The fateful moment had come when I had to carry out my own proposal. I stood alone in the lab, staring with disgust at the capsule I despised—the only option left for my salvation. And though there was no time to waste, I couldn’t force myself to climb into it. The very thought sent shivers down my spine, like someone scraping a nail across glass, producing an awful, ear-piercing screech.
I knew what I was signing up for. I knew. But I can’t…
Turning away from the object of my inner torment and anguish, I curled up and closed my eyes. My anxiety made me feel feverish.
What else is there to do? It’s inevitable. One way or another, I’ll have to get in. Or what? Is death really the better option? No…
Spinning around abruptly, I approached the capsule again, attempting to overcome my fear. My pale and exhausted face reflected faintly in the transparent lid. My green eyes, with dark circles beneath them from lack of sleep, had dulled with despair. The slightly grown-out chestnut hair, now resembling more of a brush, was beginning to cover the scalp where I had once been bald—something I had loathed. And though I had started to get used to it, I still hated looking at myself.
With trembling hands, I reached for the lid but immediately pulled them back, as if I had touched something scorching hot.
Ugh, I still can’t do it… What if Neight puts me into cryosleep while I’m in the capsule? I’ll be completely helpless! What if he only agreed just to trap me into getting inside without a fight? What if I’ve just walked into my own trap?
Realizing that I might have made the biggest mistake imaginable, I grabbed my head, trying to calm myself and chase away the bad thoughts.
I’m doubting him again… I don’t trust him myself… Yes, he’s strange and keeps his secrets, but I’m no better. I even introduced myself under a false name… Still, he’s been taking care of me in his own way and trying to help. He hasn’t done anything bad to me, at least not intentionally… I think… Maybe I should try trusting him?
Closing my eyes again, I took a deep breath, filling my lungs as much as I could, and held it in. Surrounded by darkness, I tried not to think about anything anymore. My rapid pulse, which made my whole body tremble, began to slow down slightly. Then I exhaled.
Damn it, here goes nothing! I thought, and quickly opened the capsule lid before I could change my mind.
Squeezing my eyes shut, I climbed inside and lay down. If I could momentarily forget where I was, I’d say it was rather comfortable. Not too hard, not too soft. Just right to lie down and rest. However, I knew perfectly well where I was, and that’s why the trembling returned to my body. My breathing became erratic again. Even though I tried convincing myself that everything would be fine and nothing bad would happen, deep down I was terrified. I wanted to get out right then and never come back, but I knew that wasn’t an option. It was clear that if I hesitated any longer, I would break down and give up, so I couldn’t afford to delay any more.
I have to do this.
Taking a deep breath, as if it were the last breath of my life, I reached out with trembling hands to pull the lid down, and as it clicked shut, I heard a soft snap.
That’s it. No turning back now.
The capsule vibrated slightly and began to hum, followed by a sharp hissing sound that hurt my ears. I saw a faint white mist drifting first near my head and then further, filling the entire space inside.
It’s gas!
Suddenly, panic overwhelmed me, and I held my breath to avoid letting the foreign substance enter my body.
Screw this, I’ve changed my mind!
Terrified, I began to thrash around inside, pressing on the lid in an attempt to open it and escape, but it wouldn’t budge. No matter how much I pounded on it, hit it with my fists, or braced my feet against it, the capsule remained sealed, intact, and unyielding. Meanwhile, the mist around me grew thicker and thicker. I could barely make out the lab walls, the strange, mysterious equipment, or the familiar door leading to the already well-known ship corridor.
No, no, nooo!
My strength was running out, and I started to feel a sharp need for oxygen. I’d reached my limit and couldn’t hold my breath any longer. In the end, I gave in and took a breath, letting the white, semi-transparent gas fill my lungs.
A bitter taste settled in my throat, and a ringing filled my ears. But those sensations quickly faded, along with my worries. My body became light, almost intangible. My mind emptied of all thoughts. My breathing was steady and calm. I wasn’t afraid anymore. In fact, I didn’t feel anything at all, just staring upwards at the ceiling, barely visible through the thickening mist. I lost track of time, unable to tell if five minutes or five hours had passed. At some point, my eyelids grew heavy, and my eyes closed.
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There was only darkness. A void.
So cold... So lonely...
But then, amidst the silence and endless nothingness, a quiet voice emerged. At first, it was indistinct, like a whisper coming from somewhere far away, beyond everything, but gradually, it grew louder and clearer. The voice was soft, gentle, and painfully familiar.
Who are you?
This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.
The source seemed close now, so close that I could make out the smooth melody the voice was singing.
So beautiful...
The melody, like a flowing river, would rush and bubble, sparkling like a bright fountain, then gently fade and slow down, creating a sense of warmth, peace, and serenity. Again and again, the voice grew louder, quickened, and brightened with vivid colors, only to calm down and return to a soft flow. This repeated several times, but somewhere in the distance, another voice began to sound. It was muffled, as if behind a wall, and wasn’t nearly as pleasant, though it was also familiar.
Be silent. You're disturbing me from listening to the beautiful melody! I thought angrily.
However, the second voice continued to mutter in the distance.
Stop it!
But the second voice didn’t stop, becoming louder and more persistent. And then, the sweet and gentle first voice, as if frightened, faded away and disappeared, leaving me alone in the darkness with the second.
Look what you’ve done! You scared it away!
But the second voice didn’t seem to feel the slightest bit of shame. It continued to speak insistently:
"...ke... up... vie... up..."
Ugh, you’re so annoying. Either say what you want, or leave. I was feeling so good until you showed up.
"Evie, wake up," the voice suddenly said clearly, as if it had finally listened to me.
Bright beams of light pierced through the darkness, dispersing the surrounding void. The blurry, unclear surroundings before me began to take shape, and I made out the silhouette of a person standing nearby.
"Finally, you’re awake. You were sleeping so soundly, I almost felt bad waking you."
Gradually, my vision returned to normal, and I clearly saw Neight’s calm face, standing outside, on the other side of the transparent wall. In that moment, I remembered where I was.
Yeah, I’m in the capsule in the lab on that very ship.
"How long have I slept?" I asked immediately, not fully awake yet but worried I had slept too long.
"I don’t know exactly when you fell asleep, so I can’t say for sure. But no more than seven hours."
Neight looked completely unbothered. As always, the picture of calm. Meanwhile, I tried to calculate what time it was in my head.
Let’s see... eight plus seven... So that means it’s... around 3 PM?!
"I missed lunch? That means the mission..."
"We can allow a three-hour margin," Neight hurried to reassure me.
It was quite unexpected that he’d make a concession and deviate from his sacred schedule. But his words really did make me feel lighter, as if a weight had been lifted from my shoulders.
"How are you feeling?" he added, his voice carrying a hint of concern.
Was he actually worried about me?
To my surprise, I felt pretty good, having gotten enough rest. On top of that, my body felt light, and the pain that had been bothering me since our rather rough landing seemed to have vanished altogether. Maybe I should’ve listened to Neight right away and used the capsule instead of suffering. It hadn’t turned out to be as scary as I’d thought.
"You know, not bad at all. I feel like I’ve got enough energy now to handle any task."
"Great," he said with a smile.
As I finally woke up, I yawned sweetly and stretched reflexively. However, the moment I moved, it hit me like a lightning bolt—the awkwardness of the situation I was in.
Wait a minute... I’m lying here with no clothes on, and he’s staring at me again! Pervert!
My face flushed with embarrassment. I was sure it had turned as red as a tomato. Quickly covering everything I could with my hands, I immediately turned away from him.
"Have you lost all sense of shame?! Why the hell are you staring at me? At least turn around!"
Maybe it was because I felt so much better, or perhaps I still hadn’t completely shaken off the effects of the gas, but I had completely forgotten to be careful. It was probably too risky to lash out at him like that, but at that moment, I was so overwhelmed by embarrassment and the feeling of being defenseless that I couldn’t hold back my emotions.
Behind me, I heard a chuckle, which only made my annoyance grow.
"Looks like you really are feeling much better," he tried to remain serious, though his voice betrayed the fact that he was barely holding back laughter. "Sorry, I didn’t even think I could make you uncomfortable in that way. I don’t see what the big deal is... Alright, alright, I’m not looking."
I felt terribly awkward and even a little offended by his reaction. Once again, I was reminded of just how different our worlds were, how different our perceptions of the situation. Things that were commonplace for him were not so for me and vice versa.
Still blushing, I cautiously peeked over my shoulder to check if he was really not looking anymore. Neight was standing with his back to me, which made me feel somewhat relieved. However, the tension still lingered. I would feel much better if I could get dressed.
"Neight... could you leave, please? I need to..."
"Evie," he suddenly said, switching back to a serious tone so abruptly that it startled me, "have you changed your mind yet?"
The quick shift in tone and his question frightened me.
"What do you mean?" I asked hesitantly.
"You know what I mean. The risks are too great, and the chances of success are low. Besides, haven’t you realized that being in the capsule isn’t so bad? You won’t even notice the time passing."
"W-wait... you’re not going to... right now..." The horror I was feeling made it impossible to finish my sentence. My breath caught in my throat. It felt like the walls of the capsule were closing in on me. There was a strong sense that I was trapped.
"You're mistaken. If I wanted to put you into hibernation against your will, I wouldn’t have even bothered waking you up."
His words were filled with seriousness. It seemed like he wasn’t saying them to calm or support me. No, his words clearly indicated that he was aware of that option and hadn’t taken it for reasons known only to him.
A cold sweat broke out on my skin.
"I haven’t... I haven’t changed my mind! I can handle it... I’m sure I can! Just, please..."
All I could do was wait for his verdict, as my fate at that moment depended entirely on his decision.
"Alright. Let it be so," he said firmly. "I hope you remember what we agreed upon."
"Yes... yes, I remember... No deviations from the plan... I remember..."
I heard him sigh, whether in relief or disappointment, I couldn’t tell, and he headed toward the exit.
"I’ll be waiting for you in the kitchen. Eat, and then we’ll immediately begin your preparation."
With that, he left the lab. I was still overwhelmed by the stress of our conversation. The only thing I understood was that I couldn’t afford to waste any time. Time was a luxury I couldn’t afford, and any delay on my part could give him a reason to call off the entire operation. It was already a miracle he hadn’t canceled everything after I slept longer than we’d agreed upon.
Get it together, Emma! You have to endure! You must!
With trembling hands, I pushed the lid of the capsule, and it immediately gave way, opening up and releasing me.
There’s no time to lose!