Chapter 2: Unreal Reality [2]

I stood there in the hallway. Only one wild conspiracy theory existed in my mind.

That is, I am a government test subject that has been revived by some ancient super alien technology and have been implanted a nano chip into my brain to control me. I'm probably in a super secret facility below the sea level.

However I somehow regained my sense of self and will probably be the main protagonists leading a rebellion against the dystopian regime!

OF COURSE NOT!

I tried to collect my thoughts.

That's such an unrealistic scenario. It must be something else that can explain my current situation...

But comparing this moment to my old one, it for sure wasn't as boring anymore. It gave me a giggly feeling inside my stomach.

Standing there daydreaming, another announcement shouted.

—Move your arse out of here already!

My whole body was caught by surprise and jumped at the sudden announcement! Though I probably should take his advice to heart and went one direction.

I clearly have no clue where I'm going.

—That's the wrong way idiot!

Holy Jesus Christ! Could you shut up for a second?! My ears are already having tinnitus because of you!

I hastily turned a 180 degree and went the other direction.

The door automatically opened with a lot of mechanical noises being released. At the other side of the hallway was a big clean looking room.

At the right corner behind a counter sat a person in a military uniform with an I.M.P. acronym at his left shoulder.

Boringly looking at his computer. Glancing towards me, he was already giving me a frown and the stinking eye.

"Leaving so soon? I thought you liked it in there, for how many times you've already visited it."

I was rather speechless and without any context to help me out, I just awkwardly walked over to the man without saying a word.

The man seemed surprised that I just walked over to him. He looked like he expected a snarky remark from me or something.

Sorry man, can't really start a conversation without getting awkward and weird while being clueless. I thought.

"What? Did I strike a nerve or something?"

He was already standing, facing me, which was rather threatening and made me already nervous and sweating my hands off.

Holy crap. Now that I get a good look at him, he could easily fold me three times!

"I uh... just wanna go to my dorms that's all. I thought I had some, some things stored or something right here."

His face was confused and caught entirely by surprise, as if I should've been acting out more.

"Y-yeeah, right your confiscated stuff..."

He immediately began to go back into a room which was presumably the storage room for all the confiscated belongings that are held there. Then came back with a bag of plastic wrapped clothings, a phone and a wallet.

"Here."

He lays it on the counter in front of me.

"Uh, I have a question."

The guy stares at me menacingly when I said that. But I needed to get the question out of my system as I was really, really curious.

"Where am I?"

The guy stares at me for a split second. Before aggressively falling back in his chair. Closing his eyes as if they are hurting and making a loud, long sigh. Before finally speaking.

"Get the fuck out before I beat your ass. I don't have time for your shitty jokes."

"But-"

His veins popped out visibly on his head. Staring at me with a "fuck around and find out" stare.

I just silently took "my personal belongings" and walked to the changing room that was behind me.

After I changed my clothings the scary guy continued to stare at me behind the counter. I just avoided eye contact as best as I could and left the room quickly after I found the exit sign.

Damn.

•••

Wyland Ountilov acted mighty weird. That was on his mind as he watched him leave through the exit.

Until he reasoned that Wyland was just trying to mess with him after being in that room for so many times.

He never was the patient kind but even for someone like Ountilov, sitting in that white hell for twentieth time and for three days nonetheless, will break any person.

Well, probably.

"Huuuu. Let's not think about that guy. I should just continue playing my game and get the Mimiko ending."

•••

I walked down a hallway with many twisting corners, couple doors, signs and symbols. Everything looked crystal clean which disturbed me a little as I am clearly not in a hospital.

Though I did pass by couple autonomous roomba like machines which are in the process of cleaning.

It was pretty high tech looking, and I never seen them before or even heard of such models in the newest advertisment videos.

It left me wondering. Where the hell am I? Is this actually a super secret facility? If that's the case, why would they let me roam around like it's no ones business.

Then there is also Wyland Ountilov.

I don't know who that is, yet the name is seemingly addressed towards me.

As if I am that particular person. Could it be some kind of a mistake?

Did they scoop up my genetic paste and falsely identified my splattered body on the asphalt pavement or something?

As I walked and pondered, looking for a way out of the facility, I encountered two men in the same uniform as the guy who handed me the belongings of Wyland Ountilov.

They looked at me for a moment before they just completely avoided and ignored me.

Not saying a single word. Yet I could still get the feelling that they avoided me not because they are scared of me. That's for sure.

I finally left the building after a couple more minutes finding my way out. Meeting couple strangers here and there that had the same uninviting feeling like the last two guys.

The outside was pretty cold. My hairs were standing already. It was a very unpleasant feeling at the moment as I'm only wearing a blue T-Shirt and short jeans.

Totally unsuitable clothing for the current weather I am in.

Surrounding me are paths that lead to impressive and futuristic modern buildings plastered with some advertisments.

Some trees are sprinkled here and there for decoration. It was also quite spacious. Cars drove by and people walked on the side walk.

And from a glance on my surroundings. I could already tell that I was in a completely unknown and foreign city.

Or maybe it's a town.

I wasn't sure. And as luck has it, there are no convenient arrow signs that point towards this dorm building in which I'm supposed to stay at.

I immediately pulled put the phone which belonged to Wyland Ountilov and thought it could help me out, which of course didn't.

"...should have expected it to be password locked. And no easy fingerprint identifcation either. Hell, why do you dump all your problems on me Wyland! Curse you!"

I looked through the wallet as a last ditch effort and found nothing of interest. Well, except maybe couple coins and some plastic cards with numbers on them.

Welp, the only reasonable thing I could do now was asking someone for direction.

"Haaa. Let's hope they know where I need to go..."

A sizable group of men and women were luckily passing by.

I've noticed that, very few of them had small strands of hair in different shades and colours like pink, purple, green, etc. But I didn't think too much of it, as they probably dyed them.

But what made the group stand out even more is that most of them wear casual clothing that doesn't fit for the current weather.

A bunch of crazies from the look of it but they are the only ones around at the moment.

Taking up the courage and some calculations, I asked the last person behind the group.

The man had dark brown hair and sky blue eyes. He was also well built in this cold weather in his casual clothing.

He actually straight up looked hundred times better than any famous fashion model I ever saw and could actually fit inside a game where its main content is made up purely for fan-service.

Made me immediately question my straight sexuality.

Wait no. I'll forget about that last bit.

"Uhm, excuse me?"

I interrupted them, when prince charming was still talking to somebody else.

The other guy he was speaking to who was lean and well trained had black eyes with a hint of blue tint and his hair was a mix of blond and black colour.

He had a good face but not as nearly as good when compared against the God blessed genes of the perfect looking human being.

Just in my humble opinion though.

"Hm?"

"Who is that?" The blondy-black haired man said rather annoyed.

"I don't know."

The gaze of the two good looking strangers landed on me.

"Sorry, my names Art Keller and I don't really know where the dormitory buildings in this city are... and, and I-I thought one of you would know?"

Before I knew it, the whole group that these two guys were accompanying with had stopped to look at us.

The man that would make Aphrodite kiss his feet raised a brow and thoughtfully tilted his head a bit.

"Art...Keller? I can't remember to have heard your name in the meeting we just had. Did you just arrived after we finished it?"

Ooops! Totally forgot that I'm Wyland Ountilov right now... not actually Art Keller- and what meeting? I just came out of monopoly jail!

"Uh, ye-"

Before I even finished speaking, the blondy-black haired man overlaps my voice with his own, stronger, more confident voice.

"Come on. He is obviously one of those lazy late types. I mean, look at him. That expression alone makes me pity him."

Someone with the same attitude as the douchebag retaliated. It was a woman with short black hair, dark brown eyes, petite stature and Asian like features.

Not bad looking in the slightest... which makes me actually notice that everyone in this group are actually very pretty.

It made everything feel a bit off and disturbing to me after I just found that out.

"And you're just being pathetic. Picking on people the whole time makes you feel good huh? How about I break it for you?

She puts her finger on his shoulder.

"Remember that time when you nearly fell over your own shoelaces sparring with the instructors? Pretty funny if you ask me."

He slaps the finger away.

"Stop spouting nonsense! And if you impossibly forgot, I was one of the best in the Irregular Military Academy in all lessons. !"

He proudly crossed his arms.

"Especially having top notch grades and have graduated in the top three of the whole academy! At least I have great achievements backing up my attitude. Unlike someone else..."

She sneered at his accomplishments.

"I got a lot more friends compared to you. And if we were to be honest here, your so called "great achievements" won't matter when the Tedeum's kick your ass because of your easy to target oversized ego."

A smirk comes up from the corner of her lips.

"The higher you climb, the harder you fall, that's the saying. Let's hope you fall on your head so your tiny pea brain bounces back into some good conscience."

"Now you're going too far you bitch—!"

The two were brawling it out with words. While prince charming looked at me rather apologetic for their behavior.

"Sorry they are always nick picking each other whenever one of them gets the chance. Also, we are heading towards the dorms regardless. So you should tag along with us."

He said with a genuine charming smile.

"...Thanks."

"Names Warren by the way."

Warren casually walks away from the "two dogs" barking at each other, while the rest of the group that were watching the fight were either giving off the expression of excitement, annoyance or the usual apathy I'm familiar with.

Though because Warren was walking away, the others slowly followed his lead and I tagged alongside them.

While the "barking dogs" didn't even notice that we were leaving them behind. However, there was a woman from the group who stayed with them to spectate.

And I was still worrying, if my name Art Keller that I told Warren will somehow stab me in the back in the short future.

But, I let my future self deal with it if it does happen. For now, I really need to focus on gathering some information in this new strange city.