REPLICA-GAME

<6> Ghost Head

"Using codes to speak his words for likely a fear of someone out to get him, Alexis Stevens went the extra mile to hide his notes in plain sight. Saying he put his papers in his computer sounds like he put them in as files, when in reality, Alexis really meant he put the papers in his computer."

"The words Alexis spoke were something that sounded right out of a science fiction novel or movie. Insane ramblings to any who were quick to disregard him. What he mentioned was far more than the Layered World Theory. He was aware of that, but he was also aware of multiple worlds existing all at the same time, even going so far as to point out that many or the worlds moved at the same time as our own, but experienced another time."

"In other words, our year is 2021, when at the same time, a world moving right next to ours could be several days, weeks, months, or even years ahead of us, or behind us. Then there were his talks about what he called Spiral Worlds. He might've explained more, but many of his notes only point out that he was told to never give more mention than just name, by who? No one knows. Only Alexis Stevens knew, and it was information he took to the grave."

"With the Layered Worlds Theory, actions taken by people are changed into the alternate choice, but that only makes me wonder if the same could be done with major events in history. Historical events, major tragedies, could those be altered?"

"All of this sounds like nothing more than the result of a conspiracy theorist. But if it's all nonsense, then why did it work with me? And why was Alexis killed and made to look like suicide? And why did over one-hundred thirty people commit suicide? Is it all really a coincidence? Or is there a connection?"

[11.19.2021]

With all of the papers spread out across the table, Reika, Toko, Katsumi, Chloe, and Isaac looked over each. However, Toko and Isaac kept most of their attention on the codes Alexis had written down, thinking of various ways of what it all meant and how they could crack it.

"I have to admit, this Alexis guy really was paranoid, maybe that's what it was and you all mistook it for a mental breakdown?" Reika suggested.

But Isaac quickly shot that down, "No, I know paranoid, and what was displaying clearly wasn't that. Still, despite wasting his time on such pointless things, he was still a very knowledgeable man."

"Seriously? You're still only looking at it with logic?" Chloe asked, "That's probably why a lot of this went over your head, you won't acknowledge anything related to the supernatural, that could be why Alexis chose this way, so that even you wouldn't get it."

"I think I got it." Toko said.

Looking at Toko, everyone expected her to say what she found, but instead, she only wrote on a napkin before presenting it to the others.

11172021-1100, 11182021-1200, and 11202021-0935.

Toko then took it a step further and began to separate the numbers in certain areas.

11 17 2021 - 1100, 11 18 2021 - 1200, and 11 20 2021 - 0935

"They're dates." Katsumi said.

"Not only dates, but those were earlier this week." Reika added, "Yesterday and the day before, that was around the time they started finsing the suicide victims."

"Exactly. And judging by the changes to the second number on the first two, as well as their last numbers, people began killing themselves between eleven and midnight."

"But what about the last number?" Chloe asked.

"It's tomorrow's date." Isaac answered, "And if we use the method of time on the last numbers, something will happen at nine thirty-five. However, if it's in the morning or night, I'm not sure."