Pain.
That's the first thing I felt.
My head is splitting, every movement causes sharp pain, as if I'm lying under a heavy load. It feels like my mind hasn't returned to my body yet and is still wandering in the void. But whatever this is, I can't get used to it.
— Ah, damn... such intense pain... Where am I? — I can barely open my eyes, and even when I manage to do so, everything before me blurs.
— Where am I? — Lon mumbled in a hoarse voice.
He tried to sit up, but it was impossible — his body just wouldn't obey him. And each new movement turned into excruciating pain.
I only see dark spots before my eyes, but I can clearly feel that this is not my world. This is not my room; it's someone else's...
My memory seems to be scattering, like a school of tiny fish. I try to gather them together, but it doesn't work, and it only gets worse!
I can't understand why... why... something is wrong. I must have... lost consciousness. Or was it some... illusion?
But his blurry thoughts are interrupted by a suddenly opened door, bringing with it a new voice:
— Are you alright? — a young voice reaches me from the doorway.
Lon turns his head toward the door and tries to make out the dark silhouette slowly approaching him.
A thin figure comes closer, making soft steps in the ward.
As the figure gets closer, Lon realizes it's a nurse — wearing a light white dress with a colored collar. She adjusts the pillow and gently places her hand on his forehead. It seems her presence brings some relief.
— Where am I? — I try to ask, but my own breath falters from weakness.
The nurse smiles and responds:
— Mr. Renvel, you're in Felix Hospital, in the Green District. You're very lucky that they found you in time, or you might have died...
«Renvel? Felix Hospital? Green District? What are these names? Where I lived, we never had words like that… And who's Renvel?! I'm Lon!» — a flood of questions rushes into Lon's mind.
Unable to resist, Lon asks the nurse:
— Green District?.. Where is that? — his voice is becoming more hoarse and tired.
The nurse nods, as if expecting this question, and responds:
— Mr. Renvel, it would be better for you to rest. Your ribs were badly damaged, and your head... Just regain your strength, please. — she says in a casual voice and leaves the ward.
A few seconds later, I once again feel the world around me becoming blurry.
Trying with all my might not to lose myself, I...
But in the end, Lon just passed out, not finishing his thoughts.
===
Slowly opening his eyes, Lon finds himself lying in the same hospital room where he fell asleep last time.
The light softly filters through the window, filling the room with a faint blue hue.
Lon tries to sit up, but his body still won't obey.
— So, this is how it is, — Lon mutters.
«It seems I'm in someone else's body, — he realized. — This isn't my body. What happened to me? Why am I here?»
I try to focus — Lon attempts to remember what happened before. An ordinary day... work... something strange... engines... and... then emptiness. It's as if something was cut off.
Somewhere deep inside Lon, a feeling of forgetfulness flares up, as if he didn't just forget his memories, but someone... someone alien invaded his life and changed it.
===
There's a soft knock at the door. A man in a formal suit appears in the doorway, wearing a serious expression. He looked old, but confident, with sharp eyes, as if he had been pondering something for a long time.
The man slowly steps toward Lon, making deliberate steps.
Stopping in front of Lon, Donald sets down his cane and asks:
— How are you feeling? — his voice was stern but not without care.
Lon opens his mouth, trying to say something, but realizes he can't.
Seeing this reaction, the man remains unflustered but frowns slightly, saying:
— You need to rest and recover. The incident at work is trivial. Although the engine did explode, it caused only minor damage. No one died, but there were many injuries. So just stay and recover. You won't be going back to work anytime soon.
I barely nod. My memory is still like a mosaic missing pieces. Who is this man? Why does his face seem familiar, but I can't remember from where?
He... he looks like someone from my past. But I have too many gaps in my mind.
— Do you need any help? — he asks seriously, his gaze focused directly on me.
— I… — Lon barely manages to utter a word to respond, but then realizes — that's it, he fell silent again!
Donald observed the pitiful state of his son and sighed, saying:
— It's fine, just rest a little. Don't overdo it. By the way, Santi sent you some books he got from the library. He said they were good. — he reached into the inner pockets of his suit and pulled out a few books.
After handing them to Lon, he was already about to leave, so he walked toward the door and said:
— I have work to do, so I'll go. Don't get bored.
Just for politeness, Lon waved his hand in farewell.
After he left, the room became very quiet. Lon slowly lay back on the bed and looked at the ceiling.
«It seems I've moved to another world... And taken someone else's body, named Renvel... — Lon sighed deeply. — I just want to go home...»
He desired only one thing —
to return.