October 30, 2023

Today is a gray autumn day. I find myself immersed in a university seminar that, although interesting, fails to divert my attention from the book in front of me. Nico, a fellow student, also tries to get my attention, but the temptation of reading is too irresistible.

"Carmine, what are you doing? You should be following the seminar!" He reproaches me in a hushed tone.

The monotony of academic routine clashes with the promise of adventures and mysteries within the pages of the fantasy book I'm flipping through.

"Come on, Nico, let me read. Between internships and exams, I have no other time for it," I reply with a pitying tone.

Nico warns me, showing a bit of stubbornness: "Do as you wish, but then I won't share my notes with you." His determination makes me realize that this time he might be serious, but I just can't stop reading.

The seminar continues slowly; the lecturer's voice blends with the fantastic plot of the book, creating a surreal atmosphere where the boundary between reality and fantasy becomes increasingly blurred.

I glance at the clock, aware that the end of the seminar is imminent. My thoughts are already focused on the next step: taking the bus to reach the pharmacy, where I have an afternoon shift. Between university commitments and work, my life is characterized by a tight routine, with brief escapes offered by reading.

Speaking of reading, the fantasy book in my hands, titled "The Courage of a Hero", proves to be an effective escape from reality. The pages transport my mind to distant worlds, populated by heroes and demons, where the struggle for survival is brutal and unforgiving.

My interest in the book is heightened by its mysterious nature. I don't know the author's name, and I haven't been able to find any information online. I stumbled upon the book by chance a few days ago on my way to the buses, on the ground. Who could have written it? Perhaps it belonged to a student? And why didn't they come back to retrieve it?

After picking it up, I went straight to the lost and found office near the bus terminal. Instead of leaving the book directly, I left my number, hoping that the author or owner of the book would come forward. I can't explain why I didn't leave the book directly; it almost seems like the book itself "picked up" on me.

The seminar comes to an end with the usual monotony, and by 1:30 PM, I'm already on the bus. The first thing I do is put on my headphones to listen to some music and relax.

The day unfolds in a series of events, each contributing to a strange sense of unreality. At 1:45 PM, I arrive at the pharmacy, and after entering, I find myself in the usual setting of shelves filled with medicines and over-the-counter products. The owner, a reassuring, authoritative, and friendly figure, observes me with curiosity.

"Good morning, Carmine. Just back from university?" He asks with a warm smile. His voice resonates in the air, creating a familiar atmosphere.

"Yeah, Boss. Quite an interesting seminar... What's this?" I point to a bag on the counter, hoping it contains what I imagine. The owner proudly explains, "Oh, that's a sandwich. I had it brought from the deli nearby for you. Knowing you, you probably haven't eaten anything yet!" I thank him with a smile, "Oh, thanks, Boss." Hunger begins to set in, yet, before grabbing it, a strange feeling of lightness passes through my hand. It's as if the sandwich is just a shadow, a mere illusion.

The owner, unaware of my perplexity, continues to talk about the pharmacy's news. New arrivals of medicines, promotions to announce, but my mind is elsewhere. I'm focused on the anomaly I'm experiencing. I concentrate on the sandwich, trying to figure out if it's really real or the result of some kind of hallucination.

After a few attempts, I manage to grab the sandwich, momentarily ignoring its ethereal appearance. With the first bite, the taste of ham and cheese floods my mouth. It's real, or at least it seems to be. The taste is authentic, but the sense of unreality persists.

Am I going crazy? Do I have some mental illness? Maybe I'm indulging too much in fantasy, and it's just a sugar low.

The pharmacy shift proceeds calmly. Customers come and go, requests for medicines, advice on products. While carrying out daily tasks, my mind wanders between the pages of the fantasy book and the strange experience with the sandwich.

In the mid-afternoon, while assisting a customer at the cashier, I notice a small book on one of the shelves, placed between anti-inflammatories and antipyretics.

After saying goodbye to the customer, I quickly grab it. It has a worn cover and a faded title, but something catches my attention. I approach and take it in my hands.

...

The feeling is familiar.

"The Courage of a Hero." It's the same book I'm reading, or at least an identical copy. I nervously look back, as if expecting the appearance of an invisible author. My mind begins to weave theories and conjectures about this surreal coincidence.

"Boss! I found a book among the medications, do you know anything about it?" I nervously ask, hoping he can give me some information.

"Book? Among the medications? No... Impossible, some customer must have left it. Put it on the counter; they'll come back for it sooner or later," he replies confidently, while reading some documents.

I can't help but wonder who left this book in the pharmacy. Perhaps the mystery will be revealed soon. Meanwhile, my routine continues, and the pharmacy resumes its usual rhythm.

The evening approaches, and with it, the time to dedicate a few hours to study. Once home, I have dinner with my family and then retire to my bedroom like a hermit. I take out the book and let myself be transported into its fantastic dimension. The words come to life, painting vivid images in my mind, momentarily forgetting the commitments of the real world.

However, I remember that I should be studying and not having fun, so after just an hour of immersion in reading, I reluctantly close the book and prepare to focus on my studies. I place it on the desk, and as I look at it, it seems to emit a mysterious aura. I wonder if its presence has any influence on the strangeness I experienced during the day.

The hours pass, and I should dive into bed, but not before finishing the chapter I started. At 11:30 PM, succeeding in the task, I close the book.

I close my eyes and stretch a bit.

A gust of wind pervades my body, but I don't remember leaving the window open.

I open my eyes again and discover that I'm no longer in my room but in a park not far from where I live.

The moonlight filters through the tree branches, creating shadow play on the benches.

What am I doing here? Am I dreaming? Yet it seems so realistic...

Something on a bench catches my eye. There's a seemingly worn-out book. I read the title: "The Courage of a Hero."

All of this makes no sense; perhaps, in the end, I've gone mad.

It seems like this book is haunting me. First at university, then in the pharmacy, and now in the park.

Before figuring out what to do, I start to stagger. I immediately understand that an earthquake is happening right now. No... It's not just an earthquake. The trees are bending... The buildings... The buildings in front of my eyes are crumbling, but I don't hear any noise.

The book, still in my hands, starts to glow intensely. A strong wind lifts the pages, as if it wants to erase the boundary between the two dimensions, the real and the fictional. The fantastical world described in the pages seems to overlap with my surroundings.

The book shines more and more brightly, obscuring everything else.

In the darkness, I finally lose consciousness.

I don't know how long I remained in that state.

As soon as I manage to open my eyes again, I'm immersed in a white light that stretches into infinity.

I feel a bit dizzy, and getting up seems like a titanic task.

The silence is total, and my presence seems to almost vanish in the air.

I can't understand how long I've been in these strange conditions, but now I know that the first sense that has returned to me is touch. I feel the grass under my hands, although I clearly remember that there was concrete before.

Finally, it seems that sight is returning too. The colors are more vivid, the sky is vast and dotted with millions of stars.

I look around with curious eyes...

I observe my hands, which seem smaller than usual, as well as my arms.

With difficulty, I stand up, realizing that even my legs are shorter. But what is happening?

I start to hear strange noises behind me, a clamor that makes my head spin.

I turn around and stay open-mouthed.

Despite it being night, the moon shines brightly and makes everything clear, almost as if it were day.

There are people fighting against monsters. Monsters fighting against people.

It's as if I ended up on a battlefield.

I raise my eyes and see arrows flying in the air, hitting the heads of some monsters with fantastic trajectories.

"Eh?" I finally manage to speak.

"Aaaaaah!" I scream, seized by panic.

But where the hell have I ended up? Is it really another world?

"Damn, there's a naked child here! He must be a survivor!" Someone approaches me, looking like a soldier.

I look down. Around me, I see only rubble.

The soldier picks me up and takes me away from the battlefield.

I look back, observing what I leave behind.

"Damn."

Those are monsters... No, it can't be... The more I look at them, the more I'm convinced.

They are... zombies!