The sharp, antiseptic smell of rubbing alcohol and IV fluids was the first thing that brought Lin back to reality. It was a cold, clinical scent that cut through the darkness of his mind. His eyelids felt like they were glued shut, but as he forced them open, his vision was met with a blindingly white ceiling and the rhythmic beep... beep... beep of a heart monitor.
A nurse in blue scrubs was standing over him, her hand steady as she prepared to press a syringe into his IV line. When she saw his eyes flutter open, she gasped, nearly dropping the needle.
"You're awake!" she whispered, her voice filled with disbelief. She didn't even finish the injection; she turned and bolted out of the door, shouting for the doctor.
Seconds later, the quiet room was filled. The door swung open so hard it hit the wall. Xai, Yada, and Chen Hao rushed in, their faces pale. Behind them, the old doctor followed, his eyebrows fell in confusion as he looked at the monitors.
"He's actually conscious," the doctor muttered, checking Lin's pulse with his fingers. "This is... scientifically impossible. Son, you lost nearly two-thirds of your blood volume. By all accounts, you should have been dead before the ambulance even arrived."
Lin tried to speak, but his throat felt like it was filled with sand. "How..." he croaked. "How did I get here?"
Xai pushed past the doctor, grabbing Lin's hand. Her eyes were red from crying. "I went to check on you, Lin. You were in that bathroom for so long, and I just had this bad feeling. When I found the door was locked, Chen helped me kick it open. You were just... lying there. Your heart wasn't even beating."
As Xai spoke, the memories hit Lin. The cold tiles. The red dress. The sensation of his life being sucked out of his neck. He subconsciously reached for his throat, feeling the thick bandages wrapped there. He squeezed his duvet tightly. What was she doing there? Why me?
He looked up at Chen, who was leaning against the foot of the bed. "Chen... did you see a lady in a red dress?"
Chen rubbed his nose, a small smile creeping onto his face. "Oh, yeah. I remember her. I welcomed her in at the door. She was stunning, man."
"Did you see where she went?" Lin asked.
Chen shook his head. "No. Once we found you, the whole party turned into a nightmare. Everyone panicked and started leaving before the cops got there. Why are you asking of her?"
Yada stepped forward, her calm presence acting like a balm on the room's frantic energy. She looked down at Lin, her eyes soft. "I'm just glad you're alive, Lin. We really thought we'd lost you."
Lin felt his face heat up, a faint blush creeping into his pale cheeks. Lin cleared his throat "Where's Mom?" Lin asked, looking around.
"She went to the hospital chapel," Xai said softly. "She hasn't stopped praying since last night."
The doctor stepped in, gesturing for the group to back away. "Alright, that's enough for now. His body has been through an incredible trauma. He needs rest."
As they filed out, Lin lay back against the pillows. The silence of the room felt heavy. He knew what happened, but he was wondering how he was still alive.
The next morning, Lin was supposed to be discharged, but before the paperwork was signed, two men walked in. One was short and had a stern face; the other was tall and huge. Both wore dark, fitted suits.
"Lin Jay?" the short one asked, pulling out a badge. "Detectives. We have some questions about the 'assault' at the party."
Lin felt nervous and he knew they wouldn't believe him when he tells them the truth. He quickly made up a story about a random mugger who must have followed him into the bathroom with a sharp object. The short detective jotted notes down in a small leather book. Without looking up, he asked casually, "So, no vampire then?"
Lin's heart skipped a beat. He forced himself to stay calm. He knew if he admitted the truth, he'd end up locked in a basement for a long time.
"A vampire?" Lin let out a shaky, awkward laugh. "Sir, I think you've been watching too many movies. That's a bit far-stretched, don't you think? Vampires don't exist."
The detectives exchanged a look. "Right. Thank you for your time," the tall one said.
As they walked down the hallway, the short detective leaned toward the tall one. "Did you smell anything coming from the kid?"
The tall one shook his head. "I didn't smell anything out of the ordinary. He's not one of them. Not a vampire, not a demon."
"Maybe," the short one muttered. "But keep an eye on him. Nobody survives an attack from one of them out of luck."
Later that afternoon, Lin finally made it home. He had barely stepped through the front door when his mother greeted him not with a hug, but with a flying slipper to the shoulder.
"No more parties!" she screamed, her voice cracking. "You hear me? You stay home until you are fifty!"
"Mom! Ow! I just recovered!" Lin joked.
Suddenly, his mother broke down. She dropped the other slipper and began to sob, throwing her arms around him. "I thought my boy was gone," she wailed. Lin felt his own tears start to fall. He collapsed to his knees, hugging her tight. Xai joined them on the floor, the three of them crying in a heap of shared relief.
Yada stood in the doorway, watching the family. A single tear rolled down her cheek, but she wore a small, knowing smile.
That evening, the house was finally quiet. Lin felt a bit hungry and wandered into the kitchen. He opened the refrigerator and found a leftover piece of Christmas cake a rich, sugary dessert. He took a bite, but as he chewed, something strange happened.
A translucent yellow menu flickered into his vision, hovering over the cake.
[ITEM: CAKE]
HP Recovery: +5
Fuel Status: Low Quality
Constituents:
Carbohydrates: 45g (Sugar High)
Saturated Fats: 12g
Micro-elements: Negligible
Warning: User requires high-protein fuel and macro-dense nutrients for vessel repair.
Lin tripped backward, his plate clattering onto the floor. He scrambled back until his butt hit the cupboards, his eyes wide with terror.
"What... what is this?" he whispered to the empty kitchen.
The screen didn't disappear. It stayed there, floating in the air, tracking his movements.
This was the start of something completely new for him a life where he was no longer just a guy, but a player in a game he didn't understand.