Chapter 4 - First day

It felt like waking up from a long, deep night of sleep. The kind that rejuvenates every single cell of your body.

A faint melody stirred me from my slumber. I felt the air around me freshen, enlivening my limbs. A few seconds later, the pod vibrated and opened. My eyes fluttered, then opened to a white condensation cloud floating around me.

None of these effects were strictly necessary, but they were part of the customer experience, as I was told.

The sparkly mist cascaded from the pod, rippling to the floor as it fell. I felt cold goosebumps prickling my skin as it trickled down my body. The pod was slightly inclined and my eyes focused first on the ceiling.

To the side, I spotted a large window. It reminded me of Love Machina Inc., with those gigantic glass panels that let in all the light. This window wasn't as impressive but I was intrigued by the view behind it.

A wide green wall of vegetation stood just a few feet beyond the glass. There was no view at all, just green leaves.

Eager to see more, I lifted my head out of the pod. My neck muscles felt stiff like I hadn't moved them in a long time. Slowly, I emerged from the fog, the room's warm air greeting the tip of my cold nose. It made me want to feel it all over my skin.

Behind the window, the leaves swayed with the breeze, almost as if they were greeting me. I admired the sight until a shadow moved in the glass' reflection.

I turned my eyes to the other side, realizing I wasn't alone.

A silhouette emerged from the condensation that had spread all over. I first noticed his dark eyes examining me.

The air had thinned around us and my whole body warmed up to this new reality.

"Hello," a deep, husky voice greeted me as if these were his first words of the day.

A man stepped forward, emerging fully from the mist.

"I'm V."