Eve's eyes fluttered open, immediately squinting against the stark brightness of the room. Her vision adjusted slowly, shapes coming into focus as she stared at the unfamiliar white ceiling. Panic briefly gripped her heart, memories flooding back—Derrick's betrayal, the terrifying creatures in the park, the chaotic scene of battle, and those bright blue eyes.

  Slowly and carefully, she sat up, realizing she felt no pain from the earlier attack. Gncing around, she recognized she was in some form of medical facility, though the sleek, futuristic design of the room was like nothing she'd seen before. The walls emitted a soft, calming glow, and various screens silently dispyed unfamiliar data.

  Just as anxiety began to tighten her chest, the door softly slid open. A young woman with gentle eyes and warm brown hair stepped in, dressed in a medical uniform.

  "Oh, good, you're awake," the woman said kindly, offering Eve a reassuring smile. "How do you feel?"

  Eve hesitated, trying to find her voice. "I... Where am I?" she finally managed, her tone shaking slightly.

  "You're safe now," the woman replied softly. "My name is Arel, and you're in our care facility. You had quite a scare, but your injuries are healed."

  Eve swallowed hard, her mind spinning with confusion and disbelief. "Those creatures... what were they? And where exactly is here?"

  Arel's expression softened further, sensing Eve's distress. "I know this must be overwhelming. Some people here would like to speak with you."

  With a reassuring nod, Arel quietly stepped out of the room, leaving Eve alone momentarily.

  Before Eve could ask another question, the door opened again, and a man entered. He appeared to be in his te forties, handsome with an authoritative yet bureaucratic air about him, dressed impeccably in a suit. Approaching Eve with a friendly and polite demeanour, he smiled gently.

  "Good afternoon, Miss. I hope you're feeling better," he began smoothly. "My name is Robert. I'm a representative from our government's Portal Security Division, and I'm here to ask you a few questions—and hopefully answer any you might have."

  Eve's confusion surged, her mind racing with countless questions. She interrupted cautiously, her voice wavering. "Where am I? What is this pce?"

  Robert smiled gently, attempting to soothe her evident distress. "You've crossed into this dimension through a portal," he expined patiently. "I understand this is overwhelming."

  Eve stared at him bnkly, struggling to process his words. "Did I die? Did I hit my head? Am I still lying in the park?" she questioned skeptically, doubt clouding her expression.

  Robert offered a reassuring smile, calmly addressing her fears. "I assure you, you're very much alive. This has happened before, and our division has protocols in pce to ensure individuals who arrive here unexpectedly are safe and cared for. Unfortunately, at the moment, there are no known methods to return you to your original dimension, but we continue researching solutions."

  Mid-expnation, Eve's attention was drawn outside her room to the gss panel in the wall. Through it, she noticed a familiar, strikingly handsome man engaged in a conversation with an older gentleman sporting grey hair and a neatly trimmed beard. As if sensing her gaze, both men looked in her direction. Embarrassed, Eve quickly looked down, feeling heat rush to her cheeks as she refocused on Robert.

  Eve suddenly remembered she'd had her phone in her hand when she was transported. Gncing around frantically for it, she began to panic. Robert intervened calmly, noting her distress. "Your personal effects are currently under containment with our department. It's standard procedure while we investigate your situation. These will be returned to you in due course."

  Eve paused, reflecting on her life back home. Who would she even contact? Would anyone notice she was gone, or care enough to search for her?

  Robert continued, "You're the thirty-sixth person to arrive here from your dimension in the past fifty years. We believe there's some kind of connection between our worlds—possibly linked at the core in some way..." He trailed off, eyes narrowing as if chasing a thought just out of reach.

  He paused and looked back to Eve, folding his hands behind his back as he studied her reaction. "What's unusual is that the report from your incident recorded significantly higher energy levels than we've ever seen before from someone of your world. With previous crossings, the energy tends to dissipate quickly after the portal opens. What happened with you was... different."

  Robert offered a small nod, his tone still measured. "For now, you'll remain here in the medical facility for a day or two while we ensure your energy levels remain stable. Currently, your readings have returned to normal, but we need to observe for any further spikes."

  He straightened his jacket and gave a polite smile. "In the meantime, some of my colleagues will be visiting you to help ease your transition into this world."

  With that, Robert gave her a final courteous nod and exited the room, leaving Eve alone once more.

  Her mind began to race. What is this pce? This can't be real. She began to argue with herself, conflicting thoughts swirling. In a sudden outburst of disbelief, she flung herself back onto the bed and started ughing—hysterically.

  "This isn't real," she muttered between short breaths.

  But then she paused, her voice quieter now. "I get to have a new life...?" The idea floated in her mind, confusing but strangely relieving.

  Just then, a knock on the door interrupted her spiral. A woman stepped in, dressed in the same polished business attire as Robert.

  "Hello, Eve. My name is Courtney," she said with a warm but professional smile. "I'm here to talk with you about what comes next—once you're released from the facility."

  Courtney crossed the room, her posture calm and composed. "People who've been transported here usually resume lives that mirror the ones they left—simir jobs, stable routines. They integrate into society quite seamlessly."

  She took a seat nearby. "Only in your case have we seen energy levels comparable to those who possess powers on Terra. It's highly unusual—most individuals from your world don't show any measurable resonance at all."

  Eve stared, still unsure what to make of it.

  "In this case," Courtney continued, "we would like to offer you a space at the Academy—where we research, train, and support individuals with high energy levels. This may be the best option to monitor your transition... at least for now." She went on to expin with a calm, practiced ease.

  The two talked for a while, and as the evening drew in, Courtney eventually left with a promise to check in again.

  Shortly after, a staff member brought in dinner. Eve noticed a wall-mounted screen nearby.

  "Excuse me," she asked the medic, her voice quiet but curious. "Do you think I... could watch something?"

  The attendant nodded and, with a flick of her wrist, a digital projection of a remote appeared in mid-air. She tapped it lightly, and the wall-mounted screen turned on.

  Eve watched in silence. The visuals were oddly familiar—talk shows, dramas, even commercials that echoed those from Earth—but everything carried an unfamiliar tone. The news spoke frequently of portal breaks, of containment zones and emergency protocols. She watched for a while, eyes heavy with exhaustion, until she finally drifted into sleep.

  She was exhausted—from her job, her heartbreak, and now the overwhelming reality that life as she knew it was different.