In a daze, I slowly opened my eyes, instinctively trying to sit up and look around as I always did upon waking. The heaviness and discomfort in my body made me groan softly in pain. A sharp ache ran down my spine, radiating from my stiff, sore fingertips. My legs seemed numb; it was with great difficulty that I could swing my left leg off the bed and force myself to stand.
The surrounding images were blurred, like a watercolor painting left in the rain. Along with that was a dull throbbing in my head that made me want to faint. My rapid breathing enveloped my soft groans. I tried to shuffle to the nearby water tap, my parched lips drinking large gulps of water, not refreshing but enough for me to regain my vision.
Now, I noticed. This room... This bed... The smell of medicine... Isn't this a hospital? What am I doing here?...Dahlia... where is she?
- Good morning, sir, - a soft voice of a woman spoke, interrupting my train of thought. -Welcome back. Can I help you with anything?
- Thược Dược Dahlia, where is she?
- Thược Dược Dahlia? Are you asking about a relative?
- She's sick. I... I have to take care of her.
- I'm sorry, sir, our hospital has never admitted a patient named Dahlia that you know. And no one named Dahlia has visited you in the past month either.
My eyebrows furrowed in confusion:
- One month? Me?
- Yes, sir. You've been in a coma for the past month. During that time, no one has visited or looked for you, including this Dahlia you mentioned.
- Wait a minute, I only remember being...
At this moment, my head was frighteningly empty... I remember nothing... I... truly remember nothing... Suddenly, a field of golden poppies appeared, I clearly remembered the happy smile on Thược Dược's childlike face. Following that was a forest of orchids with her graceful beauty, a beauty that had been deeply etched in my mind for a long time... And then the dahlia field and...
- You should rest a bit, sir, - the nurse suddenly said - Your body needs time to recover after a long sleep. Doctor Trung will come to visit and check your health in a little while, please wait.
- Wait, what year is it today?
- 2054.
- ...Thank you...
The nurse turned and left, leaving a tangled mess in my still aching head. 2054? Really? Didn't I just fall into a coma for a month? My memories of the past two years... ... ...I suddenly sat up... Besides those memories, I remember nothing else?! Could it be... no... it can't be... I was momentarily so terrified that I could barely breathe, almost losing my balance and collapsing. After a long moment of bewilderment, I tried to breathe and regain my composure. My goal now is to find Thược Dược, the other things can wait.
Just as I had calmed myself down, a loud kick caused the room door to burst open. It was an elderly man in a worn gray suit. His thinning white hair was neatly combed, revealing faint lines etched on his forehead. Along with a thick mustache covering his upper lip and large rectangular glasses on his determined eyes, he appeared to be a seasoned man, yet still strong and authoritative.
- There's not much time left! - he gasped, while hurried footsteps signaled impending danger drawing nearer - I know what you want, and I can fulfill your wish. But first, we have to run.
With that, he darted forward, pulling me quickly towards the window.
- What are you doing?!
Before I could finish speaking, we had both lunged out of the window and were falling freely for a moment. Phew... it turned out my room was on the second floor, so we were both unharmed after that sudden jump my uninvited guest had gifted me. However, the footsteps of the area security guards and doctors were still very clear; we quickly placed our feet back on the ground and ran. Very soon after, we found ourselves sitting on the old man's rather dilapidated black Airblade motorbike, speeding through the crowded and bustling streets of Saigon. At this point, I could finally catch my breath, calmly watching the familiar streets flash past. Beautiful, a beauty of the city where scenery and people blend together to create a hurried and vibrant picture. A beauty I had missed for two years. Wait a minute, where are we going?As if hearing my silent question, the old man immediately explained:
- Perhaps you have many questions about me and my actions. Please forgive me if I have done anything to make you uncomfortable. We are almost there; here, you will understand everything.
The houses and high-rise buildings gradually thinned out, the people also decreased, replaced by lush rows of trees and peaceful green spaces stretching far. The dawn was probably gently seeping through the leaves, shining down on the quieter roads, where the bustling scene of the city center was gone. Instead, a stillness could be felt, with the chirping of birds somewhere and fresher air. A few small roadside eateries were starting to open, a few locals leisurely preparing for a new day. It seemed life here moved at a slower pace, carrying a different kind of tranquility compared to the hustle and bustle of glamorous Saigon.
- We're here - After an endless long journey, the motorbike stopped in front of a gate, no, a magnificent gate, which could probably swallow two BelAZ trucks and still have room for containers. But, what the heck are we doing here? The old man didn't bother to let me be confused, quickly stepped towards the gate and motioned for me to follow.
- Hold on a minute, old man, if you think this prank is funny, please save it for another time. I'm busy.
- Dahlia, right?"
- !?
- She's inside. I know who you are, and I know Dahlia too. But... things aren't as simple as you think. Please follow me.
- ...wait...wait a minute... how could you...
- Please follow me. - he repeated, his face full of seriousness tinged with sadness.
Though utterly skeptical, I still decided to follow him. Partly because his expression was truly serious, not a hint of humor could be found on his face. Also partly because he knew me and Thược Dược; perhaps this was the only chance for me to see her again. Just as I stepped out of the gate, a desolate and severely degraded scene of dozens of various types of transport vehicles struck my eyes. They were damaged as if they had been abandoned for the past year. Behind them was a vast mineral mining area. However, here, besides soil and sand, there was no sign of any kind of mineral that humans knew. I pressed old Hiep for information and learned that this was where Vsenium was mined, a special substance discovered two years ago, capable of curing all diseases and even regenerating living bodies. Upon learning that, the Binh Minh Group was established and authorized to mine this substance right here. However, after a year and a half of great success, this facility unfortunately encountered a disaster that killed nearly all the staff and leaders inside the building, leaving only the outside workers who left without knowing what had happened. A sudden chill surged through me. My whole body was screaming, demanding that I leave this place immediately. But Thược Dược was inside... - "She's still alive," the old man said, reassuringly. That urged me to save Thược Dược more than ever. But that still couldn't hide the fact that I... was scared. It had been over half a year; what could possibly harm me? Moreover, Thược Dược was trapped inside; I had to be strong.
My courage and recklessness didn't last long. After walking quite a distance, we stopped in front of a magnificent building that stood as a giant, jet-black metal block piercing straight into the ground. Contrary to the desolate scenery outside, this "metal block" looked newer and more modern than I had thought. Before entering, the old man told me to put on a tight-fitting protective suit and asked me to be highly vigilant. Especially to be careful if I smelled the scent of milk flowers, because that meant "it" was nearby. The suit I was wearing had an "electronic nose" good enough for me to recognize its scent. I thought the old man was trying to scare me. When I turned my head to look at his face... his face was pale, his eyes still serious but clearly revealing extreme horror and anxiety. His sweat poured down and covered his entire fearful and haunted face. Clearly, this was no joke.
The old man led me to a large circular hatch on the ground. Performing a few complex and professional movements. We were brought to a relatively small but sophisticated and modern area with all the amenities for living; it was called the "Safe Zone." As soon as I stepped in, the pungent smell of iron hit my nose. There were no bloodstains or corpses, but the smell of iron almost took over the entire room. We continued into a small corridor leading to a parking garage on the -1 floor. There were many heavily damaged cars abandoned here. The smell of iron was still strong but absolutely no bloodstains or corpses were seen. The old man remained cautious in a stooped posture, trying to be alert to the scent of milk flowers at all times. We kept walking like that for a long time; in the end, nothing happened.
I was starting to lose patience. My legs were starting to ache from having to walk stooped for an endless amount of time. It was strange, how could there be such a vast parking garage? After walking for a while longer, I actually collapsed from exhaustion and fatigue. The old man saw this and urged me to continue in a voice as soft as possible but still audible to me.
- Let me rest for a bit! - I snapped loudly.
Suddenly, the old man froze, his eyes wide and round, revealing his utter fear beneath the protective suit. Just as I was about to ask him what was wrong, I realized: the scent of milk flowers had become overwhelmingly strong. We froze on the spot, neither of us daring to move or make a sound. Although I couldn't see it, I could feel something moving around my body. Slowly. Deadly. It felt like it would squeeze and devour me until I was crushed into a smoothie. Suddenly, from afar, someone was trying to crawl towards me: "Doctor?... Is that you, doctor?... Help... Please... Help me!" The old man remained still, his eyes closed tightly. Suddenly, the scent of milk flowers weakened. I was about to sigh in relief when I realized... The injured person... had lost their body a long time ago... Not a sound... Not a scream... Not a sound of punishment from the creature... My heart started to beat fast, my legs wouldn't stop trembling, and my mind screamed one word: RUN. Pushing off with my legs, I ran. I ran back the way I had come. I ran so fast and desperately that I didn't have time to figure out where I was going, only run and run. Suddenly, I crashed into a car and set off its loud alarm. Panicked, I tried to stand up to keep running... No... it was too late... The scent of milk flowers was...