[We see a patient lying on a hospital bed. Nurses are fussing around him. After a while, one of the nurses hears that the patient is groaning. She gets frightened and runs to call the doctor.]

PROLOGUE: AWAKENING
3 DAYS AFTER AWAKENING
Doctor: Can you hear me? Are you having difficulty speaking? Can you move your head? Just nod if you can hear me.

Doctor: Look up, please. Very good. How do you feel now? Can you speak? What is your name? When were you born? Can you recall?

Doctor: Good. Now then… Please try to relax. There is plenty of time. I need to tell you something. Please listen, and try not to panic. You've been in a coma for… quite some time. Yes, yes, I know. You'd like to know how long… I'm afraid it's been… nine years. Damn it! Nurse! Calm down! Calm down! Try not to panic! Try not to panic. Now then… You'll be alright. There now. Just rest.

1 WEEK AFTER AWAKENING

Nurse: How do you feel?

Doctor: It's been one week since you came to. Now, let's try getting you out of that bed. Nurse. Don't worry. You've lost some strength, but we've been maintaining your muscle mass through messages, CPM therapy, and EMS. Now, I need to explain something to you, but you mustn't be alarmed. Nine years ago, you were injured - in an explosion. Upon examination, we discovered 100 and 8 foreign bodies embedded within you. In addition to shrapnel, we also found fragments of human bone, human teeth. Most of it was removed, but… Some of the fragments still remain… They are located near your heart, and in your skull. Look at this… The fragments are lodged deep within your cerebral cortex. We couldn't give you an MRI - the metal, you see. But even if we were to extracted it, you would most likely suffer a brain hemorrhage. Mental and physical impairment are… unavoidable, however, you current state is not life threatening. One more thing. This X-ray is your upper body. You'd better look now. Best to understand your situation sooner than later. I know it's difficult, but please look down. Best to see it with your own eyes. Be brave.

Doctor: Try to calm down. Calm down. Please calm down. It's going to be ok. Better, yes, yes? Calm down. Yes. Better… Yes…

2 WEEKS AFTER AWAKENING

Doctor: It's true. There are those who wish you would have never woken up. You should be dead. But you're not. The wheels are in motion. You enemies are everywhere. We must alter your appearance immediately. Otherwise, I fear you won't leave this place alive. It's a wide open world out there, so there's something we need to take care of first. I'm going to change your appearance - we have no other choice. What you look like, however…

Doctor: Very good. Now, let's remove these bandages. Your face has healed nicely. To tell you the truth, these bandages were more for your protection - to hide you from those who want you dead. As of today, you name is Ahab. Forget everything. Your name, your past.

[A nurse standing nearby is strangled by a woman in military uniform. The doctor, not paying attention to it, shows Ahab several photos, and then pulls out the mirror again.]

Doctor: This is you - as you've lived until this day. Tomorrow, it becomes your phantom.

[The mirror in the doctor's hands starts shaking and reflects the face of Ahab before the operation. In a moment, we see that the throat of the doctor has been tightened by slipknot. He pulls a gun out of his pocket, but it's too late. He slowly dies. A woman in military uniform walks away from a limp body and speaks on the radio.]

Woman: Not yet. The patient in the next bed saw my face… Of course. Consider it done.

[The woman takes out the knife and goes towards Ahab, but when she sees the gun on the floor, she picks it up and takes aim. A second before the shot, another patient attacks her. They have a short fight, after which the patient starts throwing at her everything that comes to hand. One of these things is a bottle of alcohol. Tired of this pampering, the woman throws a knife into the patient, then chokes Ahab. The screen fades and in the background, we hear the sound of a lighter. When the image is restored, a woman in military uniform already embracing the flames. She desperately fights for her life, but another bottle of alcohol is thrown at her. Going crazy with pain, she throws herself out of the window. Ahab examines his new arm prosthesis. The patient offers him to run.]

Patient: Okay, Ahab, time to go.

Ahab: What happened to the woman?

Patient: The woman? I - we - gave her a light. She took the short way down.

Ahab: Who are you…?

Patient: Who am I? You are talking to yourself. Been watching over you for nine years, and call me Ishmael.

Ahab: What the hell is going on?!

Ishmael: Well, good news: You're in the land of the living. Bad news? Whole world wants you dead. On your feet, soldier - the whole place is coming down!

[Apparently Ahab can not get up.]

Ishmael: Need a little pick-me-up? Here…

[Ishmael injects something to Ahab.]

Ishmael: Nothing like a little digoxin to get you back in the game. C'mon.