"To the Beginning" (Book 1 of the "K-Pop Mysteries" Series)

To The Beginning

"Get up!"

My eyes crack open slowly, and I'm in a very unfamiliar place. My voice is a croak as I attempt to speak.

Me: Where-?
Man: It's okay. You're safe.

I look towards the voice and see that it came from Felix.

Me: Felix? Where... am I?

Felix: You're in a house I've been taking care of. I brought you here after you collapsed.

I try to get up, but Felix puts a hand on my shoulder gently.

Felix: Don't get up yet. You need to rest.
Me: How long was I out?
Felix: A week. I was afraid you-
Me: A week?! I need to get back!
Felix: Patience, Andrew. Everything is alright right now.

Then I remember.

Me: What about Rose and BoA?

Felix: They're worried about you. They have been here almost every second since we got here.
Me: Really? So where are they now?

Felix: I sent them to go get supplies. They should be back any moment.
Me: I need to get up.
Felix: That's not-!

Me: You won't stop me.

And I sit up, swing to my feet, and promptly fall. Felix yelps and comes to try to help me up.

Me: No!

Felix stops as I use my arms to pull myself upright.

Felix: Andrew, you have no-

His words die in his throat when I put weight on my feet and slowly start walking again.

Felix: That's not possible...
Me: What?
Felix: You had literally lost control of your legs. There's no way you should be able to walk right now. Your legs were literally paralyzed.

Me: See, that's where you're wrong. I have dealt with a bike accident and a car accident taht jacked up my knees, as well as a hip injury that literally made it so I had to crawl up the stairs at home. With the bike accident and hip injury, I walked them off, albeit painfully, with no help except for hand rails that I held onto when I needed to. And with the car accident, I was dancing again two days later.

Felix: Dang, dude!

Me: God, along with my faith and perseverance, gets me through every time.

Felix: I see.

Me: So where are we exactly?

Felix: Near the center of the United States.
Me: Kansas?
Felix: No. Since 1959, the center of the US has been in South Dakota.

Me: So why here?

Felix: BoA, actually.
Me: What?! Why would BoA bring me to some random place in South Dakota, a place I've never been to?

Felix: She didn't say much, but she did mention it to be an important historical monument to your family.

Me: Nothing else?

Felix: No, that was all she said.
"This place was your family's beginning."