Gift 3

His eyes slowly opened to the white ceiling. He grasped his bicep, still feeling a bit numb where Alesia placed the rune. He sat up, looking at his surrounding. He was in a bed, surrounded by white pillows in a small enclosed space. He was still on the jet, but the view outside the window was tarmac.

Darren opened the door to the bathroom to wash his face. He turned his arm to the mirror. The black ink of his new tattoo contrasted against his lighter skin. He hesitantly pressed the runes, but there was no pain. Unlike a regular tattoo, there was no redness around the ink. The tattoo had healed as if it had been applied a long time ago.

How long had he been asleep?

Darren hurriedly checked his watch to see the date. September 3, 12040. Ten forty-four in the morning. He and Alesia had left the airport at Salt Lake City at approximately eight o'clock. Darren breathed a sigh of relief. He had not slept for long after passing out.