After a while, Jake began to notice strange two white lines in the sky. It was something like a wrestle, but no one but himself notices these lines.
Alex: "I don't think you're up to these lines."
Jake: "I'm kind of schizophrenic."
More than a hundred people have disappeared from the city. No traces and anything.
Another mission. Jake was sent to the mall on orders that there were some creatures on the roof of the buildings.
There were three soldiers, Jake Kyle and someone else. People were panicking. Someone shouted that they were monsters, someone that they were outside the dome. Someone was just waiting to be rescued.
Kyle: "How are things on the roofs? reception."
"nothing has been found. Reception"
"There are monsters out there!" someone shouted from the crowd.
"monsters are dragging everyone who climbs onto the roof. Check it out for yourself. These monsters have already taken these people," said one old man.
Alex: "They're not lying. The monitors were there at least before you arrived."
Jake raised his head and there were bloody footprints on the roofs, but it wasn't blood. It was more like something like lines in the air, only those were yellow and these were red.
Kyle: "It was clear from the surveillance cameras that there were three of the creatures. Hey Jake, there are no such creatures in the database. It's a new kind of thing."
Soldier: "everyone is carefully evacuated to the exit! Stay calm and don't panic. There are no monsters."
People started coming out of the mall. Everything was strange, as if something was wrong. And it's not about monsters at all.
Only Jake saw the invisible red threads. The others saw the natural situation.
Alex: "Do you think that the golden thread is connected with the blood thread?"
Jake: "Kyle, where did the monsters go?"
Kyle: "It's not visible on the cameras. The monsters went to the top of the buildings and then disappeared on the roofs"
Jake thought about it and looked down. Already on the roof, he feels a strong smell.
"My ears are ringing."
...
In the evening, Jake couldn't sleep and decided to go to training.
The training room was empty. When Jake entered, the room turned on the light.
Carmen: [the training mode is activated. Who do you want to fight, sir? Human or monster?]
Jake: "the monster"
Various monsters began to appear from different corners. Two mechspiders.
[COMBAT MODULE: ACTIVE]
[WEAPON: ENERGY CANNON]
[AMMO: 20 / 20 | RELOAD TIME: 60 sec]
[STATUS: READY]
[ABILITY: <
[TYPE: TELEPATHIC ATTACK | RANGE: 4 m]
[EFFECT: ENEMIES ARE REPELLED FROM THE CENTER]
[COOLDOWN: 30 sec.]
[STATUS: READY]
[WEAPON: BOARDING HOOK]
[AVAILABILITY: 1 / 1 | COOLDOWN: 30 sec]
[STATUS: READY]
[WEAPON: DUAL PISTOLS]
[AMMO: 12 / 12 | 12 / 12 | RELOAD TIME: 60 sec per unit]
[MODE: DUAL FIRE]
[STATUS: READY]
[ABILITY: <
[TYPE: DEFENSE | SHELL: ENERGY DOME]
[EFFECT: IMPENETRABLE TO ATTACKS]
[DURATION: 5 sec | COOLDOWN: 40 sec]
[REQUIRED ENERGY: 20 FB]
[STATUS: READY]
[ABILITY: <
[TYPE: SUPPORT | EFFECT: +50 HP]
[COOLDOWN: 50 sec.]
[STATUS: READY]
Jake fires an energy cannon at a mechspider
Jake shoots several times. He spends all 20 bullets on one spider, which goes to him, but not a single bullet hit the spider's fur. He says to the team, [stop Carmen], and the spider stops. He checks if he hit the target.
Not a single hit. 0 out of 20 bullets hit the spider.
Alex: "You feel bad. Postpone the training."
Jake: "I feel fine. leave me alone with your advice."
Jake takes two guns and shoots the Mechaspiders.
Three hits out of 24 shots.
Alex: "You need to rest. Stop this training."
Jake: "I'm fine. Don't mess with me!"
After several attempts, Jake still had no results. It was as if he had forgotten how to focus on a goal.
An ambulance burst through the door of the training room. Before Jake could do or say anything, his body went numb and he lost consciousness.
...
His heart struck sharply — painful, like an electric shock.
His hands trembled. He tried to lift them, but his fingers wouldn't obey.
His body felt locked — as if he were trapped inside his own skin.
His muscles refused to respond. His heart thudded dully.
Alex: "The doctor diagnosed you with an arrhythmia."
Jake: "But I've never had any heart problems. And how could you call an ambulance?"
Alex: "I'm not, but Carmen is."
Jake: "AI?"
Alex: "Yes. The AI scanned your body, diagnosed your condition, and called an ambulance."
Alex: "You're not taking care of yourself at all."
Jake: "Isn't Fulciva capable of beating an arrhythmia?"
Alex: "Are you a moron?"
Jake: "..."
...
HOSPITAL ROOM — MORNING
Soft light filters through the blinds. Jake lies in a hospital bed. His eyes are open. He slowly turns his head, looking around. It's quiet. Only the sound of the EKG monitor and a faint hum from the IV.
The door opens quietly. A doctor walks in — a man in his 50s, wearing a white coat and ID badge. A nurse follows with a tablet. The doctor isn't surprised to see the patient awake — he's used to this.
DOCTOR: "Good morning. I'm Dr. Simon, the attending cardiologist. How are you feeling?"
Jake: "Like I got hit by a truck… Where am I?"
DOCTOR: "City General Hospital. You were brought in last night. You had a significant arrhythmic episode. From the notes, it was paroxysmal — short but strong. You lost consciousness on site."
Jake:"I remember my hands shaking."
DOCTOR:"That's expected. During episodes like this, the brain doesn't get enough oxygen. That can cause numbness, loss of control. The good news is, the ambulance got to you in time."
Jake:"I didn't even know I had heart problems."
DOCTOR: "Now you do. Don't worry — you'll be fine, as long as we address it early. We've already done an EKG, bloodwork, and overnight monitoring. So far, nothing critical, but we need more detailed testing."
Jake: "but..."
Alex: "Oh, please don't argue with the doctor."
DOCTOR: "I'm not here to scare you either. You're young. Sometimes these things hit without warning — stress, lack of sleep, too much caffeine, physical strain… But we'll rule out any underlying conditions. We'll set you up with a Holter monitor and do an echocardiogram."
Jake: "And if it's something bad?"
DOCTOR: "Then at least you'll know — and you'll be prepared. That's better than ignoring it. Get some rest. The nurse will bring you water and breakfast. If you feel chest pain or dizziness, press the call button."
The doctor nods and leaves. The nurse checks the monitors. Jake remains alone, staring at the ceiling, processing everything.