and ran outside the room.


    I was in the cabinet, waiting. As I heard the gunfight in the distance I waited. It was dark and cramped. Which only made my paranoia worse. I sat down, covered my ears, and waited for him to come back.


    I waited for a minute,


    Half a minute,


    An hour,


    2 hours,


    The longer I waited, the more I thought of the worst case scenario, what if he dies? Am I stuck here. Do I follow? It was becoming very bad for my sanity, which was getting weaker due to everything that was happening.


    I was slowly descending into paranoia, but then I heard the door open. I was thinking of the worst case scenario. What If they were hostile? I heard footsteps coming closer to the cabinet I was in. Then, I heard a voice


    "Hey kiddo, you okay?"


    As Bert opened the cabinet door and saw my timid self shaking in fear. As I saw him, I felt relieved that nothing had happened. I stood up and suddenly hugged him.


    "Hey! Why are you-" He exclaimed before seeing me cry like a child. After he saw me sobbing, he simply stood quietly and patted my head. We were just standing there, as I was unleashing my pent up fear and sorrow.


    After I cried loudly, my body weakened once again. But this time I was being held by Bert, who carried me to bed.


    "Take a rest" he said


    As he laid me down the bed, I wondered. Why do I trust him now? Even though I was so cautious of him earlier? Is it because he reminded me of my father? All these questions were popping into my brain before fatigue made me sleep like a child.


    This was the best sleep I had in days. As my fear and paranoia slowly decayed away. This was the first time in days that I truly felt safe.


    No dreams or nightmares haunted me that night.


    I woke up, my body felt better. I genuinely felt the best in days. As I was lying on my bed, I realized that Bert was watching me to which I was surprised.


    "Kiddo you awake now?" He asked. To which I replied with a nod.


    "You still too shy to speak?"


    "That''s not it...." I said


    To be honest, I remembered what happened last night. And I was slightly embarrassed by it. I wanted to apologize and thank him for saving my life.


    "Hey" I called him.


    "Hm?"


    "I''m sorry for last night.... And thank you for that." I said sheepishly.


    "Hahaha, don''t mind that. I''m used to kiddos like you" he replied with a curt smile.


    "What do you mean by kiddo?" I asked annoyingly


    "I know what I said" Bert said with a grin.


    At first, I was pissed at him for calling me a kiddo, but At this point I couldn''t help but laugh.


    "Hahahaha" I laughed, as if the memories of yesterday never happened. Bert was just staring at me, then proceeded to laugh along with me.


    This was the first time in a while I had a conversation with someone. This conversation helped me save my sanity from crumbling completely. And to this day, I can''t help but thank Bert for this moment.

 Chapter 5: Scar

    I was having fun with our conversation, as I felt very safe around him.


    "You still haven''t said your name, kiddo."


    "Oh..." I thought to myself. I was honestly very engaged in our conversation that I didn''t remember to introduce myself.


    "It''s Hikari" I said


    "Hikari huh? Well, I''m still gonna call you kiddo though" Bert poked fun at me.


    "Really? I told you my name, but you''re calling me that?" I was annoyed at Bert for calling me kiddo.


    "Grow up first before I call you by your name, Kiddo"


    This was some of the most fun I had talking to a person. I was not a very sociable person, but I didn''t mind talking to Bert, which made me soften around him.


    We talked for a long time. Seemingly not minding the passing time. I was having fun and he looked to be having fun too.


    "So you wanna eat kiddo?"


    "Ehh? You can cook?" I asked playfully


    "So you''re getting cheeky now?" He replied, stood up, and scattered my hair.


    "Stop that!" I said


    He stopped and walked to the kitchen. He took ingredients from a cabinet and the fridge and started making food.


    Whilst he was making food, I rested and laid down in the bed for a while. Since I had nothing to do.


    5.2


    "I''m done cooking kiddo"


    "I''m coming!" I replied. I stood up and walked to the dining room, while he was putting metal bowls on the table.


    "Is everything metal here?" I asked


    "I mean it''s the cheapest thing around. So probably?"


    "Why do you sound unsure about it?"


    "Oh shut up and eat kiddo"


    I sat down the dining table as he passed me my bowl of soup.


    "Why is it soup again?"


    "It''s because it''s the food that can fill you up the most"


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    "And?" I asked


    "You have way too many questions kiddo" he replied.


    "Just be thankful that you even have something to eat."


    "Fine" I gave up on asking more questions. At least while we were eating.


    After Lunch(?)


    "That was decent" it was my review of the food.


    "Well thank you for reviewing our lunch kiddo"


    "Wait, that was lunch?" I asked.


    "Well, yeah"


    "But it''s dark outside?" I was clueless.


    "The thick clouds cover up the sun so it''s always dark, or so they say." He replied


    "But how do you measure time? How do you know if it''s lunch?"


    Then he pointed at the clock, which is in the 24hr format.


    Then he suddenly changed the subject.


    "So kiddo, now that we''ve finished our lunch, you wanna explore the place?".


    It sounded like a good Idea, as i wanted more information about this place.


    "Sure, I was about to ask anyway" I replied.


    Bert stood up and told me to follow him, which I followed. But as soon as we reached the door, I suddenly stopped.


    That''s when I noticed, my hands were shaking. But why? I tried to move my legs one at a time, but my body wouldn''t follow.


    "Why..." I murmured to myself. I genuinely had no Idea as to why I was like that.


    "Am I....... Scared?" I asked myself.


    And then it clicked.


    Am I scared of going out? I wanted to go out, or so my brain tried to think. But my body wouldn''t follow. My heartbeat was rising fast and I was having trouble breathing. Then Bert looked back at me seemingly worried


    "You okay kiddo?"


    But I couldn''t hear him properly. All I could do was look at him weakly. I was breathing heavily and it was hurting for me. I couldn''t think properly. It was my first sign of PTSD.


    "Ki---!"


    Someone suddenly ran to me.


    And I fainted.


    5.3


    It was another dream.


    I dreamt about running. No, not just running. I. Was too desperate for just that.


    Someone was chasing me.


    That''s when I knew, It wasn''t a dream, It was a nightmare.


    "Help!" I was screaming loudly, running away as fast as I could. I was Desperate not to die.


    I knew it was just a nightmare, but I couldn''t help it. I was terrified, terrified of dying.


    I looked back. Faceless people were chasing me.


    "No!" I shouted as I ran. as I ran, tears came out of my tired eyes seemingly not in my control.


    "No! I don''t want to die!" I screamed all I could, not to others, but to myself. I told myself that I would survive. But I can''t do anything but run.


    I tried to run all I could, but they were coming closer. Which only terrified me even more. My breathing was getting heavier, and my heartbeat was skyrocketing. And I was slowing down. As I looked back I saw the faceless guys aiming their guns at me.


    I was screaming and crying so much that my voice was coarse and my tears were drying up. But I couldn''t do anything.


    And then,


    Bang.


    "No! I don''t wanna die!"


    I woke up. I woke up screaming and crying. I was waving my hand everywhere, seemingly scared of something.


    "No! Stop! I don''t want to die!" I was repeatedly screaming those same words. I was terrified.


    Then someone suddenly embraced me.


    "It''s gonna be fine"


    "No!" I tried to escape and pushed him with all my might, but he didn''t budge.


    "I don''t wanna die!"


    "Calm down kiddo" he whispered in my ear.


    "It''s gonna be okay, you''re not gonna die"


    Ah, It''s Bert. I realized.


    When I realized that, I stopped. I stopped trying to escape his embrace. And I broke down in front of him.


    "Why?" I asked


    "Why is this happening to me?"


    "What did I do to deserve this?"


    "You didn''t do anything wrong, kiddo. You''re just a kid" he replied.


    This made me speak more.


    "I was just a normal teenager before this, I was supposed to go to college and have fun. Graduate, and help my dad. I wanted to have fun in my life"


    "But why am I here? Why am I in this place? I want to go back home."


    He didn''t reply and instead held me tighter instead. And I embraced him in return.


    "Dad" I said.


    "Dad, I want to see you again" I was crying with all my might.

 Chapter 6: Trauma

    After my second breakdown in front of him.


    "You good kiddo?"


    "Yeah, I''m fine" I replied


    I released most of my stress unto that breakdown, so this is my honest and genuine reply.


    "Well, I was about to say. doing that 2 times in 1 day is crazy. What are you gonna do next kiddo?"


    His statement made me blush in embarrassment. As I did break down in front of him twice now.


    "I''m not gonna do anything!" I replied


    "Ehhh? Really?" He was teasing me


    "Stop that!" I was beet red in embarrassment


    He was raising the mood up, and it was for my sake.


    "Hey...."


    "What is it kiddo? You gonna cry again?" He smugly replied.


    "No!" I was embarrassed.


    "I just want to ask you questions."


    This was the time to ask a lot of questions, as I was stopped earlier by the gunfight.


    "Sure, but you only get one question a day"


    "But why?" I asked


    "Well... To be honest I don''t have much free time. and I spent most of it taking care of you anyway" he replied.


    "Oh..." It was the first time I felt sorry for him, as he used most of his free time on me. He saw me worrying about it and patted my head instead.


    "Don''t worry about it kiddo. I chose to take care of you anyway" as he scrambled my head more


    "Stop that" I replied


    A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    He laughed and sat down,


    "Now shoot your shot"


    "Can I ask multiple questions In a single question itself?" I asked


    "Nope. And that''s your question for today. Ask again tomorrow kiddo."


    "Wha- that''s just unfair!" I said, gasping at the unfairness of it.


    "A question is a question." He replied.


    It was like my earlier breakdown never happened. I was having fun with our conversations.


    "Oh, I''m going to be late for the meeting!" He suddenly stood up and tried to run outside.


    "Kiddo! I''ll leave you to it!"


    "Don''t worry, I got it." I raised my hand and waved goodbye.


    "Oh, and someone''s gonna visit. Don''t worry, you can trust her!" He added.


    "I got yo- wait, What?"


    He shut the door and ran.


    "Why did he have to tell me like that?" I murmured to myself.


    6.2


    Bert went away to help the camp, while I stayed inside the house. During this time all I did was lay down the bed and think about many things.


    A dangerous thing about being alone is you think about stuff that should never be thought about, especially to a teenager like myself back then.


    One of the things I thought about was going out but as soon as I thought of it, I got cold sweat and my arms were shaking.


    "Should I give up?" I thought to myself. I thought I was regressing to a coward. More questions then flood my head. Am I not going to improve? Will I stay a coward? Am I going to stay in this room forever?


    My mind was once again going on a dangerous path mentally. My sanity was quickly spiraling down.


    Knock knock.


    Someone was knocking on the door.


    "Ah, this must be the visitor" I thought.


    "Wait a second!" I stood up and tried to open the door.


    I was walking to the door. But as soon as I walked closer and closer, my legs moved Less and less. Until I came to a complete halt. The symptoms of earlier were happening once again. I tried to move with all my might. but alas, my body wouldn''t follow. Another panic attack was starting.


    "Why?" I thought to myself, tears started to befall my face.


    "Why can''t i move?" It was heartbreaking. It felt like drowning in water.


    I hit my legs in vain, trying to make my legs move.


    "Move..."


    "I said move!" I screamed and hit my leg harder.


    But It didn''t move.


    The memories of that hellish night was still stuck in my brain. And this only made me mentally worse.


    Someone opened the door while I was still standing. All of a sudden an unknown woman held my shoulders and tried to calm me down.


    "Calm down, Deep breaths." She curtly said.


    I followed her instructions and breathed deeply.


    "Breathe in, Breathe out."


    "Breathe in, Breathe out."


    This calmed me down. My panic attack weakened and I could move again. The mysterious person helped me sit and talked to me.


    "Are you okay" she asked stiffly


    I was still having difficulty speaking, but I could still answer.


    "No" I replied


    "I can''t even do trivial things like opening a door" I laughed at myself as to downplay my feelings.


    "I see" she brought out a book from her bag and started reading.


    "Can you tell me about your symptoms."


    "What do you mean by symptoms?" I asked


    "I meant how does your body react when you try and go closer to the door?" She said while looking at the book.


    I thought about it for a bit, then I answered.


    "Um, it felt like I was drowning. I couldn''t breathe, and my body was shaking all around" I said.


    "I see" she skimmed the pages of the book. It seems like she was looking for something.


    "Um,"


    "What?"


    "Are you a doctor?" I asked


    "Maybe I am, maybe I''m not" she curtly replied still skimming the book.


    While she was skimming the book, Bert suddenly ran in and searched for something.


    He looked like he ran a long way, as he was drowning in sweat. He looked around until he saw me. After he saw me, he ran to me and held my shoulders..


    "Are you okay kiddo?"


    I just nodded. It was all he needed to see.


    "Thank god" he sighed in relief and hugged me.


    "Good timing Bert." The mysterious woman said.


    "I need to talk to you"


    Bert released his hug and looked at her.


    "Is it bad?"


    What does he mean by that? Questions were popping in my head. Is it about me?


    "Wait, We shouldn''t talk about it here." He said.


    "No!" I shouted, both of them looked at me.


    "It''s about me right? If it''s about me, shouldn''t I also know?"


    "But-" Bert was about to reply


    "Yes, she also needs to hear this" the woman seemed to agree with me.


    "What''s happening to me?" I asked


    "Let me give it to you straight"


    I readied myself. Bert also looked nervous.


    "You have a severe case of post traumatic stress disorder."


    "In short, you have PTSD"