I opened my eyes to a dark room, half slumped over on the floor. I hadn't made it far from the door before I fell asleep and instead just conked out in the entryway. I was paying for it now with how sore my neck was.
Bracing myself against the door, I slowly rose to my feet and moved further inside. I slid my hand against the wall as I went, looking for a light switch. I found one, but not before I bumped into the side of a counter.
With light now illuminating the space, I found myself inside a kitchen and damn was it a nice one. Sleek black cabinets, a big fridge, two ovens, and marble countertops. Very modern.
My first impression of this world was quite terrible from the start, but this more than made up for it. This was luxury I couldn't even afford back home and now it was just handed to me for free. Is the rest of the place just as nice?
I moved faster than before, ignoring the smarting of my leg. The pain could wait, I needed to see if I had a bathtub or not. That was my standard for living like the rich after so many years of living in a shoebook of an apartment.
The kitchen connected to a spacious living room with a large TV and plush looking couches. Hanging on the wall was an abstract painting, really pushing the contemporary decorating theme.
My fingers itched to touch everything, like how a dog marks their territory, but I restrained the urge. I was on a mission, after all.
I opened a tall wooden door that led to the bedroom. It was only a little smaller than the living room, with space to stretch out on the floor even with a king size bed. A window took up a big section of one of the walls and I drew the curtains open to look outside.
There wasn't much to the view, only buildings and parking lots. The crescent moon was visible, though, and I wondered how long I'd been asleep. It'd only been afternoon time when I'd arrived and now it was night.
My stomach gurgled to remind me I hadn't eaten anything all day and I mentally told it to shush. I'd go scavenging for food in a bit, not right now.
There were two more doors in the bedroom and I opened the one on the right first. It was a walk-in closet. I didn't bother going inside and simply shut the door to move on to the next. It's not like I had any clothes to put away anyways.
The last door was the one I'd been looking for. The bathroom.
I stepped inside and the change in flooring from vinyl to tile gave away the fakeness of my leg as it clinked with each step. Something I hadn't noticed until this moment was that I was only wearing one shoe. My plastic appendage was bare for all to see.
I paled. This was how I'd presented myself earlier? How embarrassing! And my clothes were ripped as well. Honestly, I looked like I'd been through a tornado. It was not a good look.
I stumbled to the counter, wobbling now that I was consumed with thoughts of my horrible first impression. What about the rest of my appearance? I braced myself on the swirled marble, not ready to look at the mirror. I should be. I was the one wondering all this time about what I looked like.
It was just, now that the moment had come, I was scared to actually face it. I knew, of course, that this world was not the reality I had known for so long when I woke up in that tent. How could I not? I was missing a portion of my leg!
However, it felt like seeing my face would truly confirm everything. I had lost a big part of my identity when I came to this world. My body. The only proof I had left of my old life were my memories. And I wasn't ready to acknowledge that yet. Except, I had to be.
Okay, relax, everything will be fine. Nothing will change, I'll still be me, just… different. Three, two… one.
I looked up and blinked at my reflection. Wow, I was painfully average.
Sooty black hair, dull brown eyes, I was totally forgettable. I turned my face side to side and was kind of amazed at how the npc look stayed true no matter which angle I faced.
I felt a little gypped. If I couldn't have any cool skills, couldn't I at least have gotten a decent appearance? I mean, I'd forget what I looked like if I wasn't actively staring myself down in the mirror. How was it possible for a person to be so unmemorable?
Whatever. There's no use griping about it, it's not like it's going to change just because I'm unhappy I can't be a stud. I mean, I'm sure plastic surgery exists in this world, but I'm not that desperate.
Besides, what better to cheer me up than a nice bath? That's right, I had a bathtub. There it stood, the glorious resin paradise of my dreams. I'd seen it when I looked in the mirror and was almost tricked into thinking the sparkling was coming from me. Yeah, no dice, but c'mon. The bathtub!
I was so overwhelmed with its glory that I blacked out for a moment and when I came to my senses, I was kneeling beside the tub running my fingers over the rim. I could do so forever, but why would I when I could actually use the thing?
I stripped out of my clothes faster than a veteran casanova, not even waiting until the water was completely filled. When I saw the pile on the floor made of the tattered remains of my clothes, I was struck by just how bloody they were.
I went back over to the mirror, inspecting myself more closely this time. Yep, dried blood on my skin and in my hair. Yet another thing I didn't notice until it was too late. I'm going to have to put a lot of effort in to make up for my awful first impression.
Finally, the tub was full and I gingerly lowered myself into the hot water. The temperature was burning, but I didn't mind being boiled alive. It felt amazing and I let go of everything that'd been troubling me and just enjoyed being slow cooked.
I stayed there until the water got cold. Then it was a rush to wash myself before the chill set in. I did end up finding some soap and a washcloth, so I was able to get all the grime off.
After toweling myself dry, I belatedly realized I had no clothes to wear. Putting on what I'd been wearing would be public indecency considering how many holes they had.
So I searched the cabinet where I'd gotten the towels and found a white robe. Putting it on, I marveled over how soft it was. It certainly was not the poor quality my broke ass was used to.
Hopeful after finding the robe, I ventured out to the kitchen to find something to fill my stomach. I rummaged through the pantry, fridge, and every cabinet, but found nothing. I guess I expected too much from an unlived-in dorm.
I groaned and checked the time on the microwave. 1:34 AM. Everyone was probably asleep by now, so it's not like I could beg them for food. Maybe I should just go out and look around some of the lounge rooms. Either that or starve for the night.
I weighed the two choices in my mind before my stomach rumbled again, making the decision for me. Alright, let's see what I can find and pray I don't get caught snooping around.