The man heard the faint sound of laughter and his daughter's voice calling out to him, "Hey, Daddy!" But as her voice faded, it became more mature, the childish giggles replaced with urgency. "HEY! WAKE UP!" a woman's voice shouted. In a panic, he jolted awake, his neck snapping instinctively toward her. Without thinking, his hands shot out, locking around her throat in a reflexive, survival-driven instinct. His adrenaline surged, his fight-or-flight response in full control.

  "Who are you?!" he growled, his voice rough and demanding.

  "Hey, relax! I'm the one who saved you..." The woman stammered, almost collapsing from the tension, but the man released his grip, still breathing heavily as the shock of the situation set in. He leaned back on the bed, staring at her with wide eyes, a far-off look in his gaze.

  "Relax... okay? You're safe now," the woman said, trying to calm him down. "I'm Mercy. I saved you." She rubbed her neck, clearly unfazed by the earlier attack. She understood why he'd reacted that way.

  The man continued staring at her, his mind still racing, before he asked in a low, gravelly tone, "You're...?"

  "I am Mercy," she repeated, her voice softer now, as she leaned closer, resting her hand on the edge of the bed. "What's your name?"

  "Varryance," he replied, his tone dark, his voice tinged with suspicion. "Varryance Preez..."

  There was a pause before he asked the question that had been gnawing at him. "Where am I? What is this place?"

  Mercy straightened up, sighing in relief, and answered, "Maridyian Village. You're in my hut. I brought you here because, well, you were in a pretty bad state when I found you. I thought it'd be better to bring you here than to risk the village seeing you in such a condition." She hesitated before adding, "People around here... they looked at you strangely."

  "Why?" Varryance asked, though he had a feeling he already knew.

  Mercy chuckled lightly, though there was no humor in it. "Well, you were wearing an IARO lab coat, drenched in blood, and naked underneath. Can't say I blame them for doing so."

  Varryance fell silent, his eyes narrowing as he processed the information.

  "Are you one of those lab rats from the IARO complex?" Mercy asked, breaking the silence with a serious tone.

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  "Do I look like a lab rat to you?" Varryance scoffed, but Mercy pressed on.

  "Well, then what were you doing there? What would a random person be doing in a government facility if you weren't involved with them?" she challenged.

  Varryance shifted uncomfortably, his gaze drifting to the floor. "I can't remember much. But I was in this... white room, in a containment tank. Pipes were going through every part of my body. They were talking about something called a 'neuro parasite'..." His voice trailed off, frustration creeping in. "Then the alarms went off. Lockdown. Someone attacked the facility, killed everyone... and he said...i don't remember... He wore a leather jacket, a gas mask..."

  Mercy interrupted him. "Wait. Leather jacket? Gas mask? Yeah, I know who you're talking about." She sighed, her voice tinged with something darker. "Thank god he didn't come after us or at least, I hope not."

  Varryance raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued. "How do you know him?"

  Mercy's face hardened slightly. "He's the most notorious mercenary around here. No one knows whose side he's on, and no one can kill him. He moves differently... almost like he's not human."

  Varryance didn't reply immediately, the weight of her words settling in. "Well, I'm too tired to even think about him right now," he muttered, his body finally succumbing to exhaustion. "I just..-i don't.."

  Mercy nodded. "Okay, stay here. I'll get the nurse from earlier to check up on you. Maybe talking through your story will help you remember something."

  Varryance gave a weak nod as Mercy turned to leave. Alone in the hut, his curiosity began to grow. He slowly pushed himself up from the bed, leaning against the furniture for support. He realized he no longer wore the blood-soaked lab coat. Someone had changed him while he was unconscious. He was dressed in nothing but a pair of shorts.

  The hut around him seemed full of life, though, in a way that felt chaotic but purposeful. Mercy's personality was all over the walls—photos of her with various village members, hunting, traveling, and exploring. He couldn't help but notice the abundance of bows and arrows, suggesting she was quite skilled with them.

  Varryance wandered into what seemed like her bedroom, which was surprisingly cozy. The shack, made from a mix of metal and wood, was far more welcoming on the inside. Wooden walls, candles casting a warm glow, and a desk full of papers gave the place a lived-in feel. Above the desk, a chalkboard caught his attention, covered in scribbled theories.

  "More advanced civilization before Flash...? What's outside the containment? Buildings scraping the sky?"

  Varryance read the words aloud, feeling the confusion mount. "Why would someone even theorize about something like this?" he muttered, puzzled by the idea of a pre-Flash civilization. The chalkboard continued, detailing rumors of ruins and skyscrapers, once filled with wealth and happiness, all destroyed by some unseen force.

  "Did they really forget what life was like before the bombs fell?" Varryance asked himself. "What year is it now?"

  He dropped the papers back on the table and ran a hand through his hair, deep in thought. His questions were endless, but before he could contemplate further, Mercy entered the room, catching him off guard. She gave him a curious glance.