1985: Dawn of a New World (A Summoner Fanfic)

Chapter 45 - Back to Normal?

"Stephen..." Mark's voice was barely a whisper, his throat dry and scratchy.

"Easy now, Mark. You're safe," Stephen said gently, his hand resting on Mark's shoulder. "You gave us quite a scare there."

Mark struggled to sit up, feeling a sharp pain in his chest. But despite the discomfort, he managed to prop himself up against the pillows, his gaze fixed on Stephen.

"What happened?" Mark asked, his voice stronger now as he tried to piece together the events that had led him here.

Stephen sighed, his expression grave. "You were captured by rebels, Mark. We received intel about your whereabouts and launched a rescue mission. Fortunately, we arrived just in time."

Mark's mind raced as he tried to recall the events of his captivity. The battle with the demons, the sword, the voice that spoke to him—it all felt like a surreal nightmare.

"And Frost?" Mark's voice trembled slightly as he asked about his demon, his heart filled with worry.

Stephen's expression softened, and he placed a comforting hand on Mark's arm. "Frost is safe, Mark. We managed to retrieve him as well."

A wave of relief washed over Mark, and he let out a shaky breath. Despite everything he had endured, knowing that his demon was safe brought him a sense of peace.

"Thank you, Stephen," Mark said, his voice filled with gratitude. "For saving me, and for bringing Frost back."

Stephen smiled warmly, his eyes reflecting pride and admiration. "You're a brave young man, Mark. I'm proud to have you as one of our soldiers."

As Mark lay back against the pillows, exhaustion washing over him, he couldn't help but feel a sense of pride in himself as well. He had survived the ordeal, and he had emerged stronger because of it.

Closing his eyes, Mark let himself drift off to sleep, knowing that he was safe and surrounded by friends who cared for him. And as he slipped into unconsciousness, he couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope for the future—a future where he and Frost would face whatever challenges came their way, together.

----

A flash of blinding light met Mark's eyes as he tried to open them up. He raised his arm to defend against the light then blinked in an attempt to adjust his eyes to the room's lighting. Gradually, his sight adjusted and showed him a rather familiar room. 

"Ah! You're finally awake! How's my favorite patient feeling?" The voice of Dr. Garcia caused Mark to suddenly tilt his head to his left. He's back at the military base alright but for some strange reasons, he seemed to feel a bit uneasy.

"I'm ok, I guess." Mark mumbled, trying to fight off his strange feeling. 

Dr. Garcia chuckled softly, his warm smile putting Mark somewhat at ease. "Good to hear, Mark. You had us worried there for a while."

Mark nodded slowly, still feeling a bit disoriented. "What happened? How long was I out?"

"You were unconscious for about two days," Dr. Garcia explained. "Surprisingly enough, we see no injury anywhere."

Mark nodded again, processing the information. Memories of his ordeal with the rebels and the demons flooded back, sending a shiver down his spine. Despite the passage of time, the experience still felt raw and unsettling.

"Is... is everyone else okay?" Mark asked, his voice betraying his concern for his friends and comrades.

Dr. Garcia's smile faltered slightly, his expression turning solemn. "Well, everyone made it back here safely, in fact,  when the rescue team arrived to get you, they encountered no resistance at all. The rebels' base was empty. It's like everyone just... disappeared."."