Parallels

Chapter One: Gwen

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November 27, 2025

5:59 A.M.

My alarm clock rang and squealed as soon as it struck 6:00 A.M. I groaned into my pillow in annoyance. Someone really has to figure out how to lower the volume on my clock. I turned the alarm off, and sat up on my bed, looking around the room. My room has always been a mess, but I've taken a liking to it. It screams comfy and homey for me. The day seemed to be gloomy, giving a blue-ish aura around my room. After a while, I decided to get ready. I brushed my fingers through my bristled morning hair, and stood up reluctantly. As soon as I stand, I step on something, God knows what, and fall flat on my face. Wow, Gwen, how great of you, being a klutz as soon as you wake up. How fun. I brushed it off and examined myself in the mirror.

I looked as I always have been since I became 17. The same short, curly brown hair, the same blue eyes, the same cheeks that were now flushed with embarrassment, and the same pale skin. I tried to untangle the knots in my hair, a result of writhing in my sleep, I suppose. No luck. After a few violent and desperate tries with a few hair strands stuck to my ancient brush, I gave up and decided to take a nice bath to rinse it out.

The flowing stream of cold water eased my burning skin, and I took longer than expected. After I finished showering, I clumsily walked over to my closet and tried to find clothes for today. I eventually ended up with a sweater and a pair of jeans I usually wore. I shook them on and left my room, looking at where I'm stepping this time.

The faded maroon walls of the mansion never changed, and will probably never will. The seemingly endless hallways confused me and left me senseless. God, this isn't good for the start of the day. After what seemed like forever, I found the kitchen. The kitchen was beautiful, with polished cabinets and counters, organized dishes and glasses, and a window showing the garden outside, which felt frozen in time. There was a plate of fresh sandwiches, by the look of it. Weird, I thought. The standout of the kitchen was that someone was there, brewing coffee.

It was Owen Grey. He looked up from his coffee and gave me a look that I interpreted into "Good morning.". He stared at me expectantly, with his brown eyes and his fluffy brown hair, slightly darker than my shade of brown. He was one of my friends that live with me in this old mansion. It helps not to be alone once in a while. He then gestured toward the plate of sandwiches, as if he expects me to eat it.

"You never wake up this early. What's up?", I replied to his greeting. Owen was known for sleeping incredibly long. I didn't understand why he would wake up so early for coffee, more or less interaction. "Are you sick?"

"Well, I got bored, and decided to come here and drink some coffee. Took me forever, though. I arrived a few minutes before you just did. This mansion is incredibly large," he remarked.

I sighed. No one living in this mansion can ever perfectly navigate themselves through the endless twists and turns of the maroon hallways. "Well," I signaled a goodbye look to Owen and left, taking a sandwich along the way.

6:47 A.M.

As I finished the sandwich, I stared out of our living room window. There wasn't much out there. The city in the distance, obscured by a dense fog and a few trees. The city. I've always wanted to visit the city, but I've heard that its too dangerous nowadays. Knowing my luck, I might get shot the moment I step foot in there.

I heard the door creak, and I turned around to see Angela Wood. She's also one of the friends I live with. She's nice, and also beautiful. "Early bird?", she asked. "Mhm," I said, still glancing at the foggy city. Angela saw where I was looking and sighed. "Gwen, you know we can't go there. It's too dangerous," she stated. I knew she was right, but I really wanted to find out why we weren't allowed there. "I know, I know...," I agreed.

"Glad you know," she said sarcastically. I rolled my eyes. Angela has always been like this, but its endearing to me. She makes me laugh with her stupid sarcasm. She waved and left the room. I continued to stare at the city, covered in fog. I noticed something about the city as I stared. On one of the tall skyscrapers in the city, there was a man, shrouded in fog. Who is that, and why is he waving?

I freaked out and rubbed my eyes to make sure that I was seeing the right things. After my vision adjusted, the man was gone. Weird. Maybe a hallucination. I stood up from my seat, took one last glance at the city, and headed back to my room.

7:23 A.M.

I laid on my bed, staring at the ceiling, wondering about the city and the peculiar man I saw, or hallucinated. I wasn't one for the hallucinations, but that was freaking me out. I decided to shake it off, and go to sleep. Even though it was 7:00 in the morning. I slowly drifted off to sleep, wondering about what I saw.