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“The feeling of déjà vu is misinterpreted,” she said simply. “It is not that sense that you’ve done something before and you’ve known it, but it hasn’t come to the front of your mind in a while. It is not that. It is when the other you crosses paths with this you. When they -- or you both -- step in the same place at the same time.

“You know those times when something happens out of nowhere? For no reason at all? When the lamp begins to swing, or you trip over nothing? The others have melded somewhat into your visible world. Enough to be felt but not seen. These others live in the same place but a different one at the same time. You might call it an alternate reality. Only there are things more than human. Creatures unseen. They are far more advanced than you. They can take whatever shape they wish, though others of their kind can see easily through the guise.

 “When you think you see something, and you do what is called a double take. And you notice it was a trick of the light. It was not. You jump to the first logical conclusion you can come up with. It is another of those occurrences. When the realities overlap and meld for a moment. It is happening all the time, more and more frequently. Only some are sighted, though.

 “When the animals start to squawk and bark and meow as ill fortune approaches, such as a storm. Most is instinct. Some is the others whispering in their ears. Much creativity sprouts from this. Humans also get ‘bad feelings’ about things. It is the same as with animals. Part instinct, part others. So--”

 --

 I sat up straight, my alarm buzzing fiercely. That dream. The girl. I had never seen her before. What was she talking about? Some alternate reality . . .?

 I looked at the time. If I didn’t hurry, I’d be late to work. I could think about the dream later. I stood up and stretched my back only to fall back down onto the bed.

 “The hell . . .?” I mumbled as a sudden and strong weariness washed over me. I tried to get up, but my muscles felt far too weak and tired. I tried to fight for consciousness as I fell back into sleep.

 --

 “--where do you come in, you ask?” she picked right back up from where she left off. “The realities are merging. It used to be unpreventable occurrences at random intervals that affected nothing, but recently it has been noticed. Somebody needs to help fix this. The others will not recruit, considering they are the ones trying to merge with your reality.

 “You need to stop this. For now you can do nothing. Soon, a boy will approach you. He will talk with a strange accent and make occasional grammatical mistakes. He will speak a phrase in a strange language. His words will be: Touh procv touh nadomu; ko procv ko nadomu. You need not know the meaning. Just remember.

 “The boy will instruct you from there. Do you agree?”

 All was silent. I heard myself give a little cough. “Why do I have to do it?”

 “You have been chosen. Of course, people other than you have been looked at. You seem the most capable.”

 When she didn’t go on, I asked, “Why does it matter if the worlds meld together?”

 “First, they are not separate worlds, but realities. If they meld -- the creatures in the other reality are far more advanced than humans as I have stated. They will dominate and destroy. If they do so, humans will cease to exist or be spread out so thin they might as well be extinct. There is also a limited amount of space on Earth. If both realities exist together, this place will be far too crowded and many will die from starvation. Overpopulation is already a problem for your reality. Imagine doubling that. Also, you are human. Wouldn’t you like to be known as a hero among the reality you live in and possibly the one you don’t? If you succeed, the others will realize their mistake. You’ll be a hero. If you fail, however, you will either die or be tortured and chained up as a prize to the victorious others as they pour into your reality and slaughter those around you. Will you assist?”