Chapter 21

A slow heartbeat heard all over Iris ear. She opened her eyes. She was in a very dark room. She heard commotion at the same time. She tried to stand up. She realized there was so many wires or like intravenous line attached to her body.

Bzzz… a light came in as the door open.

"Please… Please stay. We will help you, just stay there." A person came walking in a royal blue robe. He has a name badge. Iris still can't see it clearly. Another person also coming in.

The blue royal robe person checking wires attached to her. While this other person using white robe said to her, "I am YAMI. You remember?"

"No, I…" A piercing headache suddenly throbbed her.

"It's okay," they calmed her, "We apologize that you wake up when you are in a story. It may not be a pleasant for you."

They continued, "Please rest while we set you up again." Their name tag show "YAMI – The Director."

"Am I in the lab?"

"Correct, you are in the project's lab."

"How can I wake up here?"

"You are in deeper state of sleep in the story. Sometimes it happened to other players too. No need to worry. We can handle this. Anyway, I want to tell you, so far, they like the story progressing. Even though you forget all the story behind, you instinctively know what to do. As expected of IRIS."

"I… you mean what I do in story?"

"Yes, I bet you are in a blank knowledge of what it supposed to be. But what you do so far prove it that you can rely on your instinct to live in a story."

"Well, I don't have any purpose. I just want to survive."

"Survive is the only way to live in a story. But you do have purpose, beside surviving. I mean, a goal in the story. This story."

"What is it?"

"Sadly, I cannot tell you explicitly. That is this story condition as voted by the viewer. They love how you choose to erase your memory and start this story with so little knowledge on how it is usually done. So, I am sorry, I cannot let you know. However, I can tell that you are in the good direction."

"Then, I just survive these whole things."

"You are indeed a little different now. We truly apologize."

"Yes, memory erased change me. You don't have to apologize."

"Soon, you will be going back. As an apology from my personal part, I give you this small advice. You are IRIS. Do what IRIS usually do. I bid you farewell for now." They smiled meaningfully as if there's something behind that smile.

IRIS started to feel drowsy. She closed her eyes.