Chapter 1
Levi blinked his eyes open slowly.
The sounds of odd moving boxes and people’s voices mumbled all around him. Slowly he looked up, trying to focus on his surroundings. Yawning, he covered his mouth. A dull ache in the right side of his head made him grimace.
Rubbing his head, he looked around, noticing he was sitting on a bench. When had he gotten there? Where was he? Looking down the sidewalk, he frowned, not sure what was going on.
The last thing he remembered—
A moment of shock hit him like a slap. He could not remember anything, let alone how he had gotten there. Looking up, he nearly slammed himself back against the bench seeing metal carts moving on a black road. Odd sounds coming from them made him jump up to run for cover.
Standing up only caused the world to swirl around him.
Stumbling, Levi had to grab the side of the bench to keep from falling over. Bracing himself, he felt someone put their hand on his shoulder, asking if he was alright. Not being able to answer, Levi put his hand over his mouth, trying to keep from heaving whatever he had in his stomach.
As the world started to spin, someone helped him sit back down. Looking up, he saw them with a strange small box on their ear. Was he talking to it? Great, he was found by someone who had lost their mind.
“No, there’s a kid or teenager here—”
How dare—! Before Levi could correct the man, he leaned over the side of the bench, retching. Holding the side of his head as a loud sound blared, Levi glared at the ground, nose wrinkling. What the hell was going on?!
“We’re on 3rd and Roser.”
What? What the hell was that? Third and Roser? Stomach still twisting like someone was trying to eat him alive, Levi thought he was going to pass out. Closing his eyes, he tried to calm down.
“Hey, hey, can you hear me?”
Opening his eyes, Levi blinked. Someone was looking down at him in a strange uniform and had something pressed on his chest. A plastic thing covered his nose and mouth, and they had his arm with a needle in it.
“Whoa!” The man held him down by the chest. “Easy, easy, you’re alright. You fainted at the bus stop.”
What?
What was that?!
“We got some meds in you, but we need to know your name since you didn’t have an ID on you.” The man said. “Can you tell me your name?”
Blinking slowly, he stared at the man before his voice croaked out. “...Levi.”
“Levi. Good,” He paused before another man came by, writing something down. “Do you know what day it is?”
“Tuesday.”
“Do you know who the President is?”
What?
“... The Queen?”
“Alright, thank you, rest, and try not to move. We’re taking you to the hospital.”
Why did they keep mentioning things he did not understand?! Head falling back as another ache hit him hard in the side of his head, Levi felt something take over him, driving him into darkness.
Being outside in the cold as he puffed on the cigarette, he swore he would not smoke on his break. Looking out at the cold day, even though it had not snowed, the temperature had dropped.
There should be some rain coming in soon. It might turn into snow. Either way, the gloomy sky seemed to be setting the mood as a white van marked with the Safe Haven Mental Facility pulled up.
