( PH 2)
Anie couldn't stay there anymore not in front of that door, not with that sound.
"Beep… Beep…"
Each pulse from inside the ICU felt like it was pressing against her chest.
Tighter heavier,she stepped backs lowly.
like even moving away felt wrong but staying was worse.
Without another look,she turned and walked.
The corridor stretched long under the cold white lights of Synapse Medical Complex.
Too clean, too silent, too empty her footsteps echoed softly.
As she passed each ward,her eyes moved without intention.just… observing,one room a family sitting together.quiet voices,a weak smile from the patient hope.
Another a man lying still machines surrounding him.no movement only sound.uncertainty,
Another someone sleeping peaceful.
Or maybe just tired of fighting different rooms,different stories,different endings waiting.
Anie slowed down just a little her gaze lingered.not on faces but on feelings.
Why them…
Why not…
Then,,,
the thought changed.
Why me…?
Her steps grew slower.
What is happening…?
Her fingers curled slightly.
Why did they choose me…?
The question repeated again,again,again no answer.
She kept walking.the corridor eventually opened into a quieter space.
the balcony,
A soft mechanical door slid open as she stepped out.cold air touched her skin not natural.filtered,artificial but still
different from inside.
She moved forward and then she saw it.
The city Astra,stretching endlessly into the night.
Neon lights flickered across towering buildings.
Digital billboards shifted in silent loops.
Sky-bridges connected structures like glowing veins.
Drones moved across the skylinesmall, blinking signals in motion.
The sky above dark but not empty.
Faint lights hovered far above the clouds.not stars,never stars.
hummed soft constant alive,
Anie leaned slightly against the railing.
her eyes didn't focus on anything specific.
Just…,,
everything so big so alive, so normal.
and yet her world wasn't.
Her grip tightened on the cold metal
the questions returned.
Why me…
Her breath slowed and then without warning her mind drifted.
Back.
A different time a different day warm sunlight,not cold light.
"Anie, hurry up!"
A voice bright alive,,she turned.a girl stood a few steps ahead smiling, careness,
Short hair moved slightly in the wind.
eyes full of energy.
"Sam , wait "
Anie laughed lightly, catching up.
"Too slow."
Sam's , teased, walking backwards now.
"Or maybe just too fast."
"Excuses."
They walked side by side talking about nothing.everything classes random jokes.
future plans that didn't make sense.
normal,simple happy, the memory shifted.the light dimmed the air changed.
"Anie…"
Sam's voice quieter different Anie looked at her.something was off,
"Are you okay?"
didn't answer immediately she hesitated.
"…Do you ever feel like…
she stopped searching for words.
"…like something is watching you?"
Anie frowned slightly.
"What?"
Sam forced a small smile...,
"…nothing."
But it wasn't nothing days passed and Sam changed.not suddenly slowly she talked less.
smiled less,sometimes she would just sit there lost.
"Sam ?"
"…yeah?"
"You're not listening again."
"…sorry."
But her eyes weren't there another day.
"Anie…" sam voice was lower now.
"I think something's wrong."
Anie looked up from her book,
"What do you mean?"
sam,hesitated,,
"…I keep hearing things."
Silence,,,
"…like someone is trying to talk to me."
Anie blinked,,
"…you're just stressed."
She said it casually without thinking.
"It happens."
sam,didn't respond she just looked down.
"…yeah."
That was the last time she tried to explain.the memory blurred hospital lights.the same smell the same waiting.
Anie sitting outside just like now but younger.
"…she'll be fine, right?"
No answer just silence then the sound.
flat cold ending,
The memory shattered Anie's eyes opened.the city returned neon dark
endless.
Her fingers tightened on the railing.
"…SAM …"
A whisper her chest hurt again not from fear.from something deeper because now something felt wrong.not just the past.
The pattern she looked down at the streets far below.so many people walking.living, unaware and somewhere something was choosing.
Watching reaching her breath slowed.
"…what really happened to you…?"
The question lingered unanswered then!!!!
"Anie."
A voice behind her soft clear she froze.
The present snapped back she turned.
Mira stood near the doorway looking at her.concern in her eyes,,
"…you shouldn't stay alone."Mira said gently.
Anie didn't respond immediately she looked at her for a moment.
then nodded and just like that the night,
the memories,the questions,,
were pushed back not gone just waiting...