Rosa blinked, her surroundings unfamiliar yet achingly familiar. She was standing in a small, cozy living room filled with the warmth of her childhood. Her hands felt tiny, her arms smaller. She looked down and realized she was in her younger body.
Before she could make sense of it, a voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Hey, Rosa! You're losing again!"
Rosa turned sharply, her heart skipping. There he was—Mike, her childhood best friend. same messy hair, the mischievous grin she hadn't seen in years. She froze, tears welling in her eyes.
"Mike…" she whispered, barely audible.
Mike tilted his head, confused. "What's up with you? Did you eat something weird? You're acting strange."
Rosa couldn't stop herself; she ran to him and hugged him tightly. "I missed you, Mike. I missed you so much."
Mike stiffened, his arms awkward at his sides. "Okay, you're really weird today. Did you hit your head or something?"
As Rosa pulled back, memories flooded her mind. She remembered the warning Aria had given before she jumped into the monster's dimension. This wasn't real. It was the past.
Her smile faltered, and she stepped back.
Mike frowned. "Why are you acting like this? Did I do something?"
"No, it's just…" Rosa trailed off, her voice shaking. "Something feels… off."
She suddenly remembered this moment clearly: it was the day they were playing when a monster disguised as a voice outside knocked on their door. It was the day Mike.
Rosa's heart pounded as the knock at the door echoed through the room. Her breathing quickened, her hands trembling. She remembered this moment too well—the memory she never wanted to relive.
Mike stood up from his chair, confused by Rosa's behavior. "What's wrong with you today, Rosa? It's just Dad. Why are you acting so weird?"
Rosa shook her head violently, stepping forward and grabbing Mike's wrist before he could take another step toward the door. "Don't open it!" she whispered harshly, her voice cracking with fear.
Mike frowned, his confusion deepening. "What's your problem? It's just my dad checking on us. You're acting really strange."
"Please, Mike," Rosa pleaded, her eyes wide and filled with desperation. "Don't open that door. Trust me. Something's not right."
The knock came again, louder this time, followed by the calm, familiar voice from outside. "Mike, are you okay in there? Open the door."
Mike hesitated, looking at the door and then back at Rosa. "It sounds like Dad. What's the big deal?"
"It's not your dad," Rosa said firmly, her grip tightening on his wrist. "Please, we need to leave. Now."
Mike stared at her, his concern growing. "You're not making any sense. Are you feeling okay?"
"Listen to me!" Rosa snapped, her voice trembling. "Something bad is about to happen. We have to go!"
Finally, seeing the panic in her eyes, Mike nodded. "Alright. But what's going on?"
"No time to explain," Rosa muttered, pulling him toward the back window. She quickly unlatched it, her hands shaking. Beyond the window was the old ladder that led down to the backyard.
Mike's jaw dropped. "You want to climb down that? Are you serious?!"
"Yes," Rosa hissed, already hoisting herself out. "Come on, hurry before—"
Knock. Knock.
The knocking grew louder, more insistent, and the voice outside turned colder. "Mike. Open the door. Now."
Mike flinched at the sudden shift in tone. His eyes darted to the door, then back to Rosa. "That didn't sound like my dad…"
"Exactly!" Rosa snapped, already halfway down the ladder. "Get moving!"
Mike hesitated for only a moment before following her. As he climbed down, the knocking stopped, replaced by an eerie silence that sent chills down Rosa's spine.
When they reached the ground, Rosa grabbed Mike's arm and whispered, "We need to get as far away as possible. Don't look back."
"But Rosa, what is this? What's going on?" Mike asked, his voice shaky.
She didn't answer. Her mind was racing, replaying the events of that day—the day she had lost Mike. The memory of that door opening and the monster waiting behind it haunted her. But this time, she had stopped it.
At least, she hoped she had.
As they ran through the backyard, the shadows around them seemed to move unnaturally, and Rosa could feel a strange presence watching them. She tightened her grip on Mike's arm, her voice low.
"Stay close. Whatever happens, don't let go of me."
To be continued…