"big brother, are you serious?"
Amelia finally began to speak after being silent for nearly thirty seconds. After all, this was completely beyond her common sense.
"How can I joke with you this late. In fact, me, Rika, and our family home were all transported to this other world"
I began to explain this rather ridiculous incident.
"Then, how did big brother manage to call us?"
Rudy asked in turn with confusion. Right, if I was transported to another world, why would I be able to call?
"I don't know how to explain it either. Even though we moved to another world, only the phone signal was lost. The internet, electricity and water are all still running smoothly."
The more I spoke, the paler Rudy and Amelia's faces became. What they should be thinking about is their daughter Rika.
"Big brother, then what about Rika. Is she okay?!"
Amelia was starting to panic at this point. It was normal for her to panic because of this incident.
"Calm down, Amel. For now it doesn't matter. You adults should be able to manage your feelings. I'm just worried about Rika. I need the best advice from you two to calm Rika down when she wakes up."
I asked Amelia that. Despite crying loudly for almost half an hour, Amelia and Rudy finally calmed down. At least they thought Rika was okay this time.
"Big brother, just explain it as it is. Rika is a smart child. In fact, too smart for a child her age. I'm sure she'll be able to accept it tomorrow. I will also contact big brother and Rika again tomorrow. For now, elder brother, rest yourself. It's an unfamiliar place and I can only hope that big brother can stay well so that he can look after Rika."
Amelia could only say that to me in a trembling voice. She seemed to be trying to bear this bitter reality.
Finally, we ended the conversation here and I immediately rested next to Rika.
"Rika, uncle will protect you no matter what."
Saying that in a small voice, I then closed my eyes. I didn't know that that night, Amelia and Rudy were headed to my home on earth.
***
"Honey, why did it happen like this?"
Amelia asked Rudy with her eyes already bruised from crying too much. Rudy could only sigh. Actually, his heart was also broken but there was no way he could show it in front of his wife.
"Calm down dear, now we can only trust in big brother over there. Don't you also know, even though big brother lives casually, he was a black belt in judo and karate during his college days. Supposedly big brother will be able to protect Rika with that"
After calming Amelia down along the way, they finally arrived at the area where Rio's house used to be.
To their surprise, the area of Rio's house had been cordoned off and many people had gathered there.
Amelia rushed to the location and an acquaintance or neighbor greeted her.
"Amel, thank goodness you're here. Your house is gone. Even Rio is missing. I called him but couldn't get through. I was going to call you but you were already here."
Amelia's neighbor was Rina. More precisely, Amelia's childhood friend. She told Amelia the sequence of events.
Rina only found out that her neighbor's house was missing when she got hungry this late. Planning to buy snacks at the minimarket, she went out on her bicycle. But when she exited the gate and passed in front of Rio's house, she was shocked because the house had disappeared.
Rina finally contacted Rio but as she was not connected, she then called the police. She entered the house and searched for her parents before the police arrived. The police finally arrived at the location and Rina immediately gave a statement. As soon as she was asked if there was an owner of the house other than Rio, Rina immediately contacted Amelia but Amelia even appeared before being contacted.
Hearing that fact, Amelia tried again to contact Rio but just like what happened to Rina, she was unable to get Rio on the phone.
Amelia, Rudy and Rina immediately saw the location and there was only an empty field with bushes as tall as an adult's calf and some trees.
Right, just as you suspected. It's like the location of Rio's house swapped with the location where Rio is now.
Amelia suddenly sat down with a limp. She finally had to accept this fact. Rudy immediately helped her up.
Not long after that, two policemen came up to them and asked Amelia for a statement.
"Mrs. Amelia, please help us and give us as much information as you know."
Amelia could only explain to the police the absurd incident. The two policemen just looked at each other and felt like they were being told a bedtime story.
After giving her statement, Amelia finally had to return dejectedly with Rudy to prepare for departure. They couldn't cancel the job because they wouldn't be able to afford the hefty penalty and their credibility might really take a hit.
The only way was to wait for Rio to call them back in the morning.
***
Somewhere in the forest.
"Hey, look over there..."
Someone in the shadows said that.
"I don't know, it was just an empty lot before. Why is there a house now?!"
They discussed with each other feeling confused. The one who spoke first was a man and the other was a woman.
Judging from their clothes, they looked like hunters. However, there was something different about their physical appearance. Yes, it was the long, tapered ears. Both of their faces, even the man's, looked beautiful.
"Let's report this to the chief." The woman urged her companion to return immediately.
"Right, after all, this whisperwood forest is a forest where all sorts of races gather"
With that, the two people immediately returned to their territory. Everything will start from here.