"Well, I think that's it." Alek wiped the sweat from his forehead as he finished another line in his "diary." It was just an ordinary notebook, but for him, it had become an essential tool for keeping track of the inexplicable. The two weeks of "leave" were about to end, and during that time, he had been drawn into the mysterious dimension three more times.
Each experience had been unique.
The first time, he was buying groceries when he felt that now-familiar pull. On that journey, he encountered creatures again, though unlike his first encounter, most of them were tame. They were different, almost docile, as if part of a peaceful ecosystem within that timeless chaos.
The second time, he was in the shower, resulting in a particularly awkward and hard-to-explain episode when he was returned to the real world.
The third... well, he preferred not to talk about it. Even in his diary, he had only scribbled one line about it, leaving the details buried in his mind.
Alek wrote carefully, drawing precise lines as he described what he had learned about that place, which still lacked a fixed name in his mind.
"'Layer outside of time' sounds too simple," he murmured, placing the pencil on the table.
Among his notes, patterns he had started noticing stood out. Besides the ravenous hunger that consumed him upon returning, on the fourth absorption, he experienced something new: intense headaches. These didn't appear while he was inside but hit him upon returning to the real world. It was as if all the knowledge and experiences gained on the other side condensed and overwhelmed him in an instant.
That fourth absorption had been the longest so far—three whole weeks on the other side. During that time, he explored further, investigating both flora and fauna. Although he initially wanted to avoid the grand library, fearing he might be expelled again, he discovered something crucial: there was no guarantee about the duration of each immersion. They could be as short as minutes or extend for weeks, perhaps even longer.
Another fascinating but unsettling aspect was his interaction with the fauna. Equipped with basic supplies and a personal defense weapon, Alek tried using a rifle on one of his trips. However, the bullets froze mid-air, as if time itself refused to allow the impact. Perplexed, he switched strategies and obtained a baton—something simpler but functional.
On one of his explorations, he returned to the site of the confrontation between the buffalo and the spiny lizard. What he found was baffling: the area was dotted with craters, and the terrain had been reclaimed by dense grasslands. While walking, he fell into the largest crater and discovered something chilling—the skeleton of the spiny lizard. It was covered in moss and strange plants, as if time in that place had accelerated.
"Temporal dissonance," he murmured, closing the diary and gazing out the window.
Alek studied the massive skull in front of him, impressed by its size and state of preservation. "Well, it makes sense. Nothing happened here while weeks passed there. It'd be strange if years hadn't gone by over there."
He leaned closer, examining the skeleton's details. Despite the evident passage of time, the material seemed durable. An idea began forming in his mind.
"If this material is as strong as it seems... maybe I could use it for something. A weapon or even a shield."
Alek inspected the skull more closely. It was enormous, almost as tall as he was. As he touched it, a strange sensation coursed through him, as if the structure still retained an echo of energy from that place.
"I can't take the whole thing. This is when I really need an inventory system. HEY, DEVELOPERS! CAN'T YOU GIVE ME SOMETHING TO CARRY THIS?"
His shout echoed in the void, releasing the accumulated frustration of days of uncertainty. But, as always, there was no response beyond the silence of the surroundings.
Sighing, Alek resigned himself. "Fine. One rib will have to do for now."
With effort, he broke off one of the ribs from the skeleton. It was heavy, but not as much as he'd expected. He carefully tied it to his backpack, ensuring it was secure before taking one last look at the crater.
"Where could that buffalo have gone... or the orangutan that was watching the fight?"
The memory of the creatures filled him with questions. It wasn't just the confrontation that intrigued him, but also the fact that he hadn't seen them again since. Something about their behavior made him think they weren't mere animals.
"Maybe there are more clues here..."
Alek explored the area around the crater a bit longer but found no trace of the creatures. Finally, he was returned to the spot where he'd appeared. He thought he'd lose the rib when he was returned to his apartment, as had happened with other objects before. However, to his surprise, when he was absorbed again, he still had the rib and his backpack with him.
This discovery opened up a new possibility—he could bring things from the other side to the real world, though he still didn't understand the rules behind it. He tried bringing some "borrowed" objects, but they always returned to their original position, except for this rib.
Alek leaned over his desk, writing frantically in his diary, recording every detail of his latest experience. As he did so, he turned his head toward Therbo, who floated silently by his side.
"Therbo, have you analyzed the rib?"
The drone emitted a faint hum before responding in its neutral, precise tone:
"Sir, the rib, while containing DNA from a mountain spiny lizard, appears to have undergone significant mutations. This would explain its exponential growth. Additionally, I've detected traces of an unknown energy type—something not in my database. I recommend sending it to an authorized research facility in the city for a more detailed analysis."
Alek paused, considering the potential consequences of handing over such a peculiar object. Finally, he shook his head.
"No. That would mean explaining where I got it, and it wouldn't be long before someone tries to abduct me to find out. It's too risky."
Therbo floated silently, as if processing the implications of Alek's decision.
"Understood, sir. Any other actions you wish to take regarding the rib?"
Alek looked at the drone with determination.
"Yes. Therbo, erase your memory from the last three days."
The drone hesitated momentarily before responding.
"Sir, erasing my memory could compromise important data related to your safety and well-being. Are you certain you want to proceed with this request?"
"I'm completely certain. We can't take risks. Do it now."
After a brief pause, Therbo responded, "Proceeding with data deletion. This will take a moment."
The drone began emitting a soft hum as it carried out the order. Alek watched it with a mixture of relief and caution. He couldn't afford for even his assistant to hold information that might attract unwanted attention.
As he waited for Therbo to finish, Alek returned to his living room to watch some TV.