Different Dimensions

Chapter 2 - A New World

Fire. That was the first thing I thought when I breathe in a burning smell and the hot temperature in the room. Are we still in Sonetianum? I opened my eyes and saw that it was indeed a fire.  I released myself from Gilroy as I looked around in confusion.

“Where are we?” I asked myself and covered my nose. We both started to cough as he started to look for a way to escape the place on fire.

“We’re trapped.” Gilroy said as he took my hand. I felt my world begin to spin and I leaned at Gilroy, dizzily.

“Coralline, Are you alright?” He asked and I nodded even though it was a lie. Suddenly we heard a voice shout.

“Arthur! Check the floor upstairs!” We heard someone shout.

“Got it!” Someone answered and we heard footsteps.

“Help!” Gilroy yelled. I cling into his arm for support as I felt my head ache and my breath began to shorten. “We need help.”

 I don’t know what happened next, because the next thing I knew, everything faded to black and all I could remember was the crackling noise, footsteps and some muffled unfamiliar voice.

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 “Wake up, kid.” A voice whispered as I weakly opened my eyes. I look at the surroundings and noticed that the fire was gone; we weren’t in that place anymore. This place is neat actually. “Are you alright?”

 I looked at the unfamiliar man with green eyes and blonde hair who was sitting down beside me with a wet fabric in his hand. He started to damp the cloth in my forehead and I flinched away from him.

 “W-who are you?” I asked.

 “I’m Simpson Hart, but you can call me by my last name. My first name is kind of weird.” He chuckled and I looked at him in confusion.

 “Why?”

 “You know, Simpson? Like the television show, ‘The Simpsons’.  I don’t know it’s just weird for me.” He explained and I stared at him. What is a television and Simpsons?

 “Why am I here?” I asked after a few minutes of silence. He sighed and placed the wet fabric down onto the basin.

 "Well, you and your brother—“

“Brother?” I cut him off in confusion. When did I have a brother?

 “Yeah….Uhm, I think his name was Gilroy?” He answered. Oh, I get it, but why did he said that he was my brother?

 “Both of you were trapped in that burning building and I was the one who helped you guys. Well, you fainted so he carried you. Anyway, he told me that you two don’t have a place to stay and you don’t have parents anymore. Even relatives.”  He said, looking at me with pity.

 “Uh… Yeah. They uhh…died in an accident.” I lied.

 “I’m sorry.” He told me and I smiled at him. “I remembered when my wife died 15 years ago. We were expecting that she’ll only live a couple of months after we married though. She’s been sick ever since we dated.”

 “Oh…” I said and looked at him with sympathy. “I’m sorry about that.”

 “It’s been a long time.” He shook his head and sighed. “I guess you and your brother’s experience are worse than mine, since you didn’t know that it’s going to happen and you’re both so young.”

 I nodded and pushed myself up to sit.

 “How do you two live then?” He asked and I looked away. What do I even say? Where is Gilroy? I need his help.