"Tyse!" Keel exclaimed as he bolted to his feet, overwhelmed by the emotions sifting through his body. The beating of his hearth echoing through his mind. As Keel was frantically looking around, he comes to realize that this place, this room seems oddly familiar. He has been here before.
'I haven't been back here in years, I thought it was one of the first places to disappear when the merger was still unknown'
As his emotions settled, Keel no longer as overwhelmed took his time to look around this seemingly insignificant room.
"This is" Keel muttered in a low voice
As Keel looked towards the wallpaper, once filled with beautiful and intricate patterns, now old and worn down, yet still standing proudly showing of the beauty it once was.
In the corner the bookshelf once filled with stories of heroes, adventure and the unknown. Now stood empty collecting dust. What once contained Keel's dreams, hope and aspirations, was now empty.
As Keel felt overwhelmed by the emotions rushing back, that's when he saw it.
His once white clock, had taken a shade of yellow as it was now stuck on 11:11
'Had it always been stuck there?' As Keel shook his head trying to brush away the unease slowly creeping up his spine.
'I´d almost forgotten' Keel thought as he ran his fingers over the crumbling wallpapers. 'This is where it all started, all those years ago... I haven't even thought about this place in years' As past memories resurfaced, Keel couldn't help but feel alone. He had just lost his best friend, his companion and the love of his life.
Well at least that's what he thought she was. As the air left his lungs and exhausted overcame him. Keel couldn't help, but clench his fists. As the tears threatened to flow once more, Keel hardened his resolve.
"Not even death could make me forget the hatred I now feel towards all of you who let me down" Keel said in a voice devoid of all warmth is once had
And as Keel was sure this was his final resting place that's when he saw it.
"How, how can this exist?" clearly shocked Keel looked down on what was once his desk, but now nothing more than a dust collecting surface.
Quickly grabbing towards it, Keel could not believe what he was seeing, as all technology had mysteriously disappeared 3 years after humanity first encountered the other world.
As he looked at the phone lying silently on his desk, Keel was dumbfounded as he would've never expected to see it again, not even in death. And as he tried to turn it on he was devastated to find it not, not doing anything
As he manically pressed the buttons over and over again it miraculously showed some sign of life.
"Please Charge"
Was plastered across the otherwise dark screen.
"Hah hahaha hahahahahah" at the pure ridiculous of the situation Keel couldn't help but laugh with tears once again streaming down his face.
If anyone else had been watching, they'd think he'd lost his mind
Keel rummaged through his old room looking for a charger, as he was going through his drawer he came across his old notebook.
'January 2nd 2025. The government is trying to suppress the rumors about extraterrestrial beings, but I am in no doubt, the world is changing and we either change with or are reduced to rubble'
'January 7th 2025, They can no longer suppress it, the gates have opened and you could enter. I've even been there once. Its magical, I tell you magical'
'January 10th 2025, the world is slowly changing. I wonder what will happen?'
As Keel flipped the page he was surprised to find no more entries as he was sure that January 12th was the day he rescued Tyse.
Confusion on his face, Keel found a charger, connecting it to his phone and as he waited for it to charge. He paced back and forth
"Please, please don't let this be a dream. If I have come back, I will do it right. I will... I Promise I will use what I know, I will not only save my friends and family, but I will never be looked down upon again" As Keel's hopeful voice echoed in the now empty room.
The unmistakable noice of his phone turning on and notifications coming in quickly roused his attention
As he reached towards his phone, he could not help, but glance towards what was supposedly today's date.
'January 11th 2025'
Missed calls from "Mom"x7, missed calls from "Best buddy" x6
Message from "Mom" - Answer me, Im worried! - Keel this isn't funny! - It's been a week, we are so worried. Please call me back. 6 more messages, press to read.
"Best bud" - Sup Keel, your mom is worried, haven't heard from you in a few days, she is worried about you bro. Call her!
Keel's knuckles whitened as his grip on his phone tightened 'I took them all for granted. And when they passed away, I could do nothing, but blame myself.
This time it'll be different. I will save them all' as the weight of everything --- his memories, his mistakes and now his second chance pressed heavily down on his shoulders. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath and whispered
"I am back"