Karl woke up at the break of dawn to the sound of his usual alarm. He rose from his bed sluggishly, but his steps were measured and disciplined, a habit ingrained in him during his years of military service. He started his day with a cup of black coffee—not for the taste, but for the focus it brought him.
He put on his workout clothes and stepped out onto the quiet street. The neighborhood was almost deserted at this early hour, and the air was cold and refreshing, carrying a soothing silence. Karl began his usual jog, moving at a steady pace down the empty roads, avoiding any complex thoughts.
After his run, Karl returned home and headed straight to the kitchen. He prepared a simple breakfast and another cup of coffee, eating calmly while half-watching the news without much interest.
He was so engrossed in the broadcast that he didn't notice Leila slipping into the room quietly. She stood in front of the TV, completely blocking his view.
Karl looked up at her, finding her silently staring back at him with her large eyes, as if trying to remind him of something important.
Smiling, Karl patted his thighs. "I know, I know. I haven't forgotten my promise."
Leila smiled shyly and asked, "Really?"
Karl chuckled. "Of course! But you'd better get ready quickly. We're leaving now."
Excited, Leila ran to her room to put on her coat. Karl turned off the TV, grabbed his heavy jacket, and prepared to head out.
As they walked together, Leila held Karl's hand excitedly, occasionally hopping on the sidewalk while humming a soft tune. The street was quiet, and the cold air was invigorating.
As they neared the store, Karl began feeling something strange. He couldn't pinpoint why, but a peculiar chill crept through his body despite the bright sun overhead. He scanned the road and the surrounding houses cautiously.
Leila, meanwhile, chattered enthusiastically about the cake she planned to choose, but Karl found it hard to focus on her words. Something in the air felt...off, like the world was whispering a message he couldn't quite hear.
Ignoring the unease, Karl and Leila entered the store.
The warm air and the scent of freshly baked goods greeted them. The store was a colorful array of flavors and textures that made Leila's eyes widen with delight as she took in the neatly arranged cakes in the display case.
"Look at all these options, Leila. Which one do you want?" Karl asked with a smile, kneeling to her level.
Leila wandered in front of the display, her eyes darting from one cake to another. Each one seemed more tempting than the last—cakes adorned with dark chocolate, frosted with white cream, and tiny ones shaped like flowers and fruits.
"What about this one?" she pointed to a chocolate cake but hesitated. "Or maybe... this vanilla one?"
Karl chuckled softly. "No need to rush. Take your time."
Minutes passed as Karl patiently watched her deliberate. Finally, Leila stopped in front of a large cake topped with glossy, fresh strawberries.
"This one!" she exclaimed excitedly, pointing at it as if she had discovered treasure.
Karl smiled and patted her head. "Good choice. Strawberries are always a good idea."
After leaving the store, they walked for a few minutes along the path home. Leila carried the cake carefully in her small hands, her steps gradually slowing.
"I'm tired, Uncle Karl," she said softly, coming to a sudden stop and rubbing her eyes.
Karl looked at her, her small face reflecting exhaustion. He smiled gently but felt a need to assist her.
"It's okay. Come here," he said, extending his arms.
Though a little embarrassed, Leila eventually raised her arms, allowing him to pick her up. She was light in his arms, but Karl couldn't shake the strange feeling pressing on his chest—a sense of unease.
"I'm too big for this, Uncle…" Leila murmured shyly, her voice fading into the whispers of the wind.
"You're never too big, Leila," Karl replied with a warm smile, though a discomfort he couldn't name weighed heavily on him.
As they walked slowly, Leila enjoyed the moment of rest in his arms. Suddenly, as she glanced back, she froze and exclaimed, "Uncle Karl, look! What is that?"
Karl followed her gaze and saw strange cracks forming in the sky ahead. The fissures were dark and irregular, as though they were tearing through the very fabric of reality. Inside the cracks was an abyss, swallowing light itself and appearing as voids in the universe.
Karl stopped in his tracks, taking a deep breath as his heart raced. "I don't recall seeing anything like this here before..." he muttered, wondering if it was some new holographic display.
A peculiar sensation coursed through him, and everything around him seemed to shift. He glanced at Leila, then back at the cracks, trying to process what was happening.
But just as suddenly as they appeared, the fissures vanished, leaving no trace behind, as though they had never existed.
Relief washed over Karl, but a lingering anxiety gnawed at him. "Are you okay, Leila?" he asked gently, his eyes filled with concern.
Leila nodded silently, indicating she wasn't afraid anymore, though her gaze remained puzzled.
"Yes, I'm fine. But what was that?" she asked. Karl didn't answer, as he didn't know himself.
He reassured her with a small smile. "It was probably just a trick of the light. Let's go home."
They walked back in silence, each lost in thought. Once home, Karl felt an urge to act quickly. He grabbed his phone and called his father.
"Dad, I need to see you. We have to talk," Karl said with a serious tone.