Chương 9: Rendezvous

Cohort 'Waterbird' - Report 03 Survivor found; required immediate medical attention. Several lacerations, bruises, broken bones, missing teeth (unrecoverable), missing several fingers (unrecoverable), ribs fully shattered in the lower left quadrant, both arms crippled, deep gashes on the side, head trauma, right cheek tissue torn, jawbone fractured, several quarts of blood lost, further examination required...

Survivor was found with blood around their mouth; imbedded teeth in the IMP class nightmare suggest that their throat was torn out. The medic applied first aid, ability was used. Request for higher-tier medical aid Prepare the mortician if needed, as the chance of survival is low. Research team suggested, new IMP class Nightmare was discovered with light damage to the carcass. No further carcasses or remains were found at the site; floors above 25 were deemed unsafe for entry.

5 hours until rendezvous window closes Cohort 'Waterbird' - Report 04 Moving in double time, survivor vitals were dropping, severe lack of blood The survivor succumbed to blood loss during an altercation with several lesser nightmares. The altercation delayed the survivor's immediate need for a blood transfusion. Transporting a body for burial Mortician requested. Waterbird will arrive at the rendezvous within the time frame. 1 hour until rendezvous window closes June woke up; he felt good for once.

He rarely woke up feeling satisfied, let alone well rested. The dream he had was interesting, very vivid; the pain felt so real; even now it feels like it still remained a little. The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. He checked the time. 6am? That was a bit odd? The dream felt so long, but June only slept for 10 minutes? He didn't feel the need to sleep; he felt very well rested.

'Should I just re-read the novel?' Even though it was 6am, his upstairs neighbors were still stomping around, but even then little bothered June.

'I'll just wash up and then read for a bit.' June got up and walked over to the washroom across the hall. He felt really good; his body felt like it was ready to move around, which was new to him. He was a solitary person who had spent most of his life crammed inside; he had come to terms with it a long time ago. He walked up to the bathroom sink and looked at himself in the mirror with surprise.

'No acne?' He usually woke up and looked like Swiss cheese when it came to acne, not to mention ashy, today his skin looked a beautiful shade of olive brown.

'lucky day' The summer break had just started; exams ended a week ago. This coming September he would start his third and final year in college. He looked at himself weirdly; the mirror felt off. The scratch on the glass that was usually eye level was at his nose instead?

'Did I grow?' He dismissed the idea of him getting taller; he is normally 5'4" or 165 cm tall, but it feels like his size increased by a foot. June's build was pretty brawny despite his lack of exercise and height; his shoulders were wide, his legs were oddly muscular, and he had a bit of belly fat. What else would he expect? He lives inside all day and works, plays, and studies on a computer.

Weirdly enough, other than his supposed increased height, his shoulders felt more refined, his biceps and forearms felt more toned, and his stomach fat had decreased a bit too. It was odd, but he just chalked it up to not eating properly the previous day, though wouldn't he look more emancipated than buff then? June completed washing up and sat down to re-read his favorite novel.

It was about someone who would be transported to another world when they slept; he was poor growing up but had his family until he didn't. The character went through trials and tribulations and, to simply put it, became a god.

June felt like the main character of this story was oddly like him; of course June was far less handsome, determined, and cool, but the constant struggles felt relatable, and when the main character slowly built his own life, fell in love, and was surrounded with people he loved, June felt glad, proud, and even happy for this character, but they weren't real.

June sometimes wondered if what he needed was to be brought to another world, maybe find love, settle down, and make friends with whom he felt complete around, but in the end that's why the fantasy genre exists. Things won't happen because one hopes; they happen because they grab fate by the balls and twist for results. At least that's what June thought. He himself didn't know how to do that, but the idea was firm in his head. He re-read the story from the beginning and stopped at chapter 124.

It was 8am; the high of waking up satisfied didn't wear off yet. It almost felt dreamlike to have the will to wake up early, not to mention not feeling groggy. June continued throughout his day. He walked his dog. Wrote a story no one will ever read Studied for a bit Remembered to eat Studied a bit more Walked his dog again Remembered to eat again took a nice long shower played games with his friends until 2am Now he layed in bed, continuing to read the novel he finished the day prior.

Eventually he decided to sleep at 5: 50am. Today was fine, actually; nothing bad happened, and he was satisfied with it. So he closed his eyes and wandered off to sleep. But as soon as he closed them, they opened. and a scalpel was going to plunge into him