Veil of Uncertainty

Alex's disoriented awakening was interrupted by the entrance of a nurse, her eyes widening at the sight of him standing by the window.

"Oh, dear! You should be in bed," she exclaimed, her voice a mix of surprise and concern.

"Please, return to your bed. I'm calling the doctor to examine you."

Stepping back, Alex complied, easing himself onto the hospital bed just as the nurse hurriedly left the room. He felt a mixture of confusion and apprehension.

Outside the room, the nurse pulled out her phone, dialing an unknown number. The melodious voice of a girl answered, and the nurse quickly relayed,

"He's awake now. I'll update you later." The call ended abruptly, and the nurse then turned to head toward the doctor.

Back in the room, Alex's mind buzzed with questions, and he anxiously awaited the doctor's arrival. When the doctor finally entered, he conducted a thorough examination.

"You've been in a car accident," the doctor explained gently.

"You sustained some injuries, but fortunately, nothing life-threatening. The police will be here soon to gather more information about the accident."

The doctor inquired about his condition, explaining the extent of his injuries, and advised him to rest. With that, the doctor left, leaving Alex to his thoughts and fragmented memories.

As he tried to make sense of the situation, disjointed memories began to surface. He saw flashes of a massive, disfigured figure slamming him against a wall, contradicting the doctor's explanation of a car accident. Struggling to piece the memories together, a knock on the door drew his attention.

Two men entered the room. They were Harper and Mason.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Steelwind, my name is Harper and this is my partner Mason, we are with the SFPD" Harper greeted with a courteous nod.

"We hope you're feeling better."

Alex nodded in response.

"Thank you," he replied, his voice still carrying traces of uncertainty.

Alex found it odd that detectives were involved in a seemingly simple car accident case.

"We're here to ask you some questions about the accident," Mason added, offering a reassuring smile.

Alex looked at them, his eyes flickering with a mix of curiosity and confusion.

"I... I appreciate that. But, my memory is a bit fuzzy about the whole thing."

Harper nodded understandingly.

"That's quite common after a shock like that. Don't worry, we're here to help you piece things together."

Alex's gaze shifted to the window for a moment before he turned back to the detectives.

"Can you tell me what exactly happened? I'm having a hard time recalling."

Harper glanced at Mason before recounting,

"According to the reports, a driver lost control of his car and crashed into you while you were walking to the taxi stand."

Alex's brows furrowed slightly.

"That's... odd," he murmured.

Mason leaned forward slightly, his expression empathetic.

"Accidents can happen in unexpected ways, Mr. Steelwind. Sometimes it's just a matter of unfortunate timing."

After a brief exchange of questions and answers, Harper and Mason prepared to leave.

"Thank you for your cooperation," Harper said, extending a card to Alex.

"If you remember anything or have further questions, don't hesitate to reach out."

Alex accepted the card with a nod. "I will, thank you."

As the detectives exited the room, Harper turned to Mason with a thoughtful expression.

"Did you notice something strange, Mason?"

"What do you mean?" Mason raised an eyebrow.

Harper's gaze was fixed on the closed door.

"His eyes, Mason. They were abnormally calm for an eighteen-year-old who just survived an accident. And did you notice? He didn't ask a single question about the driver, the potential arrest, even any display of anger... nothing."

"You think he's hiding something?" Mason's expression mirrored the detective's concern.

Harper shook his head.

"I don't know. But I think he might remember more than he was letting on."

"Then I think it is better to inform the institute" Mason said.

"Back in the Room,"

Cedric's mind races as he mulls over the recent conversation he had with the officers.

"If it was just a simple accident," he wonders ,

"why did those detectives question me?" He furrows his brow, deep in thought.

Sitting on the edge of his bed, he speaks to himself again,

"Can I even trust my own memory? That deformity was so bizarre, and the strength it had... it doesn't make sense." He rubs his temples, feeling a headache creeping in.

"I have to remember more," Cedric mutters determinedly, clenching his fists.

Despite the growing ache in his head, he pushes forward.

"There was someone else there that night, I'm sure of it." He closes his eyes, straining to recall, but the details remain elusive.

Leaning back, he contemplates the detectives' words about the driver's forthcoming apology.

"Maybe the driver knows something," Cedric muses, skepticism in his voice.

"They were hiding something... I didn't ask because they seemed suspicious." He lets out a frustrated sigh.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, a police officer arrived with an uncle, a man in his late 40s. The officer introduced the uncle to Cedric as the driver involved in the accident. The uncle seemed genuinely sorry, expressing his regrets for what had transpired.

"I can't express how sorry I am about the accident," the uncle said with a heavy sigh.

"I appreciate that." Cedric nodded, his brow furrowing slightly.

"Still, that's no excuse for my carelessness. You're just starting out in life, and this is not the kind of experience you should have to deal with. I genuinely apologize for the pain and inconvenience I've caused you," the uncle said.

Is there anything I can do to help right now,? the uncle asked again.

Curiosity gnawed at Cedric's mind, and he began asking the uncle about the accident, hoping to glean any details that might reveal the truth behind his words.

"Can you tell me exactly what happened?" he inquired, trying to sound as casual as possible.

The uncle's gaze shifted, and he hesitated before responding,

"It all happened so fast. I didn't see much before I hit you."

During their conversation, the uncle inquired about Cedric's family, wanting to reach out to them.

"Do you have any family we should contact?" he asked, concern etched on his face.

Cedric's expression turned somber. "I'm actually an orphan. I don't have any family left so you do not have to worry about anyone pressing charges against you."

The uncle's eyes softened, and he quickly clarified, "Oh, I didn't mean it like that. I just thought maybe they'd want to know you're okay."

He then shared that he had already taken care of the medical expenses and hospital stay.

"I've already spoken to the hospital staff and ensured everything is covered," the uncle explained. "Your well-being is my top priority right now."

Before leaving, he handed Cedric a card from his wallet, revealing the name "Bob Kline" along with an invitation to a dinner and bar establishment.

"If you ever need to talk, or if there's anything you need, don't hesitate to call me," the uncle said earnestly.

Cedric accepted the card, his thoughts swirling with a mix of gratitude and suspicion.

"Thank you, I'll keep that in mind," he replied, watching as the uncle left the room.

Alone once again, Cedric's mind raced, trying to piece together the puzzle of the accident and the uncle's behavior. The card felt heavy in his hand, a tangible link to a man who seemed both genuine and enigmatic.