The Universe Beyond Ours

Chapter 4 (Part 2)

     In the meantime, Denis reaches the mall. He sees the humongous building and beholds its grand facade. However, it's not his intention to enter. Instead, he walks around the structure and goes behind it, venturing into a road that graces a grassland.

     The rain has subsided slightly. The gentle pitter-patter of each raindrop reaches Denis' ears as they land on the concrete street. Like a pack of hungry wolves, the wind howls and blows, causing the surrounding grass to rustle. It may be a tranquil scene, but for Denis, this moment in his life is beyond the opposite.

     Denis strides down the street shrouded in darkness, his vision obstructed by the light rain. He then climbs over a metal fence and walks on the grassland. He ventures deeper into the plains where residences surround the area, and there, as he stands amidst the dark greenery, he lets out a shrill shout, his voice straining. As he lets out his rage, he removes his mask from his face and throws it away. As if fighting off flames, he stomps on the ground multiple times as lightning flashes in the sky.

     Suddenly, a lightning bolt strikes the earth, hitting the ground a few yards behind Denis. The force hurls Denis away, his scream echoing amidst the darkness, and people in moving cars on the road witness Denis falling from the sky. Denis then falls over and loses consciousness. And everything turns black. Pain hastens throughout Denis' body, and he cannot do anything but remain motionless.

     Soon, Denis wakes up, and it is already dawn. The rain has disappeared, leaving only a few traces of thick clouds. The black atmosphere is replaced by a cloudy morning sky, and light triumphs over the darkness. How long was Denis knocked unconscious? Could it be hours?

     Rising from the ground, Denis looks around and shakes his head, trying to fix his attention. As he gazes at the surroundings, his brow flies to his hairline; surely, that is the look of someone confused—very confused. Denis examines all directions, but the grassland engulfs the horizon. However, the last time he looked in the distance, he saw the mall and houses in a small residence. But now, the mall and the surrounding neighbourhoods are gone, replaced by an endless grassland.

     Though perplexed, Denis gathers his courage and begins wandering around the grassland. It doesn't take him long before he spots buildings and skyscrapers in the distance. Odd, he thought. The last time Denis knew, there were no skyscrapers in Santa Rosa City. His brows knit together in confusion as he ponders where he is.

     Inevitably, the distant cityscape emerges as the only beacon of civilization within reach of Denis' current whereabouts, compelling him to approach its gates, his steps heavy with uncertainty and a tinge of desperation. As he crosses the threshold into the bustling city, he is met with a scene that defies all expectations. Unfamiliar and fantastical, the city teems with life in ways he could never have imagined. Colourful and eccentric attire adorns the city's denizens, merchants peddle their exotic wares from ornate carts, while street vendors tout potions of every hue imaginable. Children playfully wield wands, their laughter ringing through the air like chimes of enchantment.

     What strikes Denis most profoundly is the diversity of the populace—faces from varying races and backgrounds populate the streets, some bearing features familiar to him, while others have an otherworldly aura with their pale complexions, fiery red or blonde hair, and a spectrum of skin tones that span the human palette. Amidst the curious gazes of the city dwellers, Denis navigates the unfamiliar streets, acutely aware of the dishevelled appearance that sets him apart in this fantastical realm. Suddenly, a gust of wind ripples through the air, accompanied by the powerful beat of wings. Startled, Denis whirls around to behold a sight straight from myth and legend—a dragon, majestic and fearsome, its presence looming large behind him. Overwhelmed by fear and awe, a primal scream escapes his lips as he turns on his heels, fleeing in a panic from the fantastical creature that now haunts his reality.

"Aaahh!!" he screamed in shock.

     Peering out from his hiding spot behind a weathered stone wall, Denis watches in stunned silence as the magnificent reptile soars into the distance, its form a fleeting glimpse of wonder against the horizon. As he remains rooted to the corner, a whirlwind of thoughts and questions whirls through his mind, each more bewildering than the last. Where has fate led him? What unfathomable world is this, where dragons roam the skies and magic dances in the air? Is this surreal spectacle merely a figment of his imagination, a dream woven from the threads of his subconscious?

     In the grip of a rising tide of panic, Denis' breath quickens, his chest tightening with each gasp of air. Struggling to regain control, he presses a trembling palm against his racing heart in a futile attempt to steady the erratic beat within his chest. With eyes squeezed shut, he seeks refuge in darkness, hoping to escape the unsettling reality that surrounds him. In a moment of desperate clarity, he reopens his eyes, only to be met with the same fantastical scene that has enveloped him.

     Staring into the unknown, a shiver of uncertainty courses through him. Is this a mere dream, a fleeting illusion conjured by a mind adrift in chaos, or a tangible reality that defies all reason and logic? The boundary between truth and fantasy melds, leaving Denis standing at the precipice of a world that challenges everything he thought he knew, his reality now a delicate balance between what is and what could never be.