He had felt this paranoia attack before when he had been riding in Joey's car. It was overwhelming. The paranoia would envelop all his thoughts making him feel as if his body was being controlled by it. He suddenly found it very hard to breathe and the cold dread that filled him was worsened by the cool water. He quickly got out of the water and sat on the edge of the tub. He placed his head inside his hands and breathed loudly, trying to turn off his thoughts.
It's going to be alright, he comforted himself. You'll find them. You'll find a way to let them escape. What if they're dead? No, they can't be dead. They have information, he won't kill them. They'll escape, Joey is good at that stuff. But what if they don't? What if they're dead? How can you let that happen to her after all that she did for you?! How can-
Michael let out a frustrated cry. He screamed inside his mind for his thoughts to stop. He tried to focus hard on his breathing before getting up and looking in the mirror.
His face was clean-shaven. The beard that had grown when he had been at the Peak City had vanished when he had died in his encounter with the respawner. The scar on his back
however, from being hit in the back of the cleaver was still there. He could still feel it with the back of his fingers. He liked feeling it. It reminded him of how he had taken it for Elena.
With the cuts and black circles on his face, he looked like a completely different person than the one who had suddenly come to consciousness in a world that just did not make any sense. He knew he couldn't handle this. He would go crazy. Ever since that day Elena had found him, his life had just been a blur of craziness and destruction. Everything was happening so fast. Nothing made sense at all.
But he couldn't stay like this and mope for the whole day. He went back to the tub and cleaned himself once more before changing into his new clothes. They were a little tighter than the clothes he had had. He preferred the loose clothes that had been given to him by Elena.
Michael rung the bell and within a few seconds, there was a knock on the door and the butler voice asked him if he was ready. Michael opened the door and let him inside.
The butler informed him that there was still some time till lunch and so summoned the doctor for a quick checkup. The doctor tended to Michael's wounds. He didn't have any serious injuries apart from cuts and a few bruises. His body ached from soreness however and he desperately wanted to sleep. He also was dehydrated but the doctor assured him he would feel better after getting proper nourishment. He gave him a couple of bottles of pills which he was instructed to take for a few days.
"You look a lot more presentable," said the butler afterwards and led him downstairs to the dining hall.
They entered a huge hall which looked beautiful in the sunlight that poured through the window. Michael felt himself shrink in the magnificence of the room and felt even more nervous as they approached the huge dining table where Wilson sat at the head with his family. His family consisted of his wife, a daughter and a son who Michael was seeing for the first time. The son did not look up when Michael entered but instead stared at his food with a look of deep sadness. His eyes were red, as if he had been crying for hours.
"Ah! Here comes the hero, the man who saved my life," boomed Wilson. "Come, come, don't looks so shy. You're our guest. There's no reason to be nervous."
Michael sat at the table next to the son with the daughter sitting across him. He gave a quick ravenous look at the food on the table which consisted of a huge chicken roast whose brown skin gleamed in the sunlight along with many other side dishes consisting of mashed potatoes, grilled vegetables and a number of sauces. There were other dishes which Michael could not name but very much gladly wanted in his stomach.
The lunch was delicious and Michael felt better than he had felt for days. Wilson's wife seemed to be a very nice lady who constantly thanked him and made sure he was comfortable. The daughter and the son did not talk at all though Michael could sense her eyeing him from time to time. It was hard not to glance at her. She was beautiful.
Michael also kept curiously glancing at Clinton, Wilson's son. His pose had not changed one bit. His face, however, was a lot more redder. As if he was struggling to keep in his rage.
Suddenly, he got up from the table and left the room in a hurry.
"Pardon his manners," said Mrs. Wilson. "He's… been going through a difficult time."
"It's Cole's who did it. I'm certain!" said Wilson in a vengeful tone. "He tried to kill me and now he killed Clinton's lass knowing it would make him miserable and ruin the business. The bastard's going to pay. You bet he is."
"It was very fortunate," Lillian quickly changed the subject turning to Michael. "You being there in the mines. If I may ask, what were you doing there?"
"Come now, Lillian. He's tired, he's hungry, not the time to be asking him such questions. What does it matter anyways? He saved my life. That's all I care about."
"Yes, yes, of course. I was just curious. So much crazy stuff going on around here is just making me paranoid. Especially with this new respawner out there."
"So that news is really true?" asked Willy before taking a huge bite of the chicken. "I heard about it when I was on my way here but didn't believe it."
"It is, pa," said Rose for the first time. "The respawner was there, at the standoff."
Wilson took a big swig of wine. His expression was grim. "Two respawners in the same place," said Wilson with a shiver. "As if one wasn't enough. Well, I hope this doesn't cause another war. The Freeland has seen enough of killing ever since these freaks came here."
"The world needs more heroes," said Rose turning to Michael and smiling. Michael felt a tremor in his heart. He could not stop stealing glances at her.
After a very satisfying lunch, the same servant led him back to his room to rest. It was late noon and the dull light that shone gave the room a warm feeling. The moment Michael put his head on the bed, he fell asleep.