When I woke up, I was disoriented and gasping for breath. I found myself in a room shrouded in an oppressive silence. The only light was through the window. I didn't know where I was, so I had to be aware of my surroundings. As I attempted to rise, a sudden, sharp pain shot through my side; it was like a cruel reminder of my vulnerability. When I looked, I was wrapped up in bandages all over my body. As I began to survey the room, I saw all my fishing gear scattered on the floor beside me. It was right next to me on the floor. While checking my equipment to ensure I had everything, something caught my eye.
When I glanced at the door, I noticed a pair of eyes watching me through the crack, so I called out, "Hola, amigo, ¿me puedes ayudar? Estoy intentando levantarme y me vendría bien un poco de ayuda," which means, "Hey, friend, can I get some help? I'm trying to get up, and I could use some assistance."
After I said that, he ran off, and I yelled, "No, wait! I didn't mean to scare you!"
After he ran off, I tried to follow him, but my body was in so much pain that I had to use things to get myself up. When I finally got myself up, I grabbed a knife and fishing tackle and started walking to the door with my knife in hand. When I opened the door, I checked my surroundings and noticed that I was in a cabin somewhere, but I stayed focused and kept walking down the hall. Halfway down the hall, I spotted a young Japanese boy who seemed to be around 8 or 9 years old. I approached him to strike up a conversation, but he quickly darted away. Undeterred, I followed him to see where he was headed. My body was a battlefield of agony, yet every fiber of my being urged me to push forward, just to see where he was going. As I burst into the kitchen, a chilling sight froze me in place: the boy stood there, trembling, clutching a stick like a desperate warrior, a wild fear blazing in his eyes.
"Stay away!" he screamed, his voice trembling yet fierce, panic and defiance. In that moment, a memory crashed over me—echoes of my own fear trapped in the cold, sterile confines of the foster center. I recognized that look, the haunting terror of feeling cornered and powerless. As I began to walk back, I saw dizziness in my eyes, distorting the world around me. In an instant, everything went dark, and I collapsed to the floor, the sound of my heartbeat echoing in the silence.
When I was out, I suddenly woke up in sheer panic, my body launching upright. Once I gained control of myself, I felt a hand on my shoulder. I tried to get up to see who it was, but my body felt weak. As I struggled to look, a calm, smooth voice said,
"I wouldn't do that if I were you. Your body is in so much pain right now, and you're still a little dizzy ever since we found you."
"So may I ask who you are at least, and how did you find me?" I replied in a confused voice. After I said that, she replied.
"My name is Hina, and I know that you met my brother Osako. And how we found you lying on the ground unconscious, so we took you in to heal you up, you know, and I'm sorry about what happened earlier, my brother never met anyone before."
"I didn't mean to scare him or cause trouble. But I do have to ask, have you seen my phone by any chance?" Then she replied
Yes, I have! It's currently on the charger. No worries—you didn't get any calls or texts while you were out, so you're all good.
"Thanks," I said, then asked, "So is it just you too here?" Then she replied
"Yup, it's just us."
"What about your parents?" I said
When I said that, she paused, then Osako grabbed her tightly, and they both sat right and told me what happened to their parents.