Chapter 3: She Is A Girl?

With Alex's support, I stumbled through the dimly lit hospital corridor. My legs felt like jelly, weakened by two years of disuse, but the urgency of the situation pushed me forward. I had to trust this mysterious Dagger, Alex, as they led me toward an uncertain future.

The intercom continued to blare emergency alerts, reminding us that the hospital was no longer a sanctuary. Shadows danced on the walls, and the occasional distant growl sent shivers down my spine. It was a stark reminder that we were in the midst of a world gone awry.

"Tell me your name," Alex said as we reached a junction in the corridor. They kept their pace steady, never faltering despite the chaos around us.

I swallowed hard, my throat dry. "I'm Ethan," I replied, my voice barely a whisper. "Ethan Turner."

Alex nodded, acknowledging my introduction. "Well, Ethan, welcome to a reality you never asked for."

His words held a weight I couldn't fully comprehend, but there was no time for further explanation. We needed to get out of the hospital, and fast.

As we turned another corner, the sound of approaching footsteps made us both freeze. Alex pressed a finger to my lips, signaling for silence. The footsteps grew closer, echoing ominously in the corridor.

My heart raced, and I gripped the edge of my hospital gown, my mind racing with fear and uncertainty. Would we be discovered by the hospital staff, or worse, another monster?

Then, from around the corner, came a voice—a voice I hadn't expected.

"Alex, are you all right?"

The footsteps belonged to a group of Daggers, all armed and on high alert. At the front of the group was a girl, her hood pulled back to reveal long, dark hair and piercing green eyes. She was the first to see us.

"Alex?" she called out again, her voice filled with concern.

Alex stepped into the dim light, and I watched as the girl's eyes widened in surprise. She looked from Alex to me and back again, her expression one of mild embarrassment.

"Is this... a rescue mission or a reunion?" she quipped, a playful smile tugging at her lips.

Alex sighed, clearly unamused. "Jess, now is not the time. We need to get out of here."

I, on the other hand, felt my cheeks flush with embarrassment as it dawned on me. "Wait, you two know each other?"

Jess chuckled, stepping closer to Alex. "Yeah, we go way back. Childhood friends, you could say. She has always been pretty shy at times."

The realization hit me like a ton of bricks. Alex, the mysterious and battle-hardened Dagger who had saved my life, was not only a girl but also someone with a long history with Jess.

"I'm sorry," I stammered, my face turning even redder. "I just assumed..."

Alex smirked, clearly enjoying my discomfort. "It's a common misconception," she said, her tone teasing. "But it's probably best if we save the introductions for later. We've got a world full of monsters to navigate."

With that, we continued down the corridor, our unlikely trio now united. I couldn't help but feel a mixture of relief and embarrassment, knowing that I had a lot to learn about this new world and the people who inhabited it, especially the enigmatic Alex and her equally formidable friend, Jess.