Oblivion of the Parallel World

Chapter 2: Unseen paths

The week flew by in a blur of lectures, assignments, and study sessions. Before they knew it, Saturday had arrived, bringing with it the promise of a much-needed break. Elise woke up to the sound of birds chirping outside her window. She stretched lazily, savoring the rare luxury of sleeping in.

A notification pinged on her phone. It was a message from Dominic: “Beach day! Meet at 10?”

Elise smiled and quickly typed a response. “Absolutely! Can’t wait.”

The idea of spending the day at the beach with her friends filled her with excitement. It was a perfect escape from the pressures of university life. She quickly got ready, throwing on her favorite sundress and packing a bag with sunscreen, a towel, and a good book.

When she arrived at the meeting spot, the rest of the group was already there. Dominic was loading a cooler into the back of his car, while Patricia and Reese chatted animatedly about the latest campus gossip. Landon was fiddling with the radio, trying to find a station that everyone could agree on.

“Hey, Elise!” Dominic greeted her with a warm smile. “Ready for some sun and sand?”

“Definitely,” she replied, feeling her heart do its usual flip-flop at his smile.

The drive to the beach was filled with laughter and music. Reese managed to find a station playing upbeat tunes, and soon everyone was singing along, their voices mingling with the rush of the wind through the open windows. Elise felt a sense of contentment wash over her. These moments of pure, unfiltered joy were what she cherished the most.

When they arrived at the beach, they found a perfect spot near the water. The sand was warm beneath their feet, and the sound of waves crashing against the shore created a soothing backdrop. They set up their spot, laying out towels and beach chairs, and Dominic fired up a small grill for lunch.

As the sun climbed higher in the sky, they took turns swimming in the ocean, playing beach volleyball, and lounging in the sun. Elise found herself next to Dominic, their shoulders brushing occasionally as they sat on their towels, watching the others play.

“So, how’s your semester going?” Dominic asked, turning to her with genuine interest.

“It’s been intense,” Elise admitted, “but I’m managing. How about you?”

“Pretty much the same,” he replied. “But having you guys around makes it a lot easier.”

Elise felt a flutter in her chest at his words. She wanted to say something meaningful, something that conveyed how much his friendship meant to her, but the words seemed to get stuck in her throat.

Before she could respond, Reese and Patricia called them over to join the volleyball game. The moment passed, but the warmth of Dominic’s words stayed with her.

As the afternoon wore on, they gathered around the grill, enjoying the aroma of sizzling burgers and hot dogs. Landon regaled them with a hilarious story about his latest misadventure in the chemistry lab, and Patricia nearly choked on her drink from laughing so hard.

Elise watched her friends, feeling a deep sense of gratitude. They had become her second family, each bringing their own unique spark to the group. Patricia, with her unwavering kindness; Reese, with her infectious energy; Landon, with his steady reliability; and Dominic, with his quiet strength.

After lunch, they decided to take a walk along the shoreline. The sun was beginning its descent, casting a golden glow over the water. Dominic walked beside Elise, their feet sinking into the wet sand with each step.

“I’ve been thinking a lot about the future lately,” Dominic said, breaking the comfortable silence.

“Yeah?” Elise prompted, curious.

“I know it’s still a ways off, but I want to do something meaningful with my life. Make a difference, you know?”

Elise nodded, understanding exactly what he meant. “I think we all do, in our own way.”

Dominic smiled at her, a thoughtful expression in his eyes. “I’m glad I have you guys with me on this journey.”

“Me too,” Elise replied softly, her heart swelling with affection for him and their friends.

As they continued their walk, they noticed something unusual further down the beach. A small crowd had gathered around a man who seemed to be in distress. Curious and concerned, they hurried over to see what was happening.

The man was clutching his head, mumbling incoherently. His eyes were wide with fear, and he seemed to be struggling to stay upright. Dominic knelt beside him, speaking in a calm, soothing voice.

“Hey, it’s okay. We’re here to help. Can you tell us what’s wrong?”

The man looked up, his eyes wild. “It’s... it’s the other world. I’ve seen it. They’re coming...”

Elise felt a chill run down her spine. The man’s words made no sense, but the fear in his eyes was unmistakable. She glanced at Dominic, who looked equally unsettled.

“What do you think he means?” Elise whispered.

“I don’t know,” Dominic replied, his voice low. “But we need to get him some help.”

They managed to flag down a lifeguard, who called for medical assistance. As the paramedics arrived and took over, the group retreated a few steps, watching with concern.

“That was... strange,” Reese said, voicing what they were all thinking.

“Yeah,” Landon agreed. “Do you think he was hallucinating or something?”

“Maybe,” Patricia said, but her tone was uncertain. “It just seemed so real.”

Elise couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling that had settled in her stomach. The man’s words echoed in her mind: “The other world. They’re coming.” What could it possibly mean?

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the beach in shadow, the group made their way back to their spot. The incident had cast a pall over the day, but they tried to shake it off, focusing instead on the warmth of their friendship and the comfort of each other’s company.

Later that evening, as they packed up and headed back to the car, Elise couldn’t help but glance back at the spot where they had found the man. The beach was empty now, the waves gently lapping at the shore, but the memory lingered.

Driving back to campus, the car was filled with quiet conversation and soft music. Elise stared out the window, her mind racing. She had a feeling that their lives were about to change in ways they couldn’t yet comprehend. Something had been set in motion today, something that would lead them down unseen paths.

As they pulled into the parking lot and said their goodbyes, Elise felt a mixture of excitement and apprehension. The future was uncertain, but she knew one thing for sure: whatever lay ahead, they would face it together.

And that, she thought as she climbed the stairs to her apartment, was all that really mattered.