Mirage Mind - Chapter 2 - The Other World
The nurse placed his hand over Ran's neck, the other on the forehead and tilted his head backwards. Pushing the chin upwards, he turned Ran's head to the side, hooked two fingers inside his mouth and swept around for vomit. Taking a deep breath, he blew air into Ran's lungs as he watched for the young man's chest rising. When he removed his mouth, Ran's chest instantly fell. The nurse repeated his cycle again, constantly checking Ran's pulse. After the fourth time, the young man began to show signs of breathing. Relieved, Doctor Evan patted the nurse on the back. As he stood up, he saw a lady standing by the door.
Manx's brows knitted together and her vivid red lips thinned. If there was one thing she could do, that would be to punch the doctor in the balls.
"What's the meaning of this, Doctor?" Her fingers pointed at Ran like daggers. "Why isn't he recovering?"
"It's not as simple as you think, Manx. Ran..." The red haired lady stiffened at the way he pronounced her little brother's name. It sounded casual, horribly similar to the way Dad called him. "Ran is suffering from a mind illusion, an outcome resulted from the severe traumatic losses of your family. We can imagine a scratch of the terror and desolation he went through after witnessing your parents' death in a fire and your sister's in a hit-and-run incident. Such tragic events that happened within a short period of time have triggered a devastating inability to express his emotions. Through time, these emotions have clot up his mind immensely that his sub-conscious unknowingly created another world. An alternative world, you might say. Whenever he feels angry, sad or any other negative emotion, he slips into his sub-conscious, into the other world where he is able to connect and relative to the characters he created. Each time his sub-conscious took over, his body is affected. The initial stages have already begun. Lack of sleep, appetite and irregular breathing, sometimes to the point he stops breathing..."
Doctor Evan paused and watched the nurse placing the oxygen mask over Ran's face, followed by the leather straps on his wrists, waist and ankles. Manx crossed her arms, trying her best not to lose her composure.
"Was that necessary?"
"I'm afraid so. Given an opportunity, Ran will harm himself. Did you know he attempt suicide a month ago? We had to pump out detergent out of his digestive system."
"Being locked up in this hell hole is enough to drive anyone mad."
"Try to understand that I have been Ran's guardian in your absence. For the last six years, I have been trying very hard to reach out to him with little success. While you were joyriding in America, Ran suffered. Don't blame me for failing to contact a backpacker like you. At least, I have been doing something and still doing something. The reason I called you is because time is not on our side. Ran is reaching a critical point and if he crosses over, he'll be lost to us forever."
"Lost?" She arched her brow. "Ran tried suicide. That means he still can differentiate reality and illusion."
"His suicide attempt shows his sub-conscious is overtaking his conscious," He wet his lips. "He believes his other world is as real as we are. Every time he allows his sub-conscious to take control, it gets longer than the last and the harder it is for him to get out of it. Unless we do something fast, he's going to sink so fast that nothing can pull him back."
"What do you propose we do, Doctor?" Manx asked after a moment's silence.
"The other doctors and I have come up with a therapy. It's risky but it's the best we've got. As soon as Ran slips into his sub-conscious," Manx watched the nurse placing tiny round tags onto Ran's forehead and chest. "Electricity will be introduced into his brain. Don't worry. The dosage given is harmless, like an ant's bite. The pain serves to keep him conscious, enabling us to monitor the process of the therapy. Meanwhile, I will talk to Ran as in a normal doctor-patient session. Step by step, Ran will realize his other world is not real."
"As long as you don't fry his brain, you can save all the talk. What is this alternative world?"
"From what I can gather, Ran is part of an underworld organization known as Weiß Kreuz. They are the," Taking his handkerchief to wipe his glasses. "White hunters of the night. Assassins who dedicated themselves to carry out justice to those who think they can escape from the law. He believes your family's death was a part of a vile conspiracy. It's a long story but it clearly portrays his refusal to accept your family's death as unfortunate events. The disturbing part is even though he has avenged your parents' death and Aya has recovered from her coma..."
"Wait. Aya's in a coma?"
"In the alternative world, Aya fell into a coma after the hit-and-run incident, another conspiracy act related to your parents. She's his symbol of Revenge or was."
"So, Ran has completed his revenge in his... alternative world," Manx paused to think. "If that's so, why does he remain in Weiß?"
"It's his sub-conscious' refusal to let his conscious accept reality here. It's preventing him to leave Weiß."
"Why?"
"Weiß is like a home to him. His family are the characters he created for Weiß. It's hard for you to understand..."
"No, I understand completely. Beneath the chunk of words you have said, you are telling me Ran has gone insane. Well, let me tell you. He is not crazy! In fact, he shouldn't be here. For we know, someone did plan to murder my family under the pretense as unfortunate accidents. Perhaps this Weiß world is a mere excuse for your failure!"
Doctor Evan!" The nurse interrupted, pointing to the black screen. The wavy lines were turning red. "Ran is entering into his sub-conscious."
"Quick! Get the equipment ready!" Doctor Evan pushed Manx aside and ran towards the tray. Picking up a syringe, he filled it with a crystal clear solution. "Hurry, we mustn't lose him."
"What's going on?" Manx demanded, staring at the screen. "How can you tell his sub-conscious is taking over?"
"I rather not explain it to you. It's very complicated," Doctor Evan injected the solution into Ran's bloodstream. "Take off the mask." Tapping him on the cheeks. "Ran! Can you hear me? Ran!" He saw Ran's eyes fluttering. "Fight it, Ran! Fight it!"
"Aya... Can you hear me? Aya..."
Aya blinked his eyes a couple of time before he got a clear view of everything within his range.
Ken.
Yoji.
Omi.
White ceilings.
White walls.
Beeping machines.
He wanted to get up but somehow, he didn't have the strength to do it. His body was glued to the bed. There was a dull numbness on his right side.
"Easy, red guy," said Yoji. "You took a nasty blow and a considerable amount of drug. Lady Yequoel held you in her arms."
"In simple words, you were out cold," Omi explained. "The doctors did a lot of nasty things to you."
"Enough, guys," Ken cut in. "Let him rest..."
Listen to my voice, Ran! Come back to us! Ran...
A rolling wave of dizziness swept over Aya. His eyes began to close.
"Thank goodness," Doctor Evan wiped his sweat on his brow with the back of his hand. The nurse carefully released Ran and positioned him to sit up. "Ran, do you know where you are?"
"Hospital..."
"Very good, Ran," He patted his shoulder. "Today, someone special is here to see you."
"Special," He spoke slowly, like a child pronouncing it for the first time.
Doctor Evan beckoned Manx to come closer. "Yes. It's your older sister, Manx. I told you I will find her."
"Manx..." Ran repeated. His eyes rolled to one side and then the other. "Manx..."
"Hi, Ran," Manx sat beside him, gently pressing her hand onto his cheek. He flinched. "Don't be afraid. It's me."
"No..." Ran shook his head. "Manx's dead."
"What?" She turned to Evan. "Doctor?"
"No, Ran," Evan corrected. "Manx's alive. She went backpacking in America seven years ago. You and your family sent her off at the airport, remember?"
"Airport..." He murmured. "America..."
"That's right," Evan signaled to the nurse. Taking the pale-faced Manx by the arm, he quietly led her outside the ward.
"I'm dead?" Manx nearly screamed. "What thoughts did you plant in him?"
"None!" Evan boomed. "Listen to me carefully, Manx. In Weiß, you are the secretary of Persia who was the founder of Weiß. In the process of revenging your family, Persia was killed in the crossfire. You temporarily took over his position. Revenge has accomplished. Aya wakes up from coma and resumes an ordinary life. However for you, you were killed during the transition of his life. In other words, in his sub-conscious, Ran has decided let go of your parents, Aya and you. That is why..."
"I had to go," She ended, tears began to show at the corners of her eyes. " In the Weiß world. The transition."
"That's right. The transition in Weiß is gaining control of him. If it isn't, he won't say you're dead."
"Will the therapy work?"
"The possibility of recovery is high. However, for the therapy to work, I'll need your help."
"Ran is not crazy."
"I know, Manx. I know. He's simply a kid with a broken spirit."
To be continued
GeneWeiß's Mind:-
For all those who have lost their loved ones through unexplainable ways (or what the norm classified as "unfortunate events"), GeneWeiß prays you will find the answer to have peace with yourself.