The past 14 days had been incredibly exhausting for Alan. Despite the inviting comfort of the luxurious cruise room and its soft bed, he had other priorities. He made his way over to the side table and picked up the telephone.

A robotic voice chimed in, its tone unwaveringly neutral.

[Please state the name and number of the person you wish to talk with]

“Arria D’Angelo, Bellevue Hospital, Room 2603”

As the phone initiated the call, seconds stretched into eternity. Alan’s heart pounded in his chest, each beat echoing loudly in the silence of the room. Then, finally, the answer came.

[The person you were looking for is unavailable]

It was perplexing. Arria should have been right next to the phone, but she hadn’t picked up. Alan tried calling two more times, but the result was the same. The situation was becoming more unnerving by the minute, overshadowing the encounters with mutants.

The phone system allowed unlimited number of attempts, but will not connected unless the intended person answered. Alan was growing increasingly anxious, his thoughts racing. He decided to called his in-laws, the McAdams instead. He braced himself for any scolding or reprimand if it meant getting information about Arria. After a few agonizing seconds, the phone was answered, and they immediately recognized his caller ID. However, their tone was far from their usual frustration.

“Alan… she… she was having another episode… That poor child…” Their voices carried a mixture of concern, and sorrow, and it was clear that something had gone terribly wrong.

The news hit Alan like a heavy blow, the weight of it sinking deep into his chest. He had known that Arria would have her episodes, but this particular incident had caught him off guard. He couldn’t recall it happening in his previous life, especially not at this time. Terrifying scenarios raced through his mind, each one more unsettling than the last.

“Please look after her…” Alan’s voice was tinged with desperation as he spoke, but it only seemed to bring out the emotional turmoil in his in-laws.

“Alan, you are her father!… she needed you!! You were supposed to be here for her!!” Their words were filled with frustration and disappointment, and they were not wrong. Alan’s absence during this crucial time had consequences, and he couldn’t deny it.

“I am sorry,” was all he could say, He allowed them to vent their frustrations, granting them a few more precious minutes of his outgoing call time before giving his apology one more time, asking them to call him back for more news of her and hanging up.

[You have 5 minutes of outgoing call left]

To hear such devastating news right after the physically and emotionally draining battle was like a double-edged sword that pierced deep into Alan’s sanity. It was as if the universe had conspired to test the limits of his endurance. The weight of it all, the memories of death and failure from his previous life, clawed at the edges of his consciousness, threatening to consume him.

His mind was a battleground, and the casualties of his past failures were ghosts that haunted his every waking moment. It wasn’t just Arria’s life that rested on his shoulders. The fate of his friends, his allies, and the hope of the entire world to one day break free from the merciless grip of the game burdened him.

Alan knew he needed to regain his composure. He walked over to the balcony, where the cool breeze ruffled his hair, and the rhythmic sound of water lapping against the sides of the cruise ship provided a soothing backdrop. The serenity of the scene helped him find a moment of respite amid the chaos of his thoughts.

Sitting down, Alan decided to engage in [meditation], to clear his mind and find inner calm. He closed his eyes, focusing on his breath, allowing the worries and anxieties to gradually ebb away.

An hour had passed since Alan’s meditation, and when the phone finally rang, it felt like a lifeline thrown to a drowning man. Hearing Arria’s voice on the other end was like a soothing balm for his battered soul.

“Daddy… are you there?” Her voice, though weak, carried a tone of familiarity and affection that he longed for more than anything.

“Hi, sweet pea… yes, it’s me…”

Her voice, although frail, held a clear sense of joy as she spoke. “Daddy… I saw you… on the TV…”

“You did?”

“Just a little bit… but you are so cool, Daddy… maybe you can tell the nurse to let me watch some more…”

The warmth of his daughter’s admiration filled Alan with a sense of pride and happiness. He wished he could grant her every wish, but he also knew the importance of her recovery.

“No… no… you should listen to the nurse and have a good rest.”

.”Oooo… you sound like a grandma now… no, Daddy, I want to join you… yes, the.. the Wolverines.”

Alan’s heart swelled with emotion at her determination and spirit. Alan wished to talk some more, but unfortunately, his time was running out. He said “I need to get going chickpea, but yes, if you want to join me.. You must get healthy first… so listen to the nurses… Ok?”

“Yes Daddy…”

“Love you,”

[Your 10 minutes outgoing call is over]

Alan’s heart ached with the desire to hear more from his daughter. He would gladly pay a significant amount of his hard-earned survival points for just one more precious minute with her.

With a deep, heavy sigh, Alan forced himself to put aside his personal emotions. He needed to shift his focus back to the reality of the next round of the Apocalypse game. The weight of the world’s hope, the lives of his friends, and his daughter’s health rested heavily on his shoulders. He couldn’t afford to lose sight of his mission.

Determined and resolute, Alan stood up and walked toward the door, mentally preparing himself for what lay ahead. However, as he opened the door, he was greeted by a surprising sight. Several US military soldiers were waiting for him, their expressions serious and their presence commanding.

“Mister Alan, you’re finally out,” one of the soldiers said. “Captain Carter wishes to have a word with you.”