HUMAN

Chapter 31 - Pick A Side, Valentine

A surge of adrenaline swung my arms over Abigail, I sighed, rubbing my wrist after smacking it on the window. My left forearm was bandaged, and I wondered how that happened.

Gliding over my arm, visions of last night hit me; the tail light of the vehicle suddenly disappeared and headlights blinded us from behind moments later, followed by metal impacting metal, and glass shards being blasted towards Abi and me.

Was the crash that bad? Had I just imagined that gentle flip was the aftermath of a freak accident? Taking a look at Gina's car should tell me about that.

I tossed the fresh blanket out of my way, it was straight out of the dryer; warm and comforting. The evening light was shadowed by dancing pines, and storm clouds in the distance were close.

Rubbing my neck, I sit still to figure out where exactly I am. Nothing much to look at. The bed frame was made of a solid wooden structure with the furniture having similar characteristics; finely aged throughout the years. The hint of an artificial air freshener scented of pine and fresh mint.

Ah! Cottage-core. Something that Vannie and Abi told me about when we met up back at the noodle restaurant.

My mind snapped back.

"Abigail!" I said, then jumped out of the bed, the door and timber floor creaked as I dash through the house. Everything became a blur until I made it into the living room, where the retro-like TV emitted static and the leaking tap from the kitchen filled the silence.

My ears twitch as I hear commotion outside, and I sniffle my nose as I smell something cooking.

This place seemed familiar, and I knew how to get to the living room. But, why can't I piece together as to. . .why?

I twisted the door handle and walked out on the patio where the front yard was a small field of tall, luscious grass that swayed with the wind and the edge of the forest close by. On the far left of the field at the edge of the forest was a pond, where Gina and Vannie were messing around with the bugs and critters hanging around. Gina, being the curious Anthro she is already knee-deep in the pond, Vannie kept to herself.

On the far right underneath the shade of a tree were two that I didn't recognize, a grizzly bear and a petite lynx, cooking up one hell of a snag from the barbecue. "So that's where it was coming from."

A picnic table was set beside the barbecue stand where four Anthros lounged around. The lawyer's vibrant outfit first caught my attention when was reading a newspaper, Abigail was talking to another Anthro that I didn't recognize, and. . .

Uncle Frank. . .with his head down and hat over his face, taking a nap.

"Valentine! You're finally awake. Took you long enough!" Gina shouted, catching the attention of everyone and all eyes were towards me. The wolf sitting next to Abigail turned around and was a human that wore a mask structured with a metallic frame that formed the head of the wolf, the back emitting a sort of. . .hologram. . .of the identity he was hiding under.

A technology that I only knew was possible with an AI and under the control of one man.

His eyes widened and so did mine, shock and realization struck me.

"Vincent?!" I said.

Uncle Frank took off his hat and yawned before we made eye contact. I felt numb for a moment before an intense feeling emitted deep within. . .because I finally remembered. . .

"So it's really you. . .Frank Kretschmer. . ." I said as my teeth grinding against each other.

Vannie and Gina began to jog towards me as I limped towards the picnic table. Vincent and Abigail were joyful to finally see me up and walking. The lawyer and Frank seemed relieved I wasn't hurt.