The Soul Keeper

A lot happened in a very short amount of time after I woke up.

It didn't take long for the United Nations' agents to fill my room. I was given some water and allowed only a few minutes of rest before they asked me to retell the entirety of the time I spent within PORTAL's world.

Naturally, I couldn't talk more than a handful of words before my throat hurt and coughing fits shook by body. As it became apparent that I wasn't as healthy as before, I was moved to a hospital.

Why they hadn't done this before, while I was still unconscious was beyond me. As we left Erik's mansion in an ambulance, I caught a glimpse of some construction being done at their large garden facing the front of the house. That must have been the noise I heard as soon as I woke up.

Agents, who I later learned weren't simple police officers, never left my side as doctors did their tests. I was given several different drugs, leaving my mind and body in a mess. I even suspected a truth serum of some kind was among them, as moments after the doctors left, the agents began questioning me again.

I told them of what transpired, but not before warning them of the memory losses I constantly suffered from within the game.

How much of what I told them they believed, I wasn't sure. If their cold gazes and harsh voices were any indication, I'd say not much.

Only that night, long after dusk did I get some time for myself. Only then did the cold gazes finally leave as the nurses nearly kicked them out of my room. 

And only then did I try to stand up from my hospital and fell on the ground immediately.

Everything was wrong. My height was wrong, my sight was wrong, my strength was wrong.

I somehow pulled myself back on the bed, and took the small mirror on the desk to look at myself for the first time since… I don't know. Since before I was trapped in PORTAL's virtual world.

Blue eyes, fiery crimson hair, and pale skin. That was me alright. The me I remembered. 

Though now my hair was messy and way too long, my eyes had lost their glimmer and my skin was nowhere near healthy – was more grey than just pale. 

I looked thin and unhealthy. I was thin and unhealthy. My body had lost the muscles I had built over the years. I clenched my hand into a fist and punched the pillow. 

I had become something weak and pitiful. 

But I was alive. I had survived till the very end of that nightmarish game. Muscles could be rebuilt, strength could be gained anew. I was alive, with my mind still somewhat sane. 

I fell asleep soon after, with a heavy heart as the memories of those who hadn't survived were fresh in my mind.

"Wake up." A harsh, cold voice woke me up with the first says of sunlight. A man in a suit and a woman in fancy clothing were the first thing I saw when I opened my eyes.

"John Whittaker," The man said with the same cold, emotionless voice. "I'm an inspector from the United Nations council." He offered his hand, which I took after I pushed myself up to a sitting position. 

"Veronica Mueller." The woman introduced herself. "I'm his boss," She glanced at Inspector John. "And the person whose job is to clean up OTHERWORLD's mess." She sighed. "I heard the men they sent yesterday already took your statement and were… less than kind about it."

I hesitated. "Well-" My dry throat protested at my speech and the ensuing coughing fit didn't help at all either.

"I think we can take that as yes, they were not kind at all." Inspector John's voice sounded. He sighed and I felt him tap on my shoulder as he gave me a glass of water.

"Thanks," I mumbled after I finished drinking it and my throat allowed me to speak again. "Sorry you had to see that." I cleared my throat and placed the glass on the nightstand. "And to answer your question: no, they were not kind at all." 

Miss Mueller seemed a bit surprised, but Inspector John was quick to try and change the subject. "Our apologies about that. I know it's the last thing you want to hear right now, but would you mind answering a few questions right now?"

I sighed. "Can I even say no?"

They glanced at each other. "I thought so," I said with a shrug. "Ask away, I guess." I gestured him to continue.

Inspector John seemed hesitant for a moment.

"Thank you." He said, taking a deep breath. "The agents have already taken your statement on the events that transpired during the time you were trapped within the PORTAL device. What we would like to know is what transpired before that." He glanced at his boss, who nodded lightly.

"What do you want to know?" I asked, my eyes slightly narrowed.

"First of all – and excuse me for saying this – your financial situation seemed rather… inadequate to be able to afford to join the testing of the PORTAL device. Prior to this incident, you also lacked the connections to OTHERWORLD to get a chance to try the device." He made a vague gesture. "You're a martial artist – the youngest of your uh… clan?" He asked, clearly somewhat confused.

I chuckled. "We're not a clan." What was he thinking even suggesting that? "My family own and runs the training hall of our martial arts style." I chose my words in a way that would make sense to him. "Several other families joined as time passed, which is how we came to be in our current state." I raised my eyebrows. "Though, I don't really see how that is relevant to PORTAL."

Miss Mueller sighed. "Then I will be blunt."

"Please," I said, glaring at her. I was already sick and tired of the endless questioning. 

"I don't see how you are, or were, relevant to PORTAL at all. How did you become a part of the testing group and why were you at the CEO's house?"