Ella sat by the window, the quiet of the late night doing little to calm the unease that lingered after the strange encounter earlier. The streets below were still, moonlight casting soft shadows over the cobblestones. She kept replaying the woman's cryptic words in her mind, trying to make sense of them. How could she know? Ella thought, gripping her teacup tighter.
The sudden knock at her door snapped her out of her thoughts. Her heart leapt, and for a moment, she froze. Who would be knocking at this hour? Slowly, she stood, setting her cup aside and walking toward the door, her steps cautious.
When she opened it, her breath caught. There stood the hooded woman from the alley, but this time, she wasn't alone. Flanking her were two boys and another girl, all a few years older than Ella. Something about them seemed familiar, not in appearance, but in the way they carried themselves—like they were all linked somehow. The resemblance wasn't physical, but it was there, in their eyes, in the way they looked at her with quiet understanding.
Ella's grip on the door tightened, her mind racing.
Sensing Ella's hesitation, the woman quickly raised her hands, palms up, in a gesture of apology. "I'm sorry," she said, her voice softer now. "I didn't mean to scare you the other night. Honestly, I thought it would be a bit of fun, spooking you like that." A slight smile tugged at her lips, but it was more apologetic than playful.
Ella remained wary, her heart still beating a little too fast. The memory of that unsettling encounter was fresh, and part of her wanted to slam the door shut. But something about the woman's tone was different this time—softer, more genuine. Gone was the ominous air from before. Now, she seemed more approachable, almost... friendly?
"I'm Talia," the woman continued, meeting Ella's eyes. "And I promise, we mean no harm." She nodded toward the others standing beside her. The way Talia spoke, gently and earnestly, eased some of the tension in Ella's chest, though her mind was still racing with questions.
Despite the lingering hesitation in her chest, Ella found herself stepping aside, opening the door a bit wider. "Come in," she said, her voice a touch uncertain. Her curiosity, as always, got the better of her. She reasoned that if they meant her harm, they'd already had plenty of chances. Besides, hearing them out in her own space—where she felt at least somewhat in control—seemed like a safer option than continuing the conversation in the cold, open night.
One by one, the group filed in, moving quietly through the narrow stairwell that led to her apartment above the shop. They were oddly respectful, each taking in their surroundings with a sense of curiosity. Ella couldn't help but notice how they glanced around as if familiar, yet intrigued by every little detail. The girl in the group ran her fingers lightly over the bannister as she ascended, while one of the boys—a tall, broad-shouldered type—paused to glance at the various inventions and tools scattered around the shop floor below.
Upstairs, the atmosphere changed. The warmth of her apartment welcomed them—soft candlelight flickered against the walls, and the faint scent of herbs from her small kitchen added a layer of comfort to the otherwise tense situation. Ella busied herself with preparing tea, her hands moving more out of habit than necessity, while her mind raced with questions she wasn't quite ready to ask.
The group settled into the modest but cozy seating area, each choosing a spot with a quiet sense of belonging, though none of them spoke much. There was an undeniable air of mystery hanging between them all—an unspoken understanding that something big was about to unfold. The crackling of the fire in the corner filled the silence as Ella handed out tea, noting the way they exchanged glances with one another.
Finally, with everyone holding their cups, Ella took her own seat and looked around at the group. She couldn't deny it—her heart was pounding with a strange mixture of fear and anticipation. What did they want? And, more importantly, how could they possibly know her secret?
Once everyone had their tea in hand and settled into the quiet comfort of her apartment, Talia leaned forward slightly, her fingers cradling the warm cup as she glanced around at her companions before focusing on Ella. Her voice was soft but steady when she spoke, as if what she was about to say carried immense weight.
"We're not from here," Talia began, her tone calm yet serious. "None of us are."
Ella blinked, the words catching her off guard, even though a part of her had suspected something along those lines ever since their first encounter. She sat up a little straighter, her hand tightening around her cup. Her pulse quickened, but she forced herself to listen.
Talia continued, "We come from different regions of this world, but none of us belong here. Like you, we're from… somewhere else. From your world."
Ella's heart stopped for a second before racing again. The teacup in her hand felt heavier than before. She swallowed hard, trying to keep her expression neutral, though her mind was swirling. How? How could this be possible? For so long, she had believed she was the only one—some sort of anomaly trapped in this strange, otherworldly place. But now, as Talia's words sank in, that isolation shattered in an instant.
"You're from…" Ella couldn't even finish the sentence. Her throat tightened, and the room felt smaller, more intimate. She had spent so much time wrestling with the idea that she was completely alone in this world, and now, here were four people claiming they shared her fate.
The boy across from her, who had been quiet until now, gave her a small nod, as if to confirm what Talia had said. "We all are," he added, his voice low but sincere. "We've been trying to figure out why, but we don't have all the answers yet."
Ella's mind raced. Her tea had long gone cold in her hands, forgotten. She was both terrified and strangely relieved. For so long, she had carried the weight of being the only one—a secret too bizarre for anyone to believe. Now, she was faced with the shocking reality that others like her existed, people who might understand what it felt like to be pulled from one world and dropped into another.
"You… you're all from my world?" Ella finally managed, her voice a mixture of disbelief and curiosity.
The other girl in the group, who had been sitting quietly beside Talia, gave Ella a sympathetic smile. "Yes. We're all connected in that way," she said gently. "We don't know how or why we ended up here, but we all felt… drawn to this place."
Ella leaned back in her chair, the overwhelming feeling of relief battling with the unease in her chest. She wasn't alone. But what did that mean for her? And why now? She glanced around at the faces surrounding her, each of them looking so familiar yet so different from anyone she had met in this world.
"I thought I was the only one," she whispered, more to herself than to them. The revelation was almost too much to process.
Talia smiled faintly, her eyes softening. "I know. We all did, at first."
As they settled in, the air between them seemed to hum with unspoken stories. One by one, the newcomers began to share how they ended up in this world, each tale a strange echo of Ella's own experience.
Caleb, the boy who had spoken earlier, leaned forward first, resting his elbows on his knees. "I was in the northern kingdom when I got here," he began, his voice steady but tinged with frustration. "At first, I thought I'd just lost my mind. No phones, no electricity—nothing. Everything I relied on back home was gone. I had to learn how to survive without any of it. It was… rough." He let out a small, wry laugh, but there was something in his eyes that told Ella it had been far more difficult than he was letting on. "But after a while, I started hearing stories about the capital. About strange happenings, new ideas. And I don't know why, but I just felt like I had to come here. Like something was pulling me."
Ella nodded slowly, his words striking a familiar chord. She knew that pull—had felt it herself when she had first arrived. But hearing someone else describe it made the whole thing seem more real, somehow.
Next, the other girl, Isla, picked up the conversation. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her face softening as she spoke. "I ended up in a small coastal town," she said, her tone more reflective. "At first, I didn't know what to do. But then I realized that I had something none of them did—modern medical knowledge. I started helping people, healing them with what I remembered from our world. It gave me a purpose, a way to survive. And like Caleb, I started hearing about the capital. The innovations. The changes. It felt like I had to come here, too. Like there was something—or someone—waiting for me."
Ella's heart raced as Isla's words sunk in. They had all been led here, to the capital. To her. The connection between them, once faint, now felt undeniable.
Talia, who had been watching Ella closely throughout the others' stories, gave a small nod. "That pull we all felt? It wasn't random. It's what brought us together. And it's what led us to you, Ella."
Ella blinked, her throat suddenly dry. "To me?"
Talia smiled, her gaze warm but serious. "Yes. We didn't know it at first, but once we heard about you—your inventions, your shop—we realized that whatever drew us here was connected to you." She paused, her eyes meeting Ella's with a quiet intensity. "You're like us, Ella. And we think there's a reason for that."
Ella's mind whirled. She had spent so long believing she was alone, the only one from her world, navigating a strange, unfamiliar life with nothing but memories of her past. But now, sitting in her living room with these strangers who were somehow just like her, everything felt different.
As the conversation continued, Ella found herself feeling both intrigued and unnerved by the group's presence. For so long, she had relied on her independence, using her modern knowledge to carve out a place for herself in this world. She had managed to keep her life and secrets separate from those around her, but now, with these strangers who understood her in ways no one else could, her sense of control wavered.
A part of her was undeniably relieved. She had always longed for someone who could relate to the strange isolation she felt—someone who wouldn't question her inventions or side-eye her for knowing things a girl like her shouldn't. But another part of her felt deeply vulnerable. Who were these people, really? And what did it mean that so many from her world had been drawn to the same place? The unease gnawed at her as she tried to make sense of it all.
As she mulled over her thoughts, the last of the newcomers—a boy who had remained silent until now—cleared his throat and shifted in his seat. His posture was relaxed, but there was a sharpness in his gaze that Ella hadn't missed.
"I guess I'm the last to share," he said, offering a small, almost apologetic smile. "I'm Owen."
Owen had the look of someone who had been through more than most. His clothes, though neat, had seen better days, and there was an air of quiet confidence about him, like someone used to navigating difficult situations.
"I didn't exactly land in a peaceful village or cozy town when I got here," he began, his voice calm but edged with a hard truth. "I ended up in the middle of a conflict—some skirmish between local lords in the western territories. Nothing made sense at first. I thought I was dreaming. But after a few days of watching people fight and realizing there was no help coming, I knew I wasn't in Kansas anymore."
Ella's breath caught at his words. She had felt that same disorientation when she first arrived. That gnawing realization that there was no escape, no way back.
"I ended up getting caught by one of the lords," Owen continued, rubbing the back of his neck. "They thought I was a spy or some kind of rogue because I didn't have any ties to anyone. Lucky for me, I had enough sense to offer my skills to stay alive."
"What skills?" Ella asked, her curiosity piqued.
Owen's smile widened slightly, though there was no humor in it. "I used to work as an engineer. In this world, that's not something they really get, but I explained it enough to make myself useful. They had no idea what I was talking about half the time, but when I fixed one of their war machines and helped them build a fort, they stopped asking questions. That was how I survived."
Ella could only stare. His story wasn't too far off from her own in some ways, but the idea of being caught up in a war, of using modern engineering to survive, was jarring.
"Like the others," Owen said, leaning back, "I started hearing stories about the capital. New inventions, new ideas—things that reminded me of home. I figured it was time to find out what was going on, so here I am."
The room fell quiet for a moment, the weight of their shared experiences sinking in. Ella couldn't help but feel a strange connection to these people, even if part of her still felt wary. She had spent so long believing she was the only one, the only person who had been transported to this world. But now, with these four sitting in her home, all sharing stories of their own struggles, she was beginning to realize that there was something much bigger happening than she had ever imagined.
"So..." Ella finally spoke, her voice soft but laced with tension, "what does this mean for us?"
Talia exchanged a glance with the others before answering. "We don't know yet. But what we do know is that something brought us all here for a reason. And if we've all ended up in the capital, it's because we're meant to find out what that reason is. Together."
Ella's heart raced. For the first time in a long while, she wasn't sure if she should feel excited—or terrified.
As the tea cooled and the tension in the room slowly lifted, the conversation shifted toward what they might do next. Talia, now sitting more comfortably, leaned forward, her eyes flicking between the others before settling on Ella.
"I don't think it's a coincidence that we've all been pulled here," Talia said softly. "Something brought us to this world—and more specifically, to each other. Maybe there's a reason we're all connected."
The others nodded in agreement. Caleb stretched his arms over his head, clearly more at ease now that the tension had broken. "Yeah, I've been thinking the same thing. It's weird, right? All of us, from different places, drawn to the capital like this. It's got to mean something."
Isla chimed in, her voice thoughtful but serious. "Maybe together, we can figure out why we're here. There has to be a purpose to it all. I mean, it can't just be random, can it?"
Ella, listening quietly, found herself torn. Their words made sense, but the idea of diving headfirst into another mystery was overwhelming. She had only just begun to wrap her mind around running her business and maintaining her modern inventions in this world. Now, the possibility that there was a greater force at work pulling her and others like her together? It was a lot to take in.
"I don't know..." Ella hesitated, rubbing her temples as if to clear her mind. "It's... it's a lot to process."
The room went silent for a moment. Talia gave Ella a sympathetic look. "Of course. You don't have to decide anything right away. But we're here, Ella. We've been through some of the same things you have, and if we stick together, maybe we'll find some answers."
Ella nodded slowly, still feeling the weight of it all. She wasn't ready to commit to anything just yet. There was too much to think about, too many questions swirling in her mind. But there was something comforting about knowing she wasn't alone anymore—that others understood the strange feeling of being out of place in this world.
"I think it'd be good to stay in touch," Ella finally said, her voice measured. "There's clearly more going on than any of us realize. It couldn't hurt to figure it out together... at least for now."
The group exchanged glances, a sense of mutual understanding passing between them. Ella didn't know what the future held or what role these people might play in her life, but she knew one thing for sure—she had stumbled upon a puzzle far more complex than she had ever anticipated. And for the first time, it seemed she wasn't the only one holding the pieces.
After the group finally left, Ella found herself once again standing by her window, watching their silhouettes fade into the darkened streets below. The night was still, the quiet hum of the village wrapping around her as her thoughts churned. Talia and the others had stirred up something in her that she couldn't quite settle.
She pressed her fingers against the cool glass, her eyes tracking the distant figures until they disappeared around a corner. The questions they had left her with hung heavy in the air, swirling with the kind of weight that wouldn't be easily shaken off. For so long, her life in this world had been about adapting, surviving, and making her business flourish. Now, it seemed, there was something much larger lurking beneath the surface.
"They're like me," she murmured softly to herself, the reality of it still sinking in. She wasn't alone in this after all—there were others who knew what it felt like to be plucked from one life and dropped into another. The thought was both comforting and unnerving.
Ella took a deep breath, leaning her forehead against the window. Her world had shifted tonight, expanding in ways she hadn't anticipated. It wasn't just about running her shop, making deliveries, or managing the growing demand for her products anymore. There was something bigger going on—something she was now tied to, whether she wanted to be or not.
But as her thoughts raced, another realization surfaced, one that left a faint knot of anxiety in her chest. With these newfound connections came the risk of drawing attention—attention she didn't want. If there were others like her, others who could sense she wasn't from this world, how many more could be out there? How many others might come looking for her?
She knew she'd have to tread carefully moving forward. This world wasn't as simple as she had once thought, and every step she took from here would have to be calculated. For now, though, all she could do was watch the night and prepare for whatever was to come.
Her fingers tapped lightly on the windowpane, and she allowed herself a small sigh. Life, as she had known it, had just gotten a lot more complicated.
Before heading to bed, Ella found herself pacing her room, her thoughts refusing to settle. Why now? She wondered, staring absently at the flickering candle on her desk. The arrival of Talia and the others couldn't just be coincidence. For years, she had believed she was the only one from her world in this strange place. Now, all of a sudden, four more had appeared, claiming to feel the same mysterious pull that had drawn her to the capital.
Ella sank onto the edge of her bed, rubbing her temples as the questions piled up. What does this mean for me? she thought, her mind racing. Their sudden presence made her feel both exposed and strangely connected, like she was part of something much bigger than she'd realized. It wasn't just her little shop or her inventions anymore—there was a whole other layer to her existence here that she hadn't even begun to uncover.
The weight of the unknown pressed down on her, making her chest tighten. The pull that had brought them together hinted at something deeper, some purpose she hadn't yet grasped. It unsettled her. Everything had been about survival and making a life for herself in this world, but now it seemed like her journey was only beginning.
Wrapping her arms around herself, Ella stared out the window one last time before blowing out the candle. The streets were quiet, but in her heart, she knew that things were about to change. She lay down, trying to calm her racing thoughts, but even as she closed her eyes, the lingering uncertainty clung to her.
Sleep, she knew, would be hard to come by tonight.
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A/n -
Hello!
I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and thank you so much for reading. To those of you who have already celebrated the New Year, I hope 2025 is kind to you—and that you'll be kind to it in return.
Wishing you peace, love, and kindness always. 💕