Charlie gazed out of the window, his eyes fixed on the mesmerizing sight of raindrops cascading down from the heavens. Turning to face Doctor Halrick, he couldn't help but notice the tiredness etched on the doctor's face.
"You look exhausted, doc. Are you getting enough sleep?" he inquired with genuine concern.
Halrick, seemingly preoccupied with his thoughts, responded, "Huh? I'm fine. Just overwhelmed with work."
Sensing something amiss, Charlie mentioned, "Take it; the respawn machine isn't working as intended."
Halrick's eyes widened at the unexpected revelation. "What did you say?" he asked, clearly startled.
Charlie, confused by Halrick's response, said, "I said, take it; the hospital needs you to work overtime. Why, what did you think I said?"
"It's nothing," Halrick muttered, his mind seemingly elsewhere.
As the doctor's car pulled up outside an apartment complex, Charlie expressed his gratitude, "Thanks for the ride, Doc. You want to come in for a few? At least say hi to Anna."
Halrick declined, stating, "That’s nice of you to offer, Charlie, but I need to get back to the office."
Worried about the doctor's well-being, Charlie urged, "You need to stop living in that place. It's going to be the death of you."
With a nod and a wave, Charlie bid Halrick goodbye and ventured into the building. Making his way to the elevator, he pressed the button for the fourth floor.
Upon arriving at the fourth floor, Charlie proceeded to room 407 and rapped on the door, patiently waiting for his sister to welcome him inside. "Perfect timing. Dinners in the oven. Come inside and get dried up. You're soaking wet," she greeted him as she opened the door.
The apartment emanated a welcoming atmosphere with its soft, warm lighting and comfortable furnishings. The charmingly messy appearance was achieved through the scattered remnants of Anna's art projects, adding a touch of creativity and personal expression to the place.
“So how did things go!?” Anna yelled as she was finishing with dinner.
“Fine.”
“What about Doctor Halrick? How's he doing!?”
“He’s fine. I feel bad for him though. I mean, it can't be healthy for him to be sitting in that office every day.”
Sitting at the TV Charlie pulled out the VHS tape; he began having second thoughts about inserting it into the TV. “What if it was an autopsy of a dead body?” “What if it was someone's medical records?” “What if it was illegal experiments?”.
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The option of returning the tape was out of the question. If he did, Halrick would be furious with him and start asking questions. Charlie took one last look at the tape and let his curiosity get the better of him. He walked over to the TV, placed the tape into the VHS player, and pressed play.
As the tape loaded, a warning message appeared.
This video cassette is intended for the sole use of:
Name
Doctor Axel Halrick
Manufactured By Unit 16 Of IAC
A white room was visible. Inside the room was a young man with black hair and a scar across his left eye sitting in a chair, looking nervous. It wasn't long before the sound of a door being opened and a familiar voice started speaking.
“This is Doctor Axel Halrick. Today we are testing Subject 20575 to see how their mental state is after being respawned.”
Halrick was now visible; he looked younger; maybe it was because of the fact that his beard was shaved.
Halrick started talking slowly and comfortingly, “Riley. Tell me what is the last thing you remember.”
“I...I...I remember walking.”
“Good! What else do you remember?”
“I was going to the train station. It was late. Then I remember feeling this pain on my side before seeing darkness.”
Doctor Halrick was still scribbling notes, “Anything else?”
“No sorry.”
Slience fell.
Doctor Halrick leaned forward and said to Riley, “One last question, Riley. What do you remember in the last 24 hours?”
“Uhh...Nothing really. I remember waking up and being taken here, but that’s all. Sorry if that’s not helpful.”
“That’s fine. Also, you’ve been very helpful today.”
Doctor Halrick got up and left the room, leaving Riley all alone. The tape slowly faded to black before more text appeared on screen.
After reviewing the interview, Riley has kept all of his memory from being respawned. He is fine to leave the facility and continue living his life, although I would like to have him check up with me every six months just to see how he is getting on and to make sure he hasn't developed any side effects. I would also like to have him live with his parents for a short while.
Doctor Axel Halrick
The tape ended once the text had disappeared. Charlie was stunned in place; he couldn't believe what he just watched. He thought the idea of being respawned was a myth, but to see clear as day evidence proving that there are people who have been respawned made him ask himself one question.
“Have I been respawned?”
Anna’s yelled out from the kitchen, “Dinners ready!”
Charlie never took his eyes off the television, his mind cluttered with confusion and questions.
Anna yelled again, “Charlie! Dinners ready!”
Charlie was still silent. Anna poked her head into the living room and saw her brother completely frozen in place his eyes still glued on the television which was emitting static. Anna waved her right hand in front of Charlie's face trying to get a reaction from him. Charlie snaped out of his trans like state and looked at his sister who was conserved about him.
“Sorry. I must have zoned out. I'll be through in a minute, just need to use the toilet.”
Anna walked back to the kitchen, leaving Charlie on his lonesome in the living room. As he picked himself up from the couch, the shrill ring of the house phone echoed through the quiet apartment.
"Hello?" Charlie answered.
A deep, ominous voice responded, "Are you taking your pills, Charlie?"
Charlie's heart raced with fear. "Who is this?"
Suddenly, the apartment door started rattling as if someone was trying to break in. In the heat of the moment, Charlie dropped the house phone and sprinted to find his sister, desperate for safety.