Eli's Otherworldly Echo

Chapter 4: The Burden of Being The Only One Who Knows

"Eli, hey, Eli! Wake up, it's about to start!"

The words pierced the fog of Eli's mind, dragging him out of the murky haze of sleep. Leo's voice cut through the confusion like a sharp blade, yanking Eli back to the present. His body jerked upright, eyes fluttering open as he blinked, trying to make sense of the world around him. His heart pounded against his ribs, beating out a frantic rhythm of panic.

What's going on? I was just about to leave. How did I end up here again?

The classroom came into view, familiar yet wrong, like a painting where the colors were slightly off. Desks were in their usual place, Leo sat next to him as always, but a sense of dread gnawed at Eli's insides. Something was missing—something important, but he couldn't place it. His mind raced, thoughts jumbled as he struggled to orient himself.

This can't be happening again. No, it has to be a lie.

Panic clawed at his throat, and his skin prickled with unease. His hands trembled as he turned toward Leo, his friend's face now filled with concern.

"Oi, you alright?" Leo's hand landed gently on his shoulder, shaking him, his eyes searching Eli's face for an answer. There was genuine worry there, but Eli could barely process it. The world felt surreal, like he was caught in the pages of one of the novels he had read, where reality bent in impossible ways.

For a moment, he met Leo's gaze, feeling the weight of everything—of not being able to explain, of not knowing what was happening. Why am I so different? he thought bitterly, glancing at Leo's confident posture, his presence so grounded, so normal. Why can't I handle this like him?

Without a word, Eli abruptly stood up, the chair scraping loudly against the floor. His sudden movement startled both Leo and Alex, who had been watching quietly. The weight of their worried stares made Eli's skin crawl, but he couldn't stay there any longer. He needed to escape—to run from whatever twisted reality was unfolding around him.

Ignoring the tension, he bolted for the door. His footsteps were loud in the quiet room, each step a drumbeat echoing his mounting anxiety. He had almost reached the handle when the door swung open.

Ms. Lena stepped in, her presence both unexpected and unnerving. Eli frowned, his heart hammering in his chest. She wasn't supposed to be here at this time, was she? It was another inconsistency, another crack in the fabric of what should have been an ordinary day. But he couldn't focus on that now—he had to get out.

"Eli, wait!" Ms. Lena's voice was sharp, laced with irritation as he brushed past her, his pace quickening. His breath came in ragged gasps, his chest tightening with each step. The noise of the school—students talking, the creak of old floors—faded into the background, blending into a dull hum as he ran through the hallways.

The gate came into view, the heavy iron bars standing as the only barrier between him and some form of sanity. He skidded to a stop, his breath coming out in short bursts, his palms slick with sweat. The cold air hit his face, doing little to calm the rising tide of panic that surged within him.