When I woke up, there was bright light present, and I noticed the firmness of the mattress underneath me. "Hello?" I called out into the room, followed moments later by, "Is anyone there?"
At that moment, a woman entered—pushing a medical computer cart. She introduced herself: "You are awake, that is great. I am Nurse McCall; I have been caring for you since you arrived last night."
The muffled sounds of nurses passing in the hall echoed behind her. A strange tug pulled at my chest—no, not my chest, but somewhere deeper, like my soul.
I inquired about the time, and she responded, "You are my final checkup before my shift ends, so it's just before 7 a.m. You arrived just before my shift, covered in blood but showing no injuries and unconscious. It was unusual. Can you tell me what happened?"
Sounds of people running and a medical alarm happen outside of the room I look to the door then back at the Nurse.
"I'm afraid I can't recall Nurse McCall," I replied with a grin. "The last thing I remember is a large tree stump." I lie easily
A sense of curiosity persisted. "I apologize if this is inappropriate, but may I ask your first name you're the most beautiful woman I have ever seen?"
Nurse McCall, her cheeks flushing, she warmly smiles before answering. "You must not get out much—I'm an older woman. My name is Melissa McCall."
"My name is Ross Arctos," I offered, and she wrote down on the medical chart. "And I do get out quite a bit. Once I'm discharged, perhaps I could invite you to dinner?" the alarm is still ongoing outside the room, it's starting to get to my ears, I attempt to tune it out. It's louder than it should have been.
She made a note and looked at me. "Ross, you're lucky—no injuries, just exhaustion. You're in Beacon Hills." With a professional tone, she said, "Let's review your chart. Your name is Ross Arctos. What do you remember before waking up?"
"I just remember hiking, nothing more," I answered. "Regarding your further questions, I am not experiencing nausea or dizziness. Based on context, I assume this is a hospital in Beacon Hills. For reference, I am 7 feet 8 inches tall and weighed 372 pounds at my last check-in."
Melissa looks shocked at my size before She arches her brow. "You seem familiar with this process."
"Yes, I've gone through it once or twice," I admitted, scratching my cheek. "I work for the FBI on a special task force, despite being younger than the usual minimum age, I got in due to my specific skills. Of course, this is confidential, you can't tell anyone I told you. Also, do you know where my clothes and backpack are?" I asked, genuinely curious.
She nods along "They're in a bag, in the storage closet. They're covered in blood, but intact," she answered.
I nod back "My FBI Badge and my wallet is in there for ID if you need it."
I nodded, eyeing the window. The outside world was loud—too loud. The sounds carried strangely, more vivid than they should be. The ritual had worked—I could feel it. A new awareness, a heightened sense of everything.
Turning back to Nurse McCall, I felt a flicker of something more—an impulse, a desire that surprised me.
"Look," I said softly, "I know I'm only twenty, and maybe that's too young—"
raising a single finger to interrupt, she bit her lip, a deeper blush colouring her cheeks, "I…you're twenty. I have a son a little younger than you." She cleared her throat and, after a breath, met my eyes. and hesitated before another second before replying "One date," she murmured, eyes flicking briefly away. "Just one chance. I have a son who's a few years younger than you. But… I suppose I could see where this goes"
She let out an awkward laugh, pressing the back of her hand to her cheek as if to cool her embarrassment. Her gaze darted back to me, curiosity lingering in her eyes. "Did I just say all that out loud?" she whispered, half-horrified, half-intrigued by her own candour.
I grinned and shook my head. "Don't worry about it. You're what — in your mid-thirties at most? You're allowed to be happy and to date."
She smiles and nods "okay let's finish this medical chart".
As she moved to check the monitors, I couldn't shake the feeling—something was awakening within me. The forest, the ritual, the strange surge of energy outside—this was just the beginning.
And whatever was waiting for me in Beacon Hills… I was ready.
town before my official stationing in the coming year.