The Life I Gained From Dying

Chapter 20 - Jay

"...It's so dark."

"Wak..."

"Huh? Is someone speaking?"

"Yo... wa... up?"

"I don't understand. Where even am I. Oh yeah, didn't I die?"

"WAKE UP!"

Kaden sprung up from the bed he was laying in as he woke up with a jolt. He frantically inspected his own body while hyperventilating uncontrollably. He calmed down after a just a few seconds, but remained dazed and confused for a little while after. He attempted to exit the bed, slowly and carefully pulling himself to his feet and then collapsing shortly after becoming dizzy.

"What is this?" He groaned.

The door of the room he was occupying swung open a few minutes after he collapsed, and Mai came walking in promptly after.

"Kaden?!" She exclaimed as she rushed over to help him. "What happened here, and how long have you been awake?"

"...Where am I?"

"We're back in Aestus, this is the same room in my residence you stayed in before." Mai explained.

"What do you mean, who are you?"

"Huh?"

"Follow me stranger, if you try anything I'll execute you myself."

"Say mister, are you a bad guy?"

"I intend to make use of your unique abilities."

"Why don't you just do everyone a favor and just stay dead."

Kaden clinched the hair on his own head with both hands and began to wince in pain as memories began to flood back into his mind.

"Kaden, are you alright?" Mai asked.

"...No."

"Here, you should stay in bed and rest." Mai suggested as she helped him back onto the bed. "I'll be right back, so don't you leave this bed. Rest and take it easy."

Without a moment to waste, Mai left the room and left the door wide open.

"...Maira."

"..."

Kaden fell unconscious once again, but this time it was only for a short while. About five minutes passed before he began to regain consciousness. Blurry outlines of people and muffled voices traded broken sentences back and forth which Kaden couldn't make out.

"I'm certain that he was awake when I first came in here." Mai stated.

"This isn't any time to be getting caught up in your confusion." Elder Mildred replied.

"But I-"

"Enough of this, we're pressed for time."

"Hold on now sister, something must of happened for her to approach us in the frantic matter in which she did." Elder Aira exclaimed.

"Of course you're going to favor your granddaughter once again." Mildred responded.

"This has nothing to do with her being my granddaughter."

"You're all too loud." Kaden said in a raspy voice.

"..."

"Kaden, are you... feeling alright?" Aira questioned.

"Yeah, I feel great. Don't I look great?" He responded in a monotone manner.

"But you told me you weren't alright when I came in before." Mai stated.