Chapter 5

I woke up again.

"Patient died after 2 hours, 28 minutes, and 17 seconds. No noticeable changes in health from the previous life. There is a change in reaction, though. The patient seems to be waking up sooner and reacting to his surroundings more quickly. He also appears to be staring forward, unblinking. Could this be a result of the eyes growing back improperly?"

The doctor removed his gloves before speaking. "Possibly. Write it down, and we'll check his vision next time. We're done for today. 4 deaths total, including the one I tested at the start."

"Yes, doctor. Shall I inform the guards that they can escort him back now?"

"Please do."

The nurse left and returned with 2 guards, who undid the restraints and lifted me off the bed. I didn't even try to move. All I could think of was the pain, like the memories were a physical thing, and I was still feeling it. They grumbled about how I wasn't walking for them as they dragged me back. The lights were already out when they dropped me back in my cell. Once they left the room, the others tried talking to me.

"What the hell? They had you for hours. What happened?" Daniel whispered.

Henry responded, "I didn't see any injuries on him."

"They killed me. They tried to cut my heart out. I was cut apart... they took so many parts of me. I died... over and over." I tried to tell them.

"Drugs, maybe?" Henry again.

Anna spoke up next, "It can feel like that. You're still in one piece, though. Just take some time and-"

"NO! They CUT. ME. UP! They took my legs, my teeth, my eyes, my ribs, EVERYTHING! Over and over and over!"

Multiple people whispered loudly, "Calm down!" "Shhhh!" "The guards will hear!" "Quiet!"

"HEY!" The guards outside the door threw it open and came into the room, illuminating it with a torch.

"Who was it? Who's talking?" One of them asked no one in particular.

Daniel answered, "Me. Sorry, I was having a nightmare."

"Really? You Daniel? Cause it didn't sound like you."

"Ahem. Been a while since I yelled. My voice was a bit weird. Forgive me."

"Forgive you!? Daniel. You know we got rules here." The two guards smiled and drew clubs from their belts. "If we just let you yell, others will think it's ok. can't have that."

They smiled as they approached his cell. I hated it. I hated them. And I hated myself for always making things worse.

"It was me! You're so stupid, you can't tell his voice from mine? I guess that's how you end up working in a hole where your only job is to stare at a door."

Both of them turned to me. Their smiles were gone now. Replaced by a shocked look like they couldn't believe a prisoner would dare insult them. I stood up and glared at them.

One of them pulled out a ring of keys, and they approached my cell together. "I guess the new guy needs to learn how things work down here."

"Stupid brat. Maybe a few cracked bones and missing teeth will teach you some manners."

Seeing the ring of keys shocked me. If I could beat these guys could I get out? I just wanted to vent, but now I was really motivated.

They opened my cell and one approached while the other stood near the door. Instead of attacking right away, I backed away like I was afraid.

"Hm? What's wrong boy? You were all talk a second ago, hahaha."

"Just didn't realize how bad you smelled till you got closer. I always thought it was from the buckets of crap."

The guard staying near the doorway laughed.

The guard getting closer to me did not.

"... you're dead, you mouthy shit."

"Just don't hit my face. Wouldn't want to end up looking like you."

My back was against the wall. I raised my hands in front of my face like I was afraid to get hit. I hoped my setup would work. He raised the club above his head. It did. He aimed for my face. The moment he swung, I stepped to the side and threw a punch. His club hit the wall. My fist hit his chin. He stumbled a few steps back trying to keep his feet under him, but fell.

The other guard looked surprised. I thought he would come at me next. Instead, he called out, "GUARDS! PRISONER ESCAPING!"

"You loser! Coward!"

No, it wasn't over yet. If I could just beat him and use his keys to free other prisoners, I could use a prison riot to break out. It happened all the time in movies and stuff. I grabbed the club, the first guard dropped. The other one didn't approach me though. He was trying to waste time that I didn't have.

I ran at him. He had a longer reach and swung first. I pulled back and let him swing short, then raised my club as high as I could above my head. He followed with his eyes and got ready to block it. I swung my leg up as hard as I could between his legs. The sound that left his mouth in response made me feel slightly bad about it. I got over it quick though. Footsteps rushed towards the door from outside the room and couldn’t tell how many there were.

I grabbed the keys from his pocket and left my cell. As soon as I stepped out the door swung open, and 5 more guards entered including the fat one that was in charge of them.

Dammit! Could I win this? ... Ah, whatever ... If not, nothing will change for me anyway. Might as well try.

Only the fat one had a sword. The other 4 had clubs like the other guards.

The fat guard spoke. "Johnathon. You already break after only 1 session with the doctor? If he's that effective maybe I should ask him for some tips, hahaha. Why don't you get back in your cell now, and well only rough you up a little bit? One time offer since this is your first offense."

"Good idea. I can beat the rest of these lazy thugs in there, while you struggle to fit through the door."

"You-! Pathetic, scum! You're lucky we have orders not to kill you. You'll definitely wish you were dead after tonight, though." He yelled.

Despite looking super pissed, he stepped back and told the other guards to go first. How was I going to do this? Maybe if I kicked the table at one, or tried to position myself, so there was always some between me and other guards. I'll do bo-

Someone grabbed me from behind around the waist, locking both my arms at my side. It was the guard I kicked. "Agh! Get off me!"

I stomped on his foot hard, but his metal boots only hurt me. I kicked his legs and threw my head back where it connected with his nose. But it was already too late. The other guards were on top of me. They swung their clubs hard. I did my best to protect my head, but it hurt. They swung, kicked, and punched while laughing and taunting.

"Nice escape attempt! You made it out of your cell!"

"Isn't this the delusional kid that says he's a hero!?"

"That's right! The hero was beaten by a few guards."

"Heroes sure must be weak! HAHAHA"

The beating hurt worse. I already knew that, even if I was a summoned hero, I was pathetic. I knew I was an accident. This was all my punishment for wanting more than I had. Both in this world and the last. Maybe I deserved this.

As one of the guards landed a particularly good hit to my head, and things went dark.