Chapter 2 - 2: Awakening and the Unknown
A dull, pounding pain greeted Ethan as he drifted back into consciousness. His body felt heavy, like it had been weighed down by bricks. His head throbbed with every heartbeat, and a groan escaped his lips.
What the hell...?
His eyes flickered open, only to be met with a blinding white light. He squinted, adjusting to the sterile brightness, his vision blurry at first. The room smelled of antiseptics, the air cold and clinical.
Ethan shifted slightly, and pain flared through his body, making him suck in a sharp breath. Okay, moving is a bad idea.
The sound of rapid footsteps reached his ears. Then, a voice—urgent and surprised.
"He's awake! Quick, get the doctor!"
Ethan turned his head slightly, wincing at the effort. A nurse stood beside his bed, eyes wide with shock. Another bolted out of the room.
The remaining nurse placed a firm hand on his shoulder. "Stay still. You've been through a lot."
Ethan blinked, his mind sluggishly piecing things together. "Where... am I?" His voice was hoarse, like he hadn't spoken in days.
"The hospital," the nurse said gently. "You were in an accident. But it's a miracle you're even alive."
Then, it all came flooding back.
The little girl. The speeding car. The split-second decision. The impact.
His stomach twisted. "The girl... is she okay?"
Before the nurse could answer, the door burst open.
A white-coated doctor strode in, but Ethan barely noticed—because behind him was Alise.
The moment their eyes met, she rushed to his side and threw her arms around him.
"Ethan!" Her voice cracked, and he felt her trembling against him. "You idiot... you absolute idiot."
Ethan flinched, both from the pain and from how tight she was holding him. "Take it easy, Ali... I'm still sore."
She pulled back immediately, her green eyes glistening with tears, her face a mix of relief and frustration. "You could've died."
He gave a weak smirk. "Yeah, but I didn't."
Her expression darkened. "That's not funny."
Before he could respond, the doctor cleared his throat.
"You're very lucky, young man," he said, stepping forward. "By all accounts, you shouldn't have survived that hit, much less woken up this quickly."
Ethan swallowed. "How long was I out?"
"Three days."
He blinked. Three days?
The doctor continued, "With the kind of injuries you sustained, it should've been weeks. Frankly, it doesn't make sense." He shook his head. "I've seen miracles in this job, but this one's up there."
Ethan let that sink in. It was strange. His body hurt, yes, but... not as much as it should. Shouldn't he be in way worse shape?
He glanced at Alise. "And the girl?"
Alise nodded. "She's fine. Her mom's been trying to reach out to you. They're incredibly grateful."
Ethan sighed in relief. "Good."
The doctor made a few more notes on his clipboard. "We'll need to run some tests, but if everything looks fine, you might be discharged sooner than expected."
Ethan's family arrived soon after.
His mother burst into tears the second she saw him awake, wrapping him in a tight hug. "My baby... I thought I lost you..."
Ethan groaned. "Mom... ribs... cracking..."
She let go but kept holding his hand, sniffling. His father, usually composed, wiped at his eyes and squeezed Ethan's shoulder. "Scared the hell out of us, son."
Ethan chuckled. "Yeah, I have that effect on people."
After some emotional exchanges, the families eventually left, giving him some time to rest.
That left him alone with Alise again.
She sat on the chair beside his bed, arms crossed, studying him.
"What?" Ethan asked.
"You really scared me," she admitted. "I thought I'd never get to yell at you again."
Ethan smirked. "Is that your way of saying you'd miss me?"
She rolled her eyes. "Shut up."
He chuckled, but the mood shifted slightly. She bit her lip, hesitating. Then, softly, she murmured, "Don't do that again."
He raised an eyebrow. "Saving people?"
"Throwing yourself in front of a car like an idiot."
He shrugged. "Can't promise that."
She sighed, but a small smile played on her lips. "Figured."
After a while, she stood up. "You should rest. I'll be back tomorrow."
Ethan watched her go, feeling oddly... warm.
Once she was gone, he exhaled deeply, finally alone.
And then it happened.
A soft chime rang in his head.
[Ding!]
Ethan's eyes snapped open as a blue screen appeared in front of him.Congratulations! You have obtained the World Traveling System.He froze.
A... what?
The text glowed faintly, floating mid-air, impossible to ignore.
Ethan blinked, rubbed his eyes, then looked again. It was still there.
His heart pounded. Was he hallucinating?
Hesitantly, he reached out to touch it.Welcome, User. This system will aid you in gaining strength, acquiring abilities, and eventually—traveling across worlds.Ethan's breath hitched.
What. The. Hell?
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