An expression of utter bewilderment etched itself upon Elisha's face as he surveyed his surroundings, attempting to make sense of the inexplicable. Unfazed by the murmurs of the crowd, his attention was drawn to the absence of the truck that had caused the initial commotion, and the traffic light remained undamaged as if untouched by the recent events.
Confusion enveloped Elisha as he pondered the perplexing situation before him. Casting his gaze towards the convenience store where he had recently made a purchase, he was astounded to find that it had undergone a transformative metamorphosis, now resembling a vibrant toy store.
Rising to his feet, Elisha's senses were greeted by the murmur of the gathering crowd, their expressions a mix of concern and disgust directed his way. Perplexed by their scrutiny, he cast his eyes downward and noticed his tracksuit's worn-out state, with visible tears and frayed edges that lent it a disheveled and lackluster appearance. In that moment, he resembled a beggar or a homeless wanderer, left without a home to retreat to.
Driven by disorientation and a desperate longing for familiarity, he instinctively broke into a sprint, following the well-worn route that led him back to his home, all the while grappling with the bewildering sequence of events.
Amidst his frantic run, Elisha's surroundings came into view, revealing a disorienting blend of the familiar and the altered. While certain parts of the area remained unchanged, evoking his memories, other places had undergone inexplicable transformations. The most striking example was the convenience store, which had undergone a remarkable shift, now transformed into a toy store.
The memory of the previous night's harrowing incident resurfaced, where he had narrowly evaded a truck collision only to be confronted moments later by a wheel hurtling towards him, resulting in his unconsciousness.
'Where Am I?', this is the question that first came into Elisha's mind. No matter how he answer this question, no answer would come up.
As he continued to scan his surroundings while running, the discrepancies became more apparent, while some places were still the same.
Elisha took 5 minutes of running to arrive towards his home. Elisha approached his humble abode, a place that held both comfort and familiarity. The cozy dwelling embraced him with its worn yet welcoming facade, each crack and weathered mark telling a story of cherished memories. As he stepped through the front door, a sense of belonging washed over him, for within those walls, he found solace and the essence of home.
He did not find it strange that the door was unlocked, as his mind was in a state of disarray, and he considered it normal if his parent was inside the house.
As he made his way towards his room, Elisha encountered his mother in the living room. Halting in his tracks, he momentarily set aside thoughts of the strange events and yearned for rest to gather his scattered thoughts. "I'm back," he announced aloud.
His words prompted a middle-aged woman, around 35 years old, to turn her head in confusion. "Who are you?" she exclaimed, bewildered by Elisha's presence.
"I bought some things from the convenience store," Elisha replied, though it seemed odd to hear such a question from his own mother.
"A robber!? I will call the police if you don't leave," the woman exclaimed, eyeing Elisha's tattered clothes while fumbling for her phone.
Footsteps resounded from upstairs, drawing near to the living room. "Mother, what's happening?" a teenager questioned, joining his mother's side and casting a curious gaze upon the unexpected presence in their home. He also noticed the battered appearance of the boy in front of him.
For the third time that day, Elisha was petrified, his mouth left agape as he fixated on the descending teenager. His mind struggled to comprehend the unfolding events, unable to accept the bewildering reality before him. Utter disbelief washed over Elisha, leaving him in a state of shock.
The source of this perplexing situation became evident as Elisha beheld the teenager's striking resemblance to himself, a resemblance that could only be described as uncanny. It was as if the teenager was an exact replica of Elisha himself. The realization settled upon him, casting a deep-seated astonishment that he found difficult to process.
With trembling fingers, Elisha pointed towards the boy and managed to utter, "Who are you?" The question hung in the air, its weight mirrored by the confusion and disbelief etched upon Elisha's face.
"What are you talking about?" the boy asked, his brow furrowed as he struggled to comprehend Elisha's perplexing question.
"I... am...Eli...right, mother?" Elisha pleaded, his gaze shifting towards the middle-aged woman, desperately seeking an answer or acknowledgment.
"I don't know who you are, and I only have one son. If you don't want me to call the police, then please leave," the woman replied firmly, her tone leaving no room for negotiation.
Frantic with emotion, Elisha attempted to rush toward his mother, tears welling up in his eyes, but he was abruptly halted by the teenager.
'What is happening? Why? Is it all a dream? Did I do something wrong and get cursed with this situation?', Elisha's mind raced with questions, longing for answers that would provide clarity.
In a sudden and eerie turn of events, a strange phenomenon unfolded. The clock ceased its ticking, the flames in the stove froze in stillness, the characters on the television screen became motionless. Both the middle-aged woman and the boy stood suspended in time, their once-fluid movements trapped in an eternal tableau. The air grew heavy and stagnant, as if the entire world had come to a standstill.
Elisha discovered his immobility, his body rendered motionless except for his eyes, which roved in every direction. Suddenly, a blinding light pierced through, forcing him to instinctively shut his eyes to shield himself. When he dared to open them again, an old man stood before him, carrying a mystical staff, his long white hair a testament to his age, and his robe emanating an air of fantastical enchantment.
Elisha fixed his gaze upon the old man, his mind swirling with questions. Once again, for the third time today, the unspoken query echoed within him, 'Who are you?', though he realized his inability to vocalize his thoughts.
The old man responded with a mysterious laugh, his hand gently stroking his flowing white beard. "Ah, so you have come from a parallel universe," he mused, his gaze fixed upon the bewildered Elisha. "Swept away by a timequake, indeed.", he continued.
"Now, my young friend, would you care to embark on an exhilarating journey into a world beyond imagination?" The old man posed the question, disregarding Elisha's situation and worries, as if knowing the answer before it was given.
'NO, NO, NO... all I ever wanted was to go back to my original world and think of what happened today as a dream. I just wanted to play games, watch anime, and be a freaking NEET, dammit!', Elisha's frustration erupted, his inner voice echoing with desperation.
The old man, anticipating the boy's response, nodded knowingly. "You leave me no choice, kid," he remarked solemnly. With a wave of his wand, a mysterious energy enveloped the pair, and in an instant, both the old man and the boy vanished into thin air. As if by magic, the house returned to its ordinary state, devoid of any trace of their presence.