The Unwound Future

CHAPTER 4 -THE FIGURE

The figure standing at the entrance to the alleyway seemed like those to a female's, they walked further into the alley, the light from the sun starting to disappear.

"Why hello there, Jean, I'd say 'It's nice to meet you' but I think it's more correct if I say 'It's nice to meet you again,' instead." The woman said, giving off a smile and raising her hand for a hand shake.

"Oh... Erm... Pardon my manners, but, do I know you...?" I asked in return, feeling disappointed in myself.

"Oh my," The woman began, "Do you not recognise this face? It's me, Des!" She finished, giving off a slight laugh.

"Y-You're... me...?" Des said in a panicked tone right before she stood up in denial, "Y-You can't be me!" She finished, leaning on to the wall of the alleyway, as if dazed slightly.

"No, Des..? or should I say 'Me'...? I'll think about it, anyway, I am you, there's no denying it." She said, folding her arms. "Now, is anyone up for some tea? If so, we can discuss the matter at hand there." She asked, wearing a smile.

"That would be quite pleasant, I think I understand what has happened, but I still wouldn't mind tea, if you do not mind?" I say in response.

"Then let us make our way!" She said, as chipper as ever. We then proceeded towards the cafe that was around the corner, there we were sitted at a table of four.

"Now then," I began, "I'd assume that you are the future version of he one we see as Des, correct?" I finish, sipping my tea slightly.

"And you would be correct, as usual, Jean." Future Des replied.

"So, if you are the future Des, then woudn't that mean that there is a future version of myself, too?" I ask eagerly.

"Yet again, you would be correct, Jean." Future Des stated, smiling and clasping her hands together.

"You wouldn't happen to know where I wou-" I was interupted by something, a loud bell, it echoed throughout the town. Assuming it was just to state the hour, I took another sip of my tea, just as I went to put my cup down, a loud scream rang out from behind me, a woman had screamed and then ran out of the door incredibly fast, that was followed by a man, who done the same.

"W-What's happening?! Why is everyone panicking?" I ask curiously.

"Take a look outside." Future Des said, wearing a placid face.

Outside? What could be outside? I thought to myself, as I got up and walked to the window. What once was a bright and sunny street, was replaced with a foggy scene.

"W-What's this?!" Des shouts across the café, looking around, I notice that everyone who was in the café was now gone, the only people in the café were Myself, Des and Future Des. Hm... I thought to myself, "I got it!" I shout, "Quick, everyone, to the town square!" I shout, whilst running outside the glass door. As we arrived at the town square, I noticed the amount of fog was significantly higher than the amount outside the café.

"Just as I thought..." I whisper to myself.

"Huh? What is it, Jean?" Des asked, curiously.

"The fog, it's to hide something! Oh, and whilst we're here, may I ask you something, future Des?" I ask politely. "Future Des...?" I say, as I look around. The fog level was still rising, and it was rising at an alarming rate, "Hm... it would appear our little friend has made a vanishing act, Des." I say to her, continuing to search the area for her. A faded light came on from across the square, but just as I took a step towards it, the ground started to shake.

"Des! Stay still!" I shout, as I felt the area around me for any drastic changes to the environment. The ground stopped shaking, followed by the fog starting to clear away, looking around, we were in a completely different area, yet again.

"But wait!" Des began, "If it was to hide something, then what was it?!" She asked in an alarmed voice.

"That's what I was confused about, too. But I believe that it was used to transfer things from one place to another without drawing unwanted attention." I stated. "But it would appear that this time, it was used to transfer us, instead of anything else." I finish. It was at this point, that a voice emerged from a speaker to my right.

"Well done, Jean" It began, "You got it all correct first time! But tell me, what made you suspect the town square?" The voice asked.

"It's rather simple really," I began, "Inside the cafe there was a map, so in my head, I marked down the position of the giant building which was inaccessible, along with any landmarks around it, and it turns out that the giant building is directly acorss from the museum, forming a very precise straight line towards each other, there was also two statues of mayors across from each other, yet again, forming a straight line, the two lines intertwined at the exact location of the town square, which led me to believe that the lines crossing at the town square was no coincidence, but all in all, it was just a hypothesis!"

"Very good, but now. Now is the time for your final challenge, Jean and Des." The voice spoke menacingly, "You're final challenge, is to solve the mystery of this abandoned city I have placed you in. Only then, will you find the truth. I'll meet you then, Jean. Don't keep me waiting..." The voice finished, giving off a crackling sound.

"Final challenge, huh?" I whispered to myself. "Well then, Des. I believe it's time to solve this one together!" I shout, staring over at Des.