I was not confused, but I was overwhelmed.
I did not want to join the Kingmaker's cause, but a part of me could see what he was doing. I could almost picture the world he wanted to build. It would be like something out of a post-post-apocalypse movie.
That is, a world where the world has ended, and people have rebuilt a new society.
In a theoretical apocalypse, only the strongest and the smartest would survive. Therefore, after the post-apocalypse scenario, they would be able to build a mighty civilisation that would rival the original.
In addition, there would be a blank slate to create new rules, norms and traditions that reflect the experience of survival. It would be a world where everyone has seen life and death, so it would be a bonded one.
But I also believe in the natural order of things.
It did not make sense to accelerate the end of a world that is not meant to last. Moreover, every human being, no matter how small and insignificant, deserves a chance to live long enough to fight for their survival.
I opened my mouth again to say this to the Kingmaker.
However, when I did, I felt like I could not breathe. I lifted my hand to my throat as I felt like I was choking to death. I wanted to scream for help, but it was like something was blocking my throat and mouth.
Then, my ears started ringing loudly in a series of beeps. I could not hear anything as I struggled.
When I thought I was about to die, the blockage in my throat was removed. It felt both painful and like freedom. I coughed as I clutched my neck, trying to eliminate the pain from my throat, which felt raw and abused.
"Breath, just breathe," Someone said as they rubbed my back.
I took a few painful breaths while still coughing. When the discomfort became more bearable, I opened my eyes and looked around. Bright lights were all around me, and a group of people were standing over me.
Doctors and nurses…
The answer came easily as I looked at them. I still felt disoriented and confused as I tried to understand what was happening. The last thing I remembered was standing next to the Kingmaker, wanting to answer his question.
I struggled to sit up on the bed.
"Take it easy," One of the people came to help me sit up with a hand on my back.
I appreciated the gesture, but I could not focus on that. I needed answers. I needed to understand what was happening. I needed to know where I was and how I ended up in a hospital bed.
"Where am I?" I asked with a hesitant, croaking voice.
Someone answered the name of the hospital before adding the name of the city after a short pause.
It was the name of my city, my home.
I was back home.
"You were in a coma for two weeks," One of the doctors stepped forward with a tablet in hand. She looked at the tablet before staring at me quizzically. "Do you remember what happened to you? Anything?"
I could hardly tell them what I believed happened.
When you have a mind like mine and a tendency to make bad decisions, you know better than to tell the truth in such cases. If I told them that I thought I was captured by a secret order that wanted to control the world through religion, I would end up in a psych ward.
"I think I was in a car accident?" I said uncertainly.
The group of people murmured as they looked at each other. The doctor gave them a warning look before she turned back to me.
"We have seen no indication of external injuries, so it is unlikely that you were in such an accident," The doctor said. "Are you sure you do not remember anything?"
I tried to think of anything else to say, but my mind was pulling a blank on anything other than my experience with the Kingmaker. I shook my head, looking appropriately remorseful.
"No, I cannot think of anything. The last thing I remember was that I was driving home, and I just saw darkness after that. It feels like I was asleep for a very long time," I said, looking earnestly at them. "What is wrong with me?"
There was silence before the doctor answered.
"You were brought here with a severe case of starvation and dehydration. It looked like a simple case at first, but it turns out that your organs were under severe stress. We had to induce a coma to allow you to heal," She explained.
"What date is it?" I asked after a long moment of silence.
Someone else answered. I tried to control my expression. The date was more than three weeks since I left work and had a not-accident. It meant I could not account for one week of the time I could not remember.
"I see," I said mildly. "Who brought me here?"
Before the doctor could answer, someone else entered the room. It was a young woman in a nun's habit with a calm demeanour. I looked at her reddish eyes and a familiar image appeared in my mind.
"Speak of the devil, or should I say angel?" A man spoke in a teasing tone.
At the same time, I could not control myself this time.
"Sister Agatha?" I spoke in a raised voice.
Sister Agatha gave me a familiar disapproving look that was both comforting and wildly weird. The group of nurses and doctors looked at me in shock. The main doctor put on a face of suspicion as they assessed me.
"How do you know the sister?" The doctor asked.
I realised I had spoken without thinking. I could not explain further without sounding like a mad person. I looked at Sister Agatha with doubt because I could not tell which version of my story was true.
"I am not sure," I replied.
"She must remember me from when I found her wandering in the cemetery," Sister Agatha said. "She was delirious but not unconscious."
There was a murmur of agreement, and I sighed in relief.
The doctor started examining me while the other few people watched. I kept my eye on Sister Agatha even as I was poked and prodded.
"Sister, why do you look sad?" One of the nurses asked Sister Agatha after an exchange of pleasantries.
"Have you not heard?" Sister Agatha asked.
"Heard what?" Someone asked.
"The High Priest is dead."
My heart raced, causing the monitors to beep loudly and crazily.
The beginning of the end…
It was here.