DYSCHRONOMETRIA

CHAPTER 19 - Pipe Dream

Collins was out of sight.

Dr. Vishnu and the workers stared at the machine wide eyed, shocked about the magic it secretly yielded. They all itched for something to say but cannot find the right words to describe it.

"Go back to work," Dr. Vishnu commanded.

The workers blatantly obeyed without a word. There was something suspicious going on but they refused to inspect it. Going back to work was pobably something they did bitterly now.

Dr. Vishnu looked at the portal in anger,

"I saw it all, dear. What do yiu plan to do now?" the red demoness appeared beside him after the workers left.

"We must track him down." he firmly said. His eyes glowed in rage. The Red Demoness looked at him with empathy,

"Very well, dear..."  with those words, she grab hold of his shoulder and banished from the room. Red magic sparkled like a magician's trick. The two traveled on a wormhole of blood red shade and went on a journey to find the young man who escaped.

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Collins was unshaken by the scientist. He didn't care how many times he would threaten him, nor if people do not believe him. He sought for Lianna, someone whom he deeply cares about. But apparently she now has distance from him.

He was scared.

Through the tunnel, he noticed the surroundings. It wasn't the usual violet clouds, but rather, blue clouds of magic. Could the wormhole possibly reflect to the person traveling through it? It was an odd theory, but he shook that off. He should prioritize Lianna. Light can be seen beyond, Collins' heart was beatin fast, and he could hear it.

"Gah!" he panted when he wa slightly thrown off by the portal. It shone indigo light, but immediately vanished. Collins felt exhausted but he knew this is the start of his rescue to Lianna. He stood up and oh how he regret it, his head hit a stalactite hard.

"Ugh! Where am I...?" he grunted annoyingly but as he looked around, he noticed that the water was clear. So clear that it looked like it was glowing. Although it was small, he can sea through the bottom of the shallow body, "Whoa. What is this place?" his voice echoed around.

Just then, a young man in glasses appeared, alongside his wife and 2 children. Good thing they didn't hear his echo, maybe? But though the man looked familiar... Collins narrowed his eyes and leaned down on the stalagmites. He was a floor above the family who were hanging around a larger body of shallow water. It was beautiful. The man was of brown skin, wearing a shirt and boxers, glasses and his body was thin and young. He soaked into the water along with his wife and children, laughing ang playing happily with them.

Collins can't help but stare at the family. The man was Vishnu! Except... happier and younger.

Collins figured this worked similarly like how the memories are interactable during his journey with Lia. But oh he was so wrong. He climbed down using the help of stalactites and stalagmites. He waved at them but they seemed to not notice him at all. Collins continued to make appearance to them, but to no avail they didn't move even an inch of their eyeballs to him.

Collins gave up and simply watched them have fun. His mind wandered, he thought about Lia, what if they had a family? Would they be like this? Happy?

Silly questions won't be answered. Of course Collins knows that it was simply a ridiculous pipe dream... a mere fantasy... a mirage.

His eyes drifted to the young Vishnu who hovered in the corner. His wife didn't mind as she kept watch of the children. Collins took steps toward Vishnu. He looked down at the water he was stepping on, it wasn't even responding to his movements! He figured it may be because he doesn't have the watch and simply interacted with the portal. As he thought about the watch, he saw Vishnu holding something. A rock? Wait, no. It was... Collins shifted to take a closer look.

... The watch! He's holding  Lianna's pocket watch!

Is this the history of how the watch is discovered now in the modern time? Possibly, simply observing the family's clothing, they did seem modern. Now he was convinced that this is how it was discovered. And it was Dr. Vishnu himself? Now about Lianna...

Collins felt his skin crawl as he saw a man from afar the cave, he was wearing blue shirt, green pants and hat, a pack bag and... was carrying a woman over his shoulder, unconscious. He took one more glance at the two and they disappeared.

Suddenly the memory shifted, and this memory showed how Vishnu slowly went insane and eventually killed his family. He ran away from police and went to a cave, from there he saw Vishnu being serenaded by... A red spirit woman?

Then again it shifted, it was too quick for him to understand it all. The memory this time...

"Wh... what...? Lianna...?" Collins was lost for words,

...........

"Let's test it!" Lianna commanded enthusiastic.

The other scientist complied through a nod and pulled down the lever. Electricity power was consumed, sound echoed everywhere and light the was blinding. There were bands of colors that magically swayed like a vortex on the portal's central rim. It sucked in any objects forcefully.

It then dispersed into nothingness.

Another fail of an experiment.

"Well, another test, another fail." the elder scientist complained. "But that's what science is! Don't be disgruntled, Dr. Edgar! I'm sure it will work soon!" Lianna urged. The scientist sighed, "I suppose you're right," he shrugged off his lab coat onto his shoulder, "Everyone! Lunch break! Let's fix the portal later." he announced.

Lianna's smile diminished. They were giving up. But no. She won't let that happen.

Experiments and studies take time to be a success. Takes trials and errors. Takes everything to be perfect. Lianna patted her pocket for her phone, her expression became grim. She felt nothing in her pocket. She glances at the window to the circular portal. No hope of getting it back. She must've accidentally left her phone on the testing site and the vortex had taken her phone. She came down the stairs and went into the area. She looked up the portal with a scornful expression. "You were supposed to work this time." she said in disappointment, but was more pointed out to herself than to the portal. After a few moment of gazing the portal, she examined the area, no objects as expected.

But then she spots something shiny in the corner; a pocket watch.

"What? How? A pocket watch?" she picked it up in utter confusion and simply shrugged it off. She then went into the lunch area.

.............

Collins reached out to Lianna as she was walking, the memory suddenly froze. It allowed him to touch her cheeks. To caress her.

He took in details of how much Lianna was more... vibrant, joyful and enthusiastic. She had more colors pulsating on her figure. This was something he hadn't seen for like years ever since her madness over the portal and watch... Collins deflated at the thought that the once vibrant Lianna has now turned into a dull and empty one... He wondered when he will see her smile again, or even reconcile their relationship for that matter.

His stomach suddenly grumbled, how many days had passed ever since his last meal? 5 days perhaps, but he didn't worry that.

Anyhow, the memory shifted again... Into an unrecognizable place... He didn't really know, it was dark. So dark he can barely see anything. Red dim lights immediately appeared to illuminate the are. He saw a path beyond him.

"AH! IT FEELS SO GOOD BEING ALIVE!" the silky voice of a woman echoed.