Oblivion of the Parallel World

Chapter 3: Ripples

The days following the beach incident passed in a blur of routine and lingering unease. Elise tried to focus on her studies, but the man’s wild eyes and cryptic words haunted her thoughts. She wasn't the only one affected; her friends seemed quieter, more introspective.

It was a sunny afternoon when they all gathered in the campus library for another study session. The atmosphere was heavy with unspoken questions. Patricia, always perceptive, finally broke the silence.

“Has anyone else been thinking about that guy at the beach?” she asked, her voice soft but insistent.

They exchanged glances, each of them clearly wrestling with the same thoughts.

“Yeah,” Reese admitted. “I can’t get his words out of my head. ‘The other world. They’re coming.’ It’s so... creepy.”

Dominic nodded, his expression serious. “I’ve been thinking about it too. What if there’s more to it than just a random rant?”

Elise looked at him, her curiosity piqued. “What do you mean?”

“I don’t know,” Dominic said, running a hand through his hair. “But it felt... real. Like he knew something we don’t.”

Landon leaned back in his chair, his brow furrowed. “So, what do we do? We can’t exactly ask him for more information.”

“We could try to find out more about him,” Patricia suggested. “Maybe there are records or news articles about similar incidents.”

Elise’s heart raced at the thought. It was a long shot, but it felt like the right direction. “It’s worth a try. Let’s start digging.”

They divided the tasks among themselves. Reese and Patricia headed to the campus archives to search for any news reports, while Dominic, Landon, and Elise stayed in the library, combing through online databases and forums for any mentions of similar occurrences.

Hours passed, and the library grew quieter as evening approached. Elise was about to give up hope when she stumbled upon a forum post that caught her eye. It was from a user named “ParallelSeeker,” who described an experience eerily similar to the man’s rant at the beach.

The post read: “Has anyone else seen the other world? I’ve been having these visions—places and people that don’t exist here. It feels so real. Am I going crazy, or is there something more?”

Elise’s pulse quickened. She showed the post to Dominic and Landon, who read it with growing interest.

“This is exactly what he was talking about,” Dominic said, his eyes alight with excitement. “We need to reach out to this person.”

Landon nodded. “Agreed. Let’s see if we can get in touch and find out more.”

Elise quickly created an account and sent a message to “ParallelSeeker,” explaining their encounter at the beach and asking for more information. As they waited for a response, Reese and Patricia returned, looking equally excited.

“We found something,” Reese said, holding up a stack of old newspapers. “There have been reports of people experiencing similar visions and speaking about another world. It’s not widespread, but it’s there.”

Patricia laid out the articles, and they poured over them together. The reports were scattered across different locations and times, but the common thread was unmistakable: people claiming to have seen another world, often following a traumatic event or a period of intense stress.

“This can’t be a coincidence,” Elise said, her mind racing. “There’s something connecting all these incidents.”

“But what?” Landon asked, his voice tinged with frustration. “What’s causing these visions?”

Before anyone could answer, Elise’s phone buzzed with a notification. It was a reply from “ParallelSeeker.”

The message was brief but promising: “I’ve seen them too. Meet me at the old observatory, tomorrow at midnight. I’ll explain everything.”

Elise read the message aloud, and the group fell silent, absorbing the gravity of the situation. The old observatory was a secluded spot on the outskirts of campus, rarely visited by anyone.

“Do we go?” Reese asked, her voice a mixture of excitement and apprehension.

“We have to,” Dominic said firmly. “This might be our only chance to find out what’s really going on.”

Landon nodded in agreement. “We stick together, no matter what.”

Patricia squeezed Elise’s hand, a determined look in her eyes. “We’re in this together.”

As the group made their way back to their apartments, Elise felt a mixture of fear and anticipation. The path they were on was shrouded in mystery, but she knew they couldn’t turn back now. The man’s words had set something in motion, and they had to see it through.

The next day passed in a tense haze of classes and whispered conversations. When night fell, Elise found herself standing with her friends at the edge of campus, the path to the observatory stretching out before them.

With flashlights in hand, they walked in silence, the night air cool and crisp around them. The observatory loomed ahead, a dark silhouette against the starry sky. As they approached, a figure stepped out of the shadows, and Elise’s heart skipped a beat.

“Are you ‘ParallelSeeker’?” Dominic asked, his voice steady despite the tension.

The figure nodded. “Yes. My name is Maverick Amell. I’m glad you came. There’s much to discuss, and little time.”

Elise exchanged a look with her friends. They had taken the first step into a world of unknown possibilities, and there was no turning back now.