Nights passed by, but Zane was sleeping in the furniture section, where he had found his makeshift bed in a collection of rejected couches and chairs.
Lynsithea woke up quite early; her curiosity with respect to this strange world was far from quenched. She slipped noiselessly from Zane's side and began her venture around the mall; her footsteps echoed in soft cadence on the empty aisles. She wanders down the littered corridors, taking in what once was a busy commercial area, her eyes wide with fascination at oddities and artifacts of a world so different from her own.
Lynsithea first goes back to the bookstore. Out of curiosity, she looks through the books that weren't destroyed.
She takes some in her hands and flips through their pages, hoping but also disappointed by what she might find. She begins to read from the volume of history, but soon becomes bored as the text does not hold her interest.
She turns her attention to the shelf as she finds a collection of books on photography. Inside one, she finds some pictures of cities in the past: their dynamic streets, towering buildings, all stunningly detailed. Her eyes widened in awe as she traced outlines of the now-ruined structures she had seen the day before, murmuring softly, "Incredible."
The contrast between the past and the present fills her with a deep sense of wonder and nostalgia.
With the photography book clutched under her arm, Lynsithea wanders around the abandoned mall, peeks into every new nook that comes her way.
Her eyes rest upon some or other old shop dealing with fashion clothing; now its racks were draped in cobwebs instead of fancy garments. "Fashion?" she murmurs, curiosity tinged in her voice.
She steps inside; her eyes are instantly struck with the remains of chic garments and accessories that long ago lost their sheen. She looks around at the faded mannequins and racks of clothes, trying to imagine what this store would have looked like in its prime. Her fascination grows with each new discovery of the strange, elaborate designs that stand in such contrast to the bare surroundings.
She continues to explore the place, and amidst the scattered remains, her eyes fall upon this striking dress.
The outfit is a black-and-gray skirt set. It was a high-waisted skirt with two front pockets and a thick, black belt with an accompanying silver buckle. The gray straps crossed from top over the shoulders, and the top itself was a casual grey turtleneck with long sleeves. This will be perfect for a casual day out or running some errands. She gets so excited, rushes into the dressing room, and tries it on immediately just to feel it.
After trying out the dress, Lynsithea says it fit her perfectly. She searched for a mirror in the shop and finally found one coated with dust. When she saw herself in the mirror, she exclaimed, "Woah." She had liked the outfit but somehow felt there was something missing to complete the look.
Still holding the photography book, Lynsithea further investigates and finds a shop selling hats. Out of curiosity, she enters to look around. She chooses one at random since she isn't quite sure how it is supposed to be worn.
First, she tries to wear it as a mask; however it just falls right off. Not deterred, she next tries to set it on her right shoulder, and again it falls off when she makes a movement. how the hat is supposed to be worn.
While Lynsithea is deep in thought, she accidentally drops the book on photography.
Coincidentally, it opens to a page containing a person wearing a hat in the proper way. Curious, she places the hat atop her head and it just fits. Feeling that the hat doesn't go well with the rest of her outfit, she gets to be slightly unsatisfied.
She tries on various hats, but none of them seem quite right until she notices a mannequin wearing a black beret. The beret, made of soft, fuzzy wool or felt, has a slightly rounded shape that catches her eye. Delighted by its texture, she tries it on and finds it fits perfectly, leaving her looking happy and satisfied.
As Lynsithea continues to explore the abandoned shopping mall, photography book in hand, eventually, she feels the need to rest. Her eyes catch a wooden bench; with a deep sigh, "Rest."
She sat on the wooden bench, carefully turning over the pages of the photography book, her eyes roving over images showing crowded cities and colorful streets from far away in history.
She leans forward to examine the pictures, then murmurs to herself, "So many people."
She pays attention to the captions and tries to make sense of this unknown language. She repeats the words softly: "This is. a city?" Her brow furrows in concentration as she slowly begins to understand more. Fascination with the images sparks a determination to learn.
As Lynsithea further reads, she hums a soft melody that reverberates from her voice across the vacant shopping mall. The hauntingly beautiful sound weaves through the air, and it does have an effect on the vines. Slowly, the overgrown vines begin to stir and stretch. Delicate flowers bloom along their lengths and add color to this desolate place. It's almost as though her humming did the job of resurrecting life, half magic and half emotional into forgotten corners everywhere around the mall.
Meanwhile, Zane hears a soft, melodious humming as Zane slowly stirs awake. He blinks groggily to his sitting position and looks down to his side, where Lynsithea's sandals remain beside him, their owner having left them behind.
Stretching, he mutters, "What's that sound? Lynsithea?" With a sigh, he stands and looks around the mall, puzzled by the soft blooms of the flowers or even the soft sound of melody filling the space.
---
Strolling across the empty mall, I see something weird. Those vines that were, a year ago, lifeless now overflow with bright flowers. Their colors are vivid against the dull background of the decay.
"What the hell?" I murmur, my eyes wide with disbelief. The flowers keep blooming, spreading their petals and filling the air with a fresh scent I haven't smelled in years. I follow the trail of blossoms, the melody of Lynsithea's humming growing clearer with every step as it guides me toward the source.
I approached the source of the melody and stopped where I was.
Lynsithea sat on a wooden bench, her new clothes looking almost surreal in contrast to the background of the mall falling apart. Her black and grey skirt set fitted her well, with the black beret sort of staying on her head elegantly. Her pale skin and white hair seemed to be glowing softly in the gentle light filtering through the vines. The scene was so magically beautiful that, for a moment, I could not tear my eyes off her.
Suddenly, my [Nova Watch] started beeping insistently, breaking the spell of the moment. I glanced down at it, the sound cutting through the soft hum of Lynsithea's melody. The alert seemed urgent, drawing my attention away from the serene scene before me.
I quickly checked the watch, trying to make sense of the new signal.
[New Message]
"A message? I didn't know it could do that," I said, surprised by the feature. I quickly began to read the message, wondering what kind of update or alert could be so important.
I tapped the message box, and my eyes went wide as I saw who it was from: Ethan. I read the text, his familiar voice coming through even in written form.
[Zane, I'm worried. You didn't come home yesterday. Where are you? Are you Alright?]
I could almost hear the concern in Ethan's message. So evident that he was worried about my disappearance, and how long I had really been gone started to settle in.
I tapped out an answer, my hands darting across the display.
[Everything's fine. I came across something interesting. I'll give you all the details when I'm back.]
I pressed send thinking it might calm Ethan's concerns until I could explain my findings.
When I was done writing my message, Lynsithea glanced up from her book and came over to me with a big smile. "Morning," she said, her voice sounding a bit curious and friendly.
"Good morning," I greeted looking at Lynsithea as she came over. "What got you up so ?"
She seemed a bit down. "I had trouble sleeping."
"How come?" I asked, worried.
Lynsithea paused before answering, "Bad dreams."
I probed , "What sort of bad dreams?"
Lynsithea furrows her brow in concentration to recall details of her nightmares. "It's. blurry," she begins in a confused tone.
"I see. shadows, and there is lots of noise. It feels. heavy, like something bad is coming." Then she broke off, gazing at me with worried eyes.
"I don't remember much but it's really scary".
"It's okay, Lynsithea," I tried to soothe her discomfort. "I shouldn't pry if it's making you uneasy."
Lynsithea nodded but became more curious. "But why are there no other people here? And why does the book show things that seem so different from what I see around me?" She looked around, confused, her tightening grasp on the photography book a clear indication of this.
I took a deep breath, gathering my thoughts.
"A long time ago, this world was different. There was a great event called the Quantum Exodus. People left through portals to escape the devastating effects of climate change and war. Those who could leave, did. The ones who stayed behind, like me, were left to navigate a world that had fallen apart."
I watched Lynsithea's eyes widen as she processed the information. "The book you're reading, it's from a time before all of this happened. It shows what the world was like before it became the desolate place it is now. The difference you see is because that book holds memories of a past that's very different from the present."
I looked down at the floor before turning to her. "I was left behind during the Quantum Exodus. I was only a little kid when the portals opened, and my parents.... well, they never came back for me. The truth is, I don't remember them much, and I don't know why they didn't come back. So, I remained all this while here, trying to survive in this changed world."
Her expression softened with a current of sympathy. "I've been trying to make the best of it, finding ways to live and perhaps one day, understand more about why things happened the way they did."
Closer, Lynsithea came, concern in her eyes. "Zane, I am so sorry. That does sound really hard."
I nodded, my voice soft. "Thank you, Lynsithea. I appreciate that. It's been a long time since talking to someone who isn't an android."
Lynsithea tilted her head in curiosity. "What is an android?"
I glanced at my watch and realized the time. "I have to get back," I said urgently. "Ethan will worry if I'm gone too long."
Lynsithea's face showed concern, but she nodded understandingly. "Go," she said gently. "I'll be here."
I shook my head. "No, you should come with me. It is not safe to be alone up here," I insisted. "I'll tell you all about what an android is when we get home."
Lynsithea continued to look slightly uneasy and told me, "You don't have to do that. I'll just slow you down."
I smiled just a little at her comment. "It's all right. I'm going at your pace. Let's go.
Turning to go, I turned back to Lynsithea and said, "Hey, you forgot your sandals."
She looked down at her feet, embarrassed, and replied, "Oh, I'm so sorry. I'm just not used to wearing these."
I smiled reassuringly. "You'll get used to them. Don't worry."
And with that, we stepped out together into whatever awaited us.
---
Meanwhile,
In the shadows of that abandoned laboratory, three androids moved with mechanical grace, perfectly precise, surveying the scene of Hanz Taylor's death. The android in black regarded the bloodstains splattered on the wall; the sensors immediately detected minute details that would be invisible to the human eye.
[There's clear evidence of a struggle] the black android said, his voice cold, analytical. [We need to determine how many of these creatures were involved.]
The grey android, standing nearby, was studying documents scattered on the floor. "From the reports, it seems like there were multiple entities. We need to verify whether any of them survived the encounter."
As they worked, the sensors of the red android detected a sudden movement. A red lycan, still prowling in the darkness, hurled at them, its snarls filling the room.
The gray android immediately activated its freezing protocol, sending a beam that kept the Lycan in an attack posture. Covered in ice now, with its form trapping it, the Lycan let out a furious growl, unable to regenerate.
The red android advanced, its eyes locked on the threat frozen in place.
[Target secured,] it stated as it raised its gun. One shot later, precise and accurate, the Lycan was dead, its body collapsing in a heap. [Elimination complete. Continuing investigation.]
The black android nodded and looked at the bloodstains once more. [We need to know why they are attacking these particular humans. Maybe their patterns can give us a lead as to where they're from.]
The grey android, still scanning the surroundings, replied with, [Agreed. And we must make sure there are not any others like this about. Their presence is a great risk to the investigation going on.]
As the three androids investigated it further, they turned their attention to the sleek, futuristic prototype Quantum portal, showing signs of recent use. The black android noticed something peculiar about the device's control panel.
[This portal shows signs of activation recently] said the black android, scanning the interface with its sensors. [Did Hanz Taylor use this portal?]
The gray android took a step closer to the portal and studied some of the damaged parts.
[It seems so. Wear and tear indicate it was in use. But on the other hand, the readings are also very spurious for all it is as if it was interfered with by something or someone else, too.]
As they drew deeper, the red android saw a snipped rope tangled around the portal's base. [Look at this,] it said, gesturing to the rope. [This would indicate Hanz wasn't the only one here. There was someone, or something, else here.]
The black android, inspecting the rope, replied, [That may imply a struggle or securing the portal. We have to find out who else was here and why.]
The gray android powered up analysis tools to seek further clues. [I'll cross-index the logs of the portal with our own data. If there were other users, their presence may give us meaning in a greater context for this event.]
The red android was at guard, very observant to the slightest sign of a new threat.
[We must be careful. This evidence says it all: more complications in our case. Let's get on with the investigation and find out everything.]
The black android set its sensors running through the portal usage logs, its mechanical fingers deftly manipulating the interface. The screen flickered through the analysis of data.
[These logs indicate that this portal was not turned on by implementation from the other side by Hanz Taylor,] the black android reported coolly and steadily, its voice positioned in an analytical steadiness. [Somebody opened it from the other side.]
The gray android furrowed his brow, as much as a brow was represented by its optical sensors squinting a bit in concentration. [So, Hanz didn't use it himself? That suggests he might have been trying to get away or take a gander at something, but someone else.... presumably from the other side.... cut in.]
The red android, for his part, ever watchful, began the task of scanning the area.
[In case this side is made to open from the other, then the person or thing that does so could have played a major role in the incident. We need to find out who or what was on the other side to know the real circumstances.]
The black android nodded, its systems whirring as it digested the information. [I'll have to delve deeper into records, check it against other quantum portals. There could be a link or a pattern that says more about the user on the other side.]
[Let's prepare for a full-scale investigation,] added another android, grey in color. [We must find out now who opened this portal and for what purpose. It may bring us some crucial evidence about the death of Hanz Taylor and everything in general.]
The red android didn't let the vigilance fade as tendencies for an extra look went about. [As we download more data, we have to remain alert. The appearance of an unknown entity may mean more troubles.]
With each frame now carefully scrutinized by its sensors, the black android continued rifling through the logs and surveillance footage of the portal that kept going. The footage was too heavily blurred to see anything, but so it continued.
[There's something in here,] said the black android, something charged within the voice. [The footage is unclear, but I do see a figure. A girl, long white hair, and a coat.]
The gray android bent even closer to the screen, trying to further sharpen the image. [Can you make out any more details? Any indication of who she might be or where she went?]
The black android just slowly shook his head. [Too twisted. It is not her image. It can't be identified. The mere fact that she is on the footage is already significant. It implies somebody from the other side, maybe connected to the recent activation of the portal.]
The dour red android interjected, [If this girl is somehow related to the portal, we need to find her. Maybe she's the new key to solving the riddle of Hanz Taylor's death and the quantum-system breach.]
The black android could only agree with a nod. [I'll try to augment the same and cross reference with known entities. We really need more information about this individual and any possible connections in the recent activities of the portal.]
The grey android suggested, [For meantime let's continue investigation at the scene for additional clues. The portal might be hiding more secrets if we dig deeper.]
Several minutes after, the androids were done with the investigation and started setting out in pursuit of the mysterious girl. The black android interfaced into the city's ancient surveillance systems to reconstruct her recent travels.
[Got something,] the black android reported in a calm yet urgent voice.
[The old city cameras picked her up with a man. Looks like they were traveling together.]
The black android studied the footage at a closer scrutiny. [It's difficult to make out clearly, but it seems like the man is wearing shoddy clothes and bearing some of his personal items. We have to get closer to tell more.]
The focused red android said, [Let's move. We finally got something to tail with before they go missing.]
The black android nodded. [We are going to follow the trail and see where it takes us. There's a possibility that they're heading toward the location that will reveal more about the activity of the portal.]
The grey android re-checked the data one more time as they were preparing to leave. [We have to watch our step. The instability around the portal may have resulted in further anomalies. We have to tread carefully ahead.]
And so, the three androids set off to trace the girl and the man, learn about the mysterious portal, and solve this enigma around the death of Hanz Taylor.