𝗔𝗪𝗔𝗞𝗘 [ UNDER HEAVY REVISION ]

AWAKE : THIRTY THREE

Y/N'S POINT OF VIEW

"The what?" I ask.

"The Institute," the guy answers, making his voice louder.

I cover my mouth with the back of my hand to keep myself from laughing, but a snort comes out. It does not escape the man's hearing. He gives me a withering look, his eyebrows raised.

"Why are you laughing?" he asks.

I clear my throat. "Nothing," I say. "It's just that... Who the hell names an institute 'The Institute'?"

"Oh, I don't know," he answers sarcastically. "Maybe you should ask the President himself." He shakes his head and touches the doorknob of the next door of the classroom we had come from earlier. Before he can open it, he turns to me first. "You'll meet him soon."

I give him a confused look. "Wait... What?"

Before I can ask who the President he is referring to, he opens the door. A classroom turned hospital room greets me, identical to the one I've been in. I immediately see Mina lying on a bed.

She's unconscious, with tubes piercing her skin. I walk quickly closer to her. Upon closer look, her frame looks thinner, her skin pale, her hair longer.

"How long have I been unconscious?" I ask the man.

"A week," he answers, walking towards me. "You lacked sleep and food, and we also saw signs of stress. It's normal for you to sleep long. It was your body's way of recovering."

I curse under my breath. I've been sleeping for a week. A week lying in bed, while my companions... Where are they now? Are they all right?

"What about her?" I ask, pointing at Mina at the same time. "Why isn't she waking up?"

"I can't really answer that. I can't determine when a person's consciousness will return." He touches a lock of Mina's hair, and I suddenly have the urge to smack his hand away. "I guess we just have to wait."

I glare at him. "Why did you arrest us? You ruined our plans. We were so close to finding the answers to our questions, then you came. You ruined everything."

"You have to believe me, we aren't the bad guys here," he explains, his eyes tired and weary. "We were just trying to save you... from them."