Between Worlds

Chapter 20

"It's okay," said the man with antlers, his voice a calming presence in the chaos. Kimber, pressing his back against the rough bark of a tree, eyed him warily. "You're safe. My name is Adin."

Kimber's mind was in a whirl. He was at a loss for where to begin. "I... I don't understand what's happening."

"I know," Adin said as he sat down at the table, facing Kimber. "You've fallen through a gap in the fabric of reality, into another world entirely. Rest assured, you're safe here, and you will be taken care of."

"But..." Kimber's voice trailed off, his thoughts a tangled mess. "No. That doesn't make sense. You speak the same language as me."

Adin inclined his head, acknowledging the point. "Yes, I was equally surprised. It's common for people to arrive here from various realities, but it's exceedingly rare to encounter someone from the same world as another. I'm very interested to find out if we are indeed from the same place."

Kimber shook his head in disbelief. "Where I come from, there's nobody... nothing like you."

"I was always one of a kind. There is magic where you're from, though, surely. I'm not entirely sure what happened between you and Ryan, but it seemed like you did something to him."

Kimber averted his gaze. "Well, he did something back, so we're even."

"A harsh lesson, but one he'll likely remember. It's ill-advised to lay hands on someone without understanding their capabilities. At the very least, it's rude, especially if they pose no threat to you."

"Why did your friends come and find me? What do you want from me?"

"The simple answer is that it's our job."

"Catching people like me?"

"Not capture," Adin corrected, his arms folding on the table before him. "We find individuals like you and help them figure things out. Think about the chaos there would be if there were people like you were left to roam, lost and bewildered."

Kimber gave a confused shake of his head. "But why would anyone want to help? It doesn't make any sense."

"You know, when I first arrived here, a lot of people felt that way. There was a lot of anger and fear. I think, over the years, we've come to realise that there's value in making room for different people and things. You never really know what someone has to offer unless you give them a chance."

Kimber felt a deep frown settle onto his face. "I don't believe that. It's too nice."

Adin's smile was tinged with melancholy. "Perhaps that scepticism is further proof we originate from the same world. It wasn't a place of kindness, at least not to me. People were cruel."

"Are you a monster?"

Adin pondered, his head tilting contemplatively. "For a time I think I was, before I came here. Hate forged from hate. But here, I've become just another person trying to make sense of his existence."

"That other guy. Is he a vampire?"

"Luther?" Adin asked. "Yes. He's not a monster either, though. Sometimes I wonder if this world doesn't take as easily to such notions as other realities. Or perhaps things everywhere have more nuance than we give them credit for? It's hard to say."

Kimber found the idea of a vampire being benign hard to grasp. He'd never met one, but he'd heard stories. Maybe they were just trying to get his guard down and then they'd trap him somewhere for that vampire to keep around as a snack. Kimber had thrown everything he had at Ryan. If they knew just how weak he was right now...