Alex's POV
Since Ben dragged me to the cable car, I had no choice but to follow along. I mean, he is the owner of this place so I could get a free ride up the hill. Besides, he owes me this much, atleast.
The cable cars were made of glass halfway through, and metal bodies on the other half, that made jingling sounds when the winds were hitting it. It was cold on the inside, but the cushioned seats were making the place around it smaller. I sat across him and took off the glasses.
Looking into the window to see the scenery, I saw my own reflection, since the sun rays were oblique. My face looked haggard like a blob fish, cheeks swollen and eyes, they were red, puffy and sat on thick eye bags, my hair greasy and frizzy. I would run away from myself if I were to encounter me on the street.
"Damn!" I muttered to myself.
He looked at me, lifting his chin and flicking his eyebrows.
I nodded sideways, turning back to the windows, eyes towards the side, glancing at him. His actions were strange that day, turning back and resting his head on the chair then turning back straight, he kept on going at like a pendulum. At last, he got up and came to sit next to me.
By then, my head was a mess.
Ever stayed awake two whole nights?
The feeling of constant grogginess like you're on a ship in a storm, that drivels your insides up and down, mixed with a hot sauna bath that warms you on the inside and not to forget, brain so fogged you hardly remember your name, with eyes begging you to switch off... Yeah, that's exactly what I was feeling in that moment.
I was barely holding on, while his questions started to bombard me. The outside scenery was beautiful with the frozen lake, barren black trees and little patches of flowers. To add on, I noticed tiny flecks of white began to appear, eventually gathering at the veins of the car, in the crevices. Gradually, it became faster and more dense. A mist emerged, creating a white curtain between me and the mountains.
'It's snowing!'
I moved closer to the window, since I hadn't seen real snow in ages. Pure, unfiltered, fluffy white snow.
If things couldn't get better, I got also see some flecks inside the car, probably due to some leaks in the car body. I extended out my hand forward, trying to catch them. However, the area around me started to disappear, flickering between the car and pitch dark. I tried to gather some, but before I could do, the pitch black flashed one more time, this time staying longer than I expected. I felt my body become weightless, eventually falling sideways.
I couldn't see anything, but could hear somethings ocassionally.
"Dead... I didn't... kill him," I heard these words from Ben.
After that, I blacked out.
...
I felt myself being carried and transferred to somewhere. A while later when I felt I was recharged, I forced my heavy eyelids apart, looking around. The walls were pale blue, with glass shelves stuck on the wall. Everything was wrapped in plastic, stuffed inside the glass shelves to the brim. There was a curtain frame close to me, with opened aqua curtains. I was on a bed, with a blanket draped over me. I was in a gown, with the suit next to the bed.
I saw Ben from the corner of my eyes, and rubbed my face, covering my eyes with my arm.
He took cautious steps towards me, tiptoeing.
"I'm alive!" I screamed, causing him to step back a little.
He looked back, screaming, "Doctor! He's awake!"
A man wearing a coat and a few women in scrubs walked in with him.
I was somehow in a hospital and it looked serious.
Ben came over to me and glanced at the doctor, "What's wrong with him?"
The doctor, an old, round man took off his glasses and started to wipe them, "I'm... afraid..."
'afraid for what?'
"For?" Ben asked, holding my hand. I, of course swatted it off.
At that time, all the teams walked in, swarming over me, asking questions. It sounded like the inside of a bee hive.
"You haven't slept in days?" The doctor mumbled.
'Is that a symptom? Am I done for?'
"Yes, he hasn't slept in days," Ben responded.
"That makes sense," a dark shadow casted over him.
"Is he dying or...?" Ben questioned, tilting his head, "can you speak faster please?"
"He was asleep."
"Oh."
Huh? Asleep? Can it be this intense?
Everyone's mood suddenly lightened, as if a cloudy sky gave way to the sun after rain, brightening the atmosphere again, bringing down the intensity. They all moved away, retrieving back to the empty space in the room.
"How long have I been here?" I asked the doctor, propping myself up.
He turned towards the clock and checked the patient pad, "about twenty four hours now."
'24 f*cking hours? I've been asleep for a whole day?'
The doctor walked out of the room, followed by the nurses, who guided the others outside the room. One of the nurses peeked through the half-closed door.
"He looks like your friend, so I'll let him stay," she winked and threw a smile before shutting the door.
'Friend, my foot!'
I turned towards him, with rage fuming in my eyes. Holding my horses down, I asked, "did you do this?"
"What are you talking about?" He blinked.
I sighed, "I saw your phone that day."
"And?"
"It said you failed a mission."
"What mission? I don't remember any text."
"Did I say it was a text?"
He jumped at the question, "why are you priving in others' phones?"
I took a deep breath, lowering my tone,"I don't give a sh*t, just tell me, did you do this?"
I saw sweat forming on his burrowed forehead, as he stepped away from me, "what do you mean? You think I took you to the bar in the middle of the night to drug you for the mission?"
"Yes."
He scoffed, but choked, "what if I did? Did I kill you? No, right? You're alive!"
My tolerance gauge was being tested.
"I'm asking you very politely, what is your mission and why am I part of it? Why is Margie involved"
"I don't think I'm answerable to you, he said, walking towards the door. Edging my gauge to the max, he waved a 'bye-bye' and walked out.
I picked the glass pitcher full of water, and threw it towards the door. The glass shattered, with pieces flying around.