The steady heart monitor filled the muted silence, your limbs sore and weak. You felt as if your bones had been grinded into dust, your muscles stretched like rubber. When your eyes fluttered open, the room was white, practically blinding you.

You tried to sit up but pain shackled you down. Your body ached and your bones hurt. When you peeked, your limbs were bandaged, as well as your torso and shoulders. Peeking out of your wrist was an IV, connected to a drip bag with transparent liquid. Sitting up, you felt lightheaded.

what happened?

Beside your hospital bed is a single bouquet, its flowers wilted and decaying slowly. The room door opened and Asuka stepped in, almost expecting you to still be unconsious.

"oh," she hummed. "you're up."

she sat down with a thump in a stool, scratching her nape.

"you took quite a beating," asuka chirped. "i thought you were dead."

you didn't laugh at her joke. that wasn't a funny joke.

asuka's teeth worked on her tongue and she sighed.

"i heard you're goin' to Germany. that must be fun."