I woke up to the smell of antiseptic along with the bright shine from the rising sun blasting onto my face and the steady beep of the monitor.
"I see that you are awake now Mr. John?" An old voice sounded from somewhere near my bed.
It took me awhile before I realised the voice came from this old western looking gentleman dressed in a suit and wearing a pair of sunglasses, reading something off of a clipboard.
"Yes, I am awake now Mr...?"
"Jonathan will just do."
"Where am I? I know this is a hospital but its missing people." The white washed hospital room that I'm in currently is devoid of people.
"Well, you are in a private hospital, in a private room."
"Well then Jonathan. I'd assume you are here to talk to me about the 'incident' that happened to my family."
I mean the way he dresses just radiates the "Men in Black" atmosphere.
Jonathan hearing my remark showed a brief smirk.
"Yes, indeed I am here to talk about your 'incident'."
"John, I'm here because my organisation is willing to give you a choice. You can either get revenge on the Rifters or you can forget about all this mess."
"Rifters?" I raised my eyebrow at that term.
"Ah, yes that's what we call the thing which attacked your family. We call them as such because they are beings from another dimension."
"You'd mean that there are other dimensions?" Curiousity began to sprout inside me.
"If you'd wanna know you'd have to join my organisation. The offer still stands. Revenge or forget about all ths mess."
"Why should I get revenge when I've already killed the thing which ate my family although only indirectly."
"We will take care of your cousin, Roberta."
I looked at him suspicously, nobody knows that Roberta had helped me with the bullying situation I had back in school --Courtesy of that popular kid whom I"ve accidentally offended--- other than Roberta herself and I. But in exchange for getting me out of trouble she herself got into trouble.
Her parents are the strict stereotypical asian parents and when she got in trouble they will always beat the shit out of her. The final straw came when she nearly got herself suspended and when that happened her parents pratically threw her out of their house and sent her to an apartment to live by herself.
"Don't look at me like that. We know all about you Ryan. From your blood type to your daily habits."
"Damn..." I muttered under my breath. I know that he isn't bluffing as he looked like a man who wouldn't do something he doesn't know how to.
" Look, if you accept our offer you'll get the chance to learn more about the Rifters as well as having us take care of your cousin."
If they can just take care of my cousin just like that. I'd like to see how powerful they are politically wise.
"How do I know that I can trust you?"
"Turn the TV on and watch the news."
I did what he requested me to do and watched a news coverage on my house. What I'd saw nearly made me drop my jaw. The news instead of covering what truly happened there was covering a gas explosion instead and that three people were killed --- My parents and sister.--- and one hospitalized due to serious injuries ---Me---I mean, when those guys in black started shooting it was loud like having a hundred firecrackers exploding. Something that loud should have attracted the whole goddamn police force.
"Do you know how powerful my organisation is now?" Jonathan said as if reading my mind.
"Yeah, I get how powerful your organisation is now." If Jonathan's organisation is able to cover up something that big I have no quelms in entrusting Roberta's problems with them.
Roberta has sacraficed so much for so now, it is my turn to sacrafice something return for her help.
"But, before I accept your offer I'd wanna know why you'd want to recruit me in particular?"
"Because of your ability to keep a secret. Nobody in school knows that Roberta actaully helped you with the bullying situation you had and also because of your quick thinking which enabled you to survive against a Rifter unarmed which is a 1 in 50 odds of surviving and more so for someone without any formal martial arts training."
"How'd you know about the quick thinking stuff?"
"Because we were watching, John. How'd else do we know that the Rifter was in your house."
"Well then, Jonathan you've got yourself a fresh body for the meat grinder." I sticked out my hand and Jonathan shook it.
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"Once you're discharged from the hospital someone will come get you at the hospital's main entrance. Listen to his intructions very carefully okay?"
I nodded my head in response.
"Good, one more thing."
Jonathan reached into his suit jacket and pulled out a manilla folder with and took out a bunch of forms.
"These are all non-disclosure agreement forms, I want you to sign all of them and give the signed forms to the man waiting for you at the hospital lobby."
"Uh huh."
"Well then, I will see you soon."
With that farewell, Jonathan walked out of the hospital room.
"Haaaa..." I sighed.
Non-disclosure forms? It looks like I'm getting myself into some secretive shit.
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As Jonathan walked out of John's private hospital ward, he greeted a burly man stepping out of the shadows of the darkened hallway of the private hospital.
"What do you think of the kid, Brian?"
"Broomstick? He is smart and quick witted but he barely showed any emotions when the news about his family was revealed. He will also probably be an asset in areas where by adult operatives will be suspicious." Brian replied in his British accent.
Brian is an ex-SAS soldier who had survived an attack from a Rifter and also kill one bare handed. Brian has a big chest, a well muscled body and is around 1.82 m tall. He is clean shaven and has streaks of grey in his once glossy black hair.
"Broomstick?" Jonathan raised his eyebrows.
" Well, Sir. Everybody back at base has seen the footage of his fight with the Rifter. He managed to wound that thing within 30 seconds with a broomstick which is how he's gotten that name within the community."
When John was fighting against the Rifter it felt like it was five minutes but in actual fact it actually only lasted 30 seconds.
"Oh."
"By the way sir. Isn't it about time we get back to base? Everybody's waiting."
"Oh really?" Jonathan checked his watch and realised the time.
"Ah crap! We better get going."
With that, Jonathan and Brian quickly walked out of the hospital and into a black mercedes waiting outside the hospital's main gate which promptly drove off to the airport. (Singapore only has one airport.)
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While signing the forms I noticed a note written by Jonathan which says that the moment I've accepted his offer I will disappear from the system ---Which, in other words meant that if you were to look for me in the public records you will find the word "Deceased" stamped on it.--- within 24 hours and that I should say my farewells.
Heeding his words I reached out for the telephone sitting on the table right next to my bed. Since I'm in a private room in a private hospital ---Most likely due to the power Jonathan's organisation has.---- the table beside my bed happens to be a night table made out of expensive oak wood.
I grabbed the wireless phone and dialled Roberta's number.
Nervousness filled my body as I was thinking on how I would try to bid farewell to her without revealing what's going to happen to me.
Three full rings later Roberta picked up her phone.
"Hello?" A soft voice answered the phone.
''Erm.. Hi."
"John?"
"Yeah.. It's me. I wanna talk to yo----"
"Oh my Gosh! John, do you know how worried I am. Also, I'm sorry about your parents."
"It's alright Roberta."
"Look, I'm calling cause I wanna tell you something."
"What is it?"
"Eh..Um..I just want to thank you for the sacrifices that you've made for me so far and that I will always be in your debt."
"What's going on John? This isn't like you."
"Nothing's going on at all."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah, nothing's going on at all."
"Well then. See you back in school!"
"Yeah... See you."I answered back solemnly. Hopefully she doesn't catch the tone.
I held onto the receiver as I listened to the farewells of Roberta. Today might be the last time I get to hear the voice of a last living relative who cares about me deeply.
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