"This… This isn't the exit."
Eldric's voice was tinged with unease as he stared at the dimly lit room before him. The soft glow from a single table lamp cast long shadows across the wooden walls, highlighting the peeling paint and worn edges. He turned slowly, his eyes narrowing as they settled on the man behind him, filled with questions and growing suspicion. What the hell were these people thinking? First, they kept him tied up like an animal, and now, even after freeing him, they refused to let him leave.
"I know," the man responded, his voice heavy with exhaustion. His shoulders slumped as if bearing an invisible weight. "It's extremely dangerous outside. Stay here for a while. Someone will come to explain everything you need to know."
Eldric's frown deepened, his brows knitting together in frustration. He wasn't particularly fond of these people, especially after everything he'd been through. For a brief moment, he considered just leaving, consequences be damned. But then, he forced himself to take a deep breath, calming the storm brewing inside him. The situation had eased somewhat, and it would be wiser to gather some intelligence before making any rash decisions. After all, he knew next to nothing about what was happening outside.
Finally, with a heavy sigh, Eldric relented. "Fine by me."
A hint of relief crossed the man's face as he smiled weakly, turning to leave. He didn't even bother to lock the door, as if completely unconcerned about what Eldric might do.
"Strange…" Eldric muttered under his breath, watching the man's retreating figure. His instincts screamed at him that something was off. Though he had agreed to stay, trust was still a distant concept. The way they had treated him like a prisoner was one thing, but what unsettled him more was how quickly they had accepted his story. It didn't add up.
Eldric crossed his arms, his gaze thoughtful as he mulled over the situation. If he were in their shoes, would he trust a complete stranger in such dire circumstances? The answer was a resounding "No." So why had they so readily accepted his account?
The more he pondered, the more uneasy he became. These people had clearly been living in these conditions for some time. It seemed impossible that they would take his words at face value without some form of verification. There had to be another reason for their compliance.
"Surveillance?" The word slipped from his lips in a whisper, his eyes widening slightly. Eldric resisted the urge to immediately search the room for any hidden devices. Instead, he stretched leisurely, feigning a casual inspection of his surroundings.
The room was simple, almost stark. A small bed occupied one corner, neatly made with a pillow and a thin blanket. A barred window sat above the bed, the metal and wood strips crisscrossing to prevent any view of the outside world. The rustic smell of aged wood hung in the air, giving the space an eerie, forgotten feel. On a small wooden table beside the bed, a dim lamp flickered, casting a weak glow across the room. Eldric's gaze lingered on the walls, where faded marks hinted at old posters that had been hastily removed.
As his eyes roamed the space, something caught his attention. A tiny glint in the upper corner of the room—a reflection so faint it could have easily been missed.
"It really is the case…" Eldric's suspicion hardened into certainty. His expression remained neutral as he lay down on the bed, his mind racing. They may have removed the physical restraints, but they were still watching him, every move scrutinized.
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"Did he notice it?"
In a dimly lit room elsewhere, the middle-aged man stared intently at the screen in front of him. The grainy feed displayed Eldric's room, capturing his every movement. The man's brow furrowed as he muttered to himself, doubt gnawing at him. For a moment, he was almost sure that Eldric had seen the hidden camera. But now, watching the boy lying on the bed as if without a care in the world, he couldn't be certain.
The sound of footsteps behind him pulled him from his thoughts. The man didn't need to turn around to know who it was. The familiar rhythm of the steps was enough.
"Any suspicious movement?" The man who had escorted Eldric to his new quarters placed a firm hand on the seated man's shoulder, his voice gruff with concern.
"Nothing for now," the seated man replied, shaking his head. Frustration simmered beneath his calm exterior as he clenched his fists, knuckles turning white. "I'm telling you, we should either kick him out or kill him. There's no middle ground here."
His voice trembled slightly with the force of his conviction, his hands quivering as he struggled to keep his emotions in check. "What is she even thinking?"
The other man sighed deeply, patting his shoulder in a gesture of comfort. "I don't know… But she's going to meet him now."
"Huh?! Again?" The seated man's eyes widened in surprise, quickly darting back to the screen as he adjusted the volume. The image flickered, but the clarity was enough for them to see what was happening.
Half an hour later, the old woman stood outside Eldric's room, her silhouette framed by the dim light spilling from the corridor. She didn't enter immediately. Instead, she lingered in the doorway, her gaze fixed on the boy lying inside. Her expression was unreadable, a mixture of contemplation and something else—something that made her frown occasionally, as if wrestling with an inner turmoil.
"Huff…" Taking a deep breath, the old woman finally nodded to herself and stepped into the room, the creak of the floorboards announcing her presence.
Eldric's eyes snapped open at the sound. Though he had appeared to be resting, sleep was the last thing on his mind. In this unfamiliar place, surrounded by potential threats, he had kept himself alert, his thoughts racing. And after much consideration, he had reached a conclusion.
"Is this a parallel world?" The idea seemed crazy, but it was the only explanation that made any sense. He had seen the concept in movies and TV shows, and nothing else could explain the bizarre changes in the world he thought he knew. The town was the same, but everything else was different—dark... twisted.
"How are you feeling?" The old woman's voice broke through his thoughts. She walked slowly toward him, pulling the wooden chair closer to the bed before sitting down. Her movements were deliberate, her expression calm and gentle, softened by a slight smile. She radiated an unexpected warmth, like a grandmother meeting a beloved grandchild after a long separation.
"Confused," Eldric admitted, his voice low. There was no point in pretending otherwise. He had decided to gather information, and for that, a show of goodwill seemed the best approach.
"Oh." The old woman's eyes widened slightly in surprise before she chuckled softly, the sound barely louder than a whisper. She adjusted her position, making herself more comfortable as she looked at Eldric, her gaze filled with something akin to maternal concern.
"I can only imagine," she said, her voice laced with sincerity. Though her tone was gentle, it carried an undercurrent of something deeper, perhaps empathy. "There may have been some misunderstandings between us. Let me apologize for any inconvenience we may have caused you."
She paused for a moment, her gaze softening even further. "I am sorry."
The unexpected apology left Eldric momentarily speechless. He had pegged these people as cold, perhaps even cruel, but the woman's words were full of genuine regret. It was disarming.
"Now then… With that out of the way, let me introduce myself properly." The old woman straightened her back, her voice still soft but with a newfound firmness. "I am Reona."
She paused briefly before continuing, "The man you met earlier is my youngest, Arian. The other man you might have seen during our meeting is my oldest, Jeron."
Her words left Eldric stunned. He hadn't expected the man and this old woman to be related, much less mother and son. But then again, there were many things he didn't know.
"The name's Eldric," he finally replied, a touch of hesitation in his voice. He had already introduced himself before, but it felt right to do it again. After a brief pause, he gathered his thoughts and spoke cautiously. "I think I might be in the wrong place."
"Oh? And why do you think that?" Reona's voice held a hint of curiosity, her head tilting slightly as she regarded him.
"You wouldn't believe me," Eldric muttered, rubbing his hands together nervously. He was unsure whether to share his theory, fearing that she might laugh at him. But considering the monsters outside and the world swallowed by darkness, his idea didn't seem so far-fetched.
"Try me," Reona encouraged, her smile unwavering, her voice steady.
"I…" Eldric hesitated, the words catching in his throat. It felt absurd to say it out loud, but there was no other explanation that fit. He took a deep breath, steeling himself before finally voicing his thoughts.
"I… I think I'm in a parallel world." The words came out in a rush, leaving him breathless. As soon as he spoke them, his body sagged slightly as if the admission had drained him of energy.
He watched Reona closely, bracing himself for ridicule or disbelief. But to his surprise, she didn't laugh. She didn't even flinch. Instead, she studied him in silence, her expression unreadable. For a brief moment, Eldric thought he saw pity in her eyes, but it was so fleeting that he couldn't be sure.
Reona closed her eyes, nodding slowly as if processing his words. When she opened them again, they were calm, the earlier flicker of emotion gone. With a soft sigh, she forced a smile. "If you think so."
"Wait… You believe me?" Eldric asked, disbelief evident in his voice. But before he could press her further, Reona raised a hand, gently cutting him off.
"How about we keep this just between us?" Though her tone was gentle, the underlying message was clear: this wasn't up for debate.
"Umm…" Eldric nodded quickly, feeling a sense of relief. He didn't need her to tell him that running around shouting about parallel worlds was a bad idea.
"Since you know nothing about this world," Reona began, her voice taking on a more serious tone, "let me start from the beginning. From the day the world was swallowed by the darkness…"
Her words echoed softly through the room, creating an unsettling stillness. Outside the room, in the long corridor, only her shadow remained, flickering in the dim light along with her haunting words.