008 -

The next day, Thomas squirms on a cozy bed. He comfortably rubs his head on the soft pillow, and then opens his eyes. He looks so satisfied after having a good sleep.

He takes a deep breath before closing his eyes again, wanting to enjoy the cozy bed even more. But soon, he suddenly opens his eyes wide.

He sits up and looks around, finding himself in a rather spacious luxurious bed room. By the look of it, by the pink wardrobe, the shape of the dressing table, and the blanket currently covering him, it’s certainly a room for a girl.

“Where am I? How did I get here?”

He rubs the blanket on his knees. The legs are still heavy, but somehow, he can move them more freely than before.

He uncovers the blanket, intending to leave the bed. But he is shocked to find that he is completely naked, and immediately covers his body again.

“What the hell?”

In a hectic, he tries to rub his private part, worrying about something. Whether it is just a morning wood or something else, he finds his little brother awake and looking great.

This is a condition he has not experienced in the past month since the accident he had at Boslow Hill, since the nerves in his spinal cord were damaged.

It is a good thing that he is back to a healthy man after drinking the mysterious liquid given by Carina. But now he looks so broken, worrying that someone might have just raped him without his concern.

Soon, his eyes are burning with mounting rage.

“Inventory! Box No. 2!”

[!]

[Your inventory in Box No. 2 is empty!]

“What the?” he mumbles in a desperate face.

He then issues another command to open his inventory. Soon, a blue hologram interface appears in front of him, showing 40 boxes with some stored items. There he finds a few of the boxes are empty.

Only then does he try to remember what he had experienced before, without knowing for sure how long he had been asleep in that room.

“Flare, my first aid kit boxes, Ether liquid. Oh, I gave the last Ether to that girl! That girl? Don’t tell me?”

Suddenly, a girl enters the room, bringing a plastic bag full of stuff. She wears a kind of professional attire like an office lady. But she is not the same girl Thomas encountered before.

“Oh, you awake?” the girl greets. “Here, I brought you something!”

The girl simply throws the plastic bag at Thomas. It is a box of junk food, a mineral drink, and some snacks.

Thomas is gulping. He clearly feels the hunger, and indeed, he looks so weak. But he casts a deadly stare at the girl with bad thoughts.

“Who are you?” he asks coldly. “Are you perhaps the one who took off my…”

“No, it wasn’t me,” the girl denies. “I was called by my boss this morning and found you were already there? Well, I don’t mind you staying here. But you better get changed, or maybe take a shower first. We are going to have an open house soon.”

“Open house?”

“Yes! My name is Erica, a real estate agent. There are customers who like to see this house, potential buyers. And of course, I will also invite them to see this room too.”

The girl then checks on her watch for a moment.

“They are going to be here in 30 minutes.”

She then pulls the blanket, intending to tidy the bed.

“Wooo! Hold on!” Thomas holds the blanket by putting his dear life on the line.

“Why?” she asks.

“I’m…”

“No way! Are you totally naked now? Oh, God! What did you do here?”

“Do what?”

“You, and Naomi?”

“Naomi?”

“Ah, never mind! Just call me later after you are ready. I need to tidy this room before accepting the customers,” says the girl as she leaves.

The girl tip toes toward the door by waving her fingers at Thomas, and then mutters with a restrained voice. “That silly girl. Taking his man here right before the open house. What’s in her mind?”

Soon, after the girl leaves the room, Thomas leaves the bed naked, and stumbles. He rushes to lock the door. Later, he finds all his clothes scattered on the floor, including his old and humble rag suit, which is still dirty and a bit damp.

After taking a shower, he puts all those clothes on, ignoring their condition. By leaning against the wall, he goes out looking for the girl earlier.

“Oh, are you done?” Erica greets. “Why are you still wearing those clothes? They haven’t been washed yet.”

“I don’t plan on staying here long,” Thomas replies. “Can I borrow your phone? I want to call my friend.”

“Oh, sure!”

Thomas immediately makes a call. But sadly, the number he wants to call is unreachable. He dials a different number, but still to no avail.

For the fourth time, he tries to call Carina, and…

[Halo! Who is this?”]

“Thanks God! Carina! It’s me, Thomas!”

[Thomas! You are still alive?]

“Yeah! I tried to contact Diego and Mateo just now, but I couldn’t.”

[There’s no way you can call them now. They were back to Drikpus.]

“Oh, God!”

Thomas looks desperate. He has hoped to move back in with his friends. But they aren’t in Drada now. It is also impossible for him to ask to stay at Carina's house, because he doesn’t want to put her into danger.

[Hey, Thomas! Where are you? Need me to come over?]

“No, it’s too dangerous! You see! They were trying to kill me before. I don’t want them know that you have a connection with me.”

[I get it! Just call me again if you need me]

Thomas ends the call. Before he gives back the phone, he finds Erica looking so alert with him.

Judging from Thomas’ conversation on the phone, she believes that Thomas must be a criminal or a gangster. She just couldn’t believe her boss could be related to a dangerous person like him.

“What was that? Who were trying to kill whom?” she asks.