Chapter 88

Chapter 88: Chapter 88

Freya stumbled away from the bed, her face turning white.

"No, no, no!" she cried. "Ingrid, you said the pill would help him! Why is he bleeding? Why is there so much blood?"

Ingrid’s eyes narrowed as she watched Zeke convulse. This wasn’t what she had expected, and the sudden deterioration made a cold feeling creep down her spine. The pill was supposed to clear the poison from his system, but she hadn’t anticipated such an aggressive reaction, especially when his body was already in such a fragile state.

’Lorna, what’s happening? she demanded silently. Why is he coughing up so much blood?’

The system responded almost immediately. ’The pill is accelerating the removal of toxins from his body. The original poison had already caused extensive damage to his blood vessels and internal organs, particularly around his heart and lungs. Since the pill is breaking the poison down, it led to what’s happening now.’

Ingrid’s stomach tightened. ’Is that the reason why he’s coughing up blood?’

’Yes. The poison damaged the small blood vessels in his lungs. His blood pressure and clotting mechanisms are also very disrupted, allowing blood to leak into his airways. Since he’s unconscious and unable to sweat out to repel the poison, it’s coming out in forms of spasms and blood. It won’t hurt him, on the contrary, coughing up blood is helping. You don’t have to worry about him.’

Ingrid let out a silent breath, rubbing her chest in response. ’That’s good then. I thought something went wrong.’

Ingrid turned to Maya and Freya. "His body is trying to expel the poison, but the poison has already damaged the blood vessels in his lungs," she said urgently. "The pill is forcing the toxins out faster than his body can recover. That’s why he’s coughing up blood. His airways need to stay clear, and you have to keep monitoring his breathing and heartbeat."

"How do you even..." Maya started, intent on asking questions but she stopped and quickly rushed towards Zeke to monitor his vitals.

"Ingrid, this won’t hurt him, right? He’ll pull through this, right?!" Freya asked, her voice shaking in fear.

Ingrid tilted her head to the side, her eyes fixed on Hunter G’s body. She had no idea why he was like this, but she heard when Freya said that that guy who made them do the memory search on her was the same person who poisoned him which meant that it must have had something to do with her.

Come to think of it, she also realised that when she was begging Hunter G to help her, he had a very familiar expression on his face. One that said he was trying to block out all the sounds, one that showed he was uncomfortable with everything. She didn’t realise it at that moment because she was scared and with everything involved but Hunter G was behaving weirdly at that time.

So if Ingrid wanted to know what happened, she had to help Hunter G. It also seems like if Hunter G survived, he would spill everything. That was the main reason why she was helping him because as she said, she wasn’t a saint who would do things just for praise. She always had a motive.

"Don’t you trust him?" Ingrid turned to Freya, "If he wants to live, he’ll pull through. I’ve already done my best to help, it’s up to him and the nurse to stay alive. But don’t worry, he won’t die. Not on my watch."

After Ingrid’s words, the whole room went silent. Only occasionally would Hunter G’s voice be heard, groaning and gritting his teeth. Nurse Maya had locked the door as well, not intending on letting anyone in until he was okay. And that was for the best, at least for now.

As for Ingrid, she laid back down on the bed with Lysander’s help, and closed her eyes, shutting herself out to the world. She wanted Lorna to explain what just happened back there.

’Lorna.’ Ingrid started, ’During the memory search, I saw a memory that belonged to the original Ingrid.’

’That’s right, host!’ Lorna said, her mechanical voice sounded a bit excited.

’But how? You said that it’s only until I assimilate completely into the Original Ingrid’s body that I would get all the memories I didn’t get earlier. I don’t think that’s done yet so how did I... Or is it related to the memory search?’

’Correct! According to the database, the memory search machine was designed to enter the deepest parts of a person’s mind. Be it something hidden or whatever they just didn’t want to say but that’s only if they’re dealing with a normal person. You have the system on your side and whatever the system doesn’t want, then it won’t happen. However, this situation was very special. Because the system wanted to protect the memories that you brought from your world, the memories of the System and also, some memories that are known only to Ingrid, it created a form of effect that clashed with the Memory Search Machine. So instead of them receiving the memories that they were meant to receive, you had gotten them instead.’

’So that’s how it is...’

’Yes. But it also caused a backlash in your mind. That crazy guy might have wanted to search your memories but he also had another intention. He wanted to make sure you were brain dead.’

’Explain because I have no fucking idea what you mean by that. He wants me to become stupid? Why? I have nothing to do with him, we also have never met before. Why would he want me to become a fool?’

’Think about it, Host. His original intention was to find out where you had gotten the Star Glow Herbs, he wasn’t really concerned about information on those zombies. So if he finished getting the information he wanted, why would he want to let another person still remember the information he’s been trying to get?’

Realisation slowly dawned upon Ingrid as Lorna explained things. ’That greedy bastard... He wants to be the only one with that information so destroying my memories would ensure that... Oh fuck.’ Ingrid clenched her fists, ’Is he stupid? Even if he destroys my memories, does he think I’m the only person who knows? Besides, he already destroyed the village and I picked up every last stalk of flower. Is he crazy?!’

’Host, you can’t stay here for long or else you’ll be targeted by a lot of people.’ Lorna warned, her voice worried.

’That’s true. They might already be trying to find reasons why that machine got destroyed just like that. Hunter G might also have been in trouble because of me. I really can’t stay here any longer. Lorna, please tell me the situation of this whole world. You have to tell me now.’