Coming to his senses, the first thing Victor felt was a burning pain in his abdomen. Realizing that he is now awake, he could not help but think of his dream.

A nightmare? Rudolf? Randa? Randy! Yeah I am pretty sure that his name was Randy. All the things I remember were so realistic but I seem to forget something important…

Focusing his senses, Victor heard some quiet voices coming from behind him and he then opened his eyes slowly.

‘’Chief, the patient is awake.’’ One of the voices called out to alert the others.

As soon as Victor registered what was said, he tried to sit up abruptly only to find that he was strapped tightly into a bed.

‘’What is going on here? Why am I restrained?’’ Calling out with a panicked voice, Victor shifted around nervously.

The man that was called Chief walked slowly in Victor’s field of vision and smiled kindly.

An elderly man in his 60’s, kind eyes and dressed in traditional doctors clothes told him to stay calm and that he needed to rest.

‘’Young man, it's not good to make sudden movements. You were seriously injured before, so you were brought here for surgery. It is my pleasure to tell you that after some rest you will be 100% back to normal.’’

Hearing this, Victor’s pupils shook slightly as if he just remembered what happened.

Yes, the very same walking aid he sold had nailed him to the ground like a helpless insect. Then a horrifying thought popped into his head. ‘’Pepi? Is my puppy ok?’’

Seeing the look on Victor’s face, the chief made a thoughtful face and shook his head.

Victor’s heart was violently shaken and quietly started to grieve in sorrow.

‘’Young man, I truly don’t know anything about your puppy.'' The chief lightly remarked and continued.

''From the report I have seen, it escaped as soon as Captain Murray and the man who attacked you started their fight. So it is likely that it either returned back to your home, or is wandering in the nearby areas.’’

Victor scratched his head with an anxious look on his face, and the surgeon could not help but lightly laugh.

‘’Victor, was it? It is rare to see such a kind hearted young man worrying about something else. Usually coma patients' first question is what day it is. And in your case it is the 23rd.’’

Feeling complex emotions in his heart, Victor could not help but murmur. ‘’So it has been 3 days already… To wake up just in time for my birthday, I almost forgot it myself…’’

The sudden revelations were a bit overwhelming for Victor and he could not help but scold the doctor lightly.

‘’I am grateful for you saving my life, but you should make those things clear asap. For a moment I thought…’’

Still smiling, the doctor shook his head and started to unbind Victor from his bed with steady hands.

‘’If I were you, I’d take it easy for some time now. It’s not good to stress too much or you will get a hairstyle like mine. And by the way; Happy birthday.’’

Victor nodded and looked at the chief’s head and basically could see the majestic bald spot in the chief’s head shining brightly in the room and shuddered.

‘’Thanks a lot for all your work doc. I will be sure to take care of myself with a relaxing evening and a cake after all this is over…’’

The chief observed Victor for a moment and nodded his head.

‘’If you don’t feel any discomfort, let’s get on to the procedures for discharging you from here. By the way, the name is Andersson, Nicholas Andersson.’’

Chief Andersson looked at Victor’s back exiting the medical facility in a wheelchair escorted by staff.

With a thoughtful look on his head, he soon after shook his head and called out to his colleague.

‘’It is a miracle that he recovered as fast and as much as he did already.'' Andersson made an observation and continued with a frown.

''Still there is something strange about him that I can’t quite put my finger on. Do you think we missed Something, Gerald?’’

The man named Gerald had earlier done the bloodwork on Victor and thoroughly examined for any irregularities, but found nothing.

Holding the report in his hands, he tapped Nicholas’s shoulder while shrugging his own and left. After a few steps, he still turned around and answered.

‘’If I had to point out any irregularities, it would be that the test came back as too ordinary.’’

The voice of Gerald faded out and only his footsteps resounded in the hallway. Only after the sound of walking faded out, Andersson moved from the exit.

Feeling a slight vibration in his pocket, he took out a cell phone and read through the latest message.

The subject is ready for research, but I have to take Murray with me, huh? What a day… What. A. Day.

Calling his chauffeur, he changed his clothes and walked towards the elevator leading to the underground parking area.

Having worked as a specialized surgeon for twenty years, he had thought that he had seen it all.

That was the case, until he was brought into the government research program, with research labs located all around the country.

With a recommendation from his former student's father working there, the application for the job was basically a formality.

Andersson was quickly promoted from surgeon to the position of deputy chief and he finally got the resources and access to the vast information he dreamt of having.

Now the routine surgeries had become a rarity among his cases and he was tasked to further his research and study the metaphysical.

Wondering what kinds of surprises the subject would bring, Andersson absentmindedly daydreamed, entered the car and called out the address for his driver.

‘’Good evening Charles. This time we are making a trip to the special division headquarters to pick up someone. Chop chop, I have an interesting project waiting for me.’’

Victor looked out from the back of an ambulance.

Wondering about the well-being of his puppy, and at the same time trying to remember the dream he had when he was knocked out.

It’s so blurry… I think I am forgetting something important, but it keeps slipping again and again from my mind. Putting those thoughts aside, he hoped that Pepi found her way back home.

I am sure she’s fine. Even without me, it shouldn’t be a prob for her to find a way back home…

Sighing while worrying about things he could do nothing about, he touched the place he was wounded.

It still stung, but he had to admit that the medical treatments here were top notch. If he had been impaled back on Earth, it is hard to say if he would be worrying about anything ever again.

The surrounding streets seemed now somewhat familiar to him: The place he would often order take-out food was in sight, and his little shop was only a few minutes away.

Victor had a weird feeling in his heart, that something had changed within him. What was it?

Maybe the near death experience once again, or perhaps was he becoming mentally unstable? He could not answer it, but everything seemed to be ever so slightly…clearer.

The ambulance pulled up in front of the -Ages past- antique shop, and the nurses opened the backdoors for Victor and his wheelchair.

Getting help from the nurses to roll down from the ramp, Victor then bid goodbyes to the medical crew and rolled in front of the shop.

Watching the departing ambulance fade into distance, Victor took a long look around him.

Home sweet home. And I can see a certain fluffy tail swinging from behind the dumpsters. A smile of relief formed in his face and he called out. ‘’Pepi, I am home. Come here girl.’’

Pepi peeked her little fluffy head from behind the dumpster, seemingly disappointed that it had been noticed so early. Tippy tapping cheerfully, Pepi fully came into view.

She was slightly grimy and looking somewhat like an abandoned dog, but she still cheerfully skipped towards Victor and finally jumped in his lap in excitement.

A cheerful reunion between a man and his dog, but Victor was feeling sorry for Pepi.

He quickly decided to order some quality food for the both of them, even if it did cost quite a lot. It can't be helped today, maybe slip in the order some cake too?

With Pepi in his lap, he rolled in front of the shop door and opened the door.

Feeling a bit overwhelmed by the tattooed man's attack, Victor finally felt somewhat safe again.

His bastion in this world came into his view, the comfy sofa, fireplace for those cold winter nights and kitchen.

He rolled towards the kitchen and instantly filled a cup of clean water and something to eat for the puppy.

Having known the feeling of hunger and thirst in his younger days, Victor did not want anyone or anything to experience it if he could help it.

Old days from his school came to his mind, where their family was not too well off so Vic deliberately skipped some lunches just to help the family situation.

Although it is said that time heals and memories turn golden, he still detested those days.

Pepi sat obediently in Victor’s lap and gulped the water in large mouthfuls. Watching this, pity filled Victor’s eyes and he gently lifted Pepi off.

‘’I am going to try to go upstairs for a shower, eat and drink well. It’s safe now.’’ Gently patting the puppy, Victor rolled in front of the stairs and shakily lifted himself from the wheelchair.

With some effort and pain, he managed to climb the stairs without falling down and soon the faucet from the shower was heard to be turned on.

Pepi watched the stairs her new master had climbed with effort and affection could be discerned from her eyes.

After a brief moment, she turned the gentle gaze at the wheelchair and instantly the cute image of a fluffy small dog was broken.

Master was injured saving me…I am still too weak, but someday…They will regret being born.

The pitch black eyes of the puppy turned darker and demonic energy started to pour from her.

The ever happily swinging tail drooped down as she realized that without strength, she could not help to protect Victor.

The bright stars on a clear night; Soaked in her own blood and corrosive chemicals, that man was the one who reached out his hand and gave her a place to call home.

Pepi would never forget that kindness Victor had shown her.

With unyielding resolution blazing in her pitch black eyes, she was determined to become something that would be able to resolve any danger to her new family.