Starting Life From Another Choice Than Zero

Chapter 6 - Repercussions

Ludicrous... Absolutely ludicrous.

And it was. Very much so. Yet also, very real.

One after the other, an appalling discovery after the next. All within the period of a single moonlit sky. Maddening can only stretch so far until it reaches the peak of absolute insanity. A roller coaster of revelations, one that he couldn't seem to disembark, no matter how colossal his yearning may be to do so.

His eyes stung, watering with irritation, and only managed to tear away his gaze long enough to wipe them away with his sleeve, simply just to stare again. Hypnotized, by the luminous glow in his hand. Captivated, by the contents displayed inside of a small rectangular screen. The dark hallway adding to the ominous, unnerving atmosphere that suddenly befell upon the small cozy home of a generous family.

Rigid, paralyzed; disturbingly reminiscent of the numbing, terrifying sensation that was being frozen. His thumb felt stiff, tapping the downwards keypad, scrolling down the seemingly endless list of missed messages and voicemails, each one tightening the already straining knot that somehow had manifested itself inside his chest.

"How is this possible?" Subaru heard himself say.

Ever since he had awoken inside of that sewer, he found himself reiterating the same question over and over again, never seeming to find an answer in most cases. But unlike the rest of them, this question was one, he didn't feel like finding out the answer to straightaway.

Once the shock had subsided, all that was left was the overpowering curiosity. He had reached the oldest-newest message in his inbox, thumb resting on the button encased inside the directional pads. It was from his dad. A distinct image of a man in his early forties, embrued itself in his mind's eye, clinging itself into his subconscious with the intent of never letting go. Latching onto him, like a parasite meaning only to do harm.

With the appearance of the man came the details that segregated him from the lineaments of many other noticeable individuals he had crossed paths with in his life. From the short black hair that resembled very much Subaru, to his facial appearance. Chiseled and unlined, rugged and handsome in texture, playing well the part of a much aged Subaru, except bearing glasses that highlighted his black fearless eyes, along with a sculpted, very well-built physique that earned him email addresses in abundance from giggling herds of hopeful high school girls. Culminating together, to embody the form of a ferocious lion, despite his lax and mostly playful, offhand attitude.

Subaru was still staring, looking at it, as he never had before. All this time... How long had he had these messages for? And, Does he dare lend an ear to the voices he resolved, long after he came to this world, never to revive again in his thoughts?

The answer came to him in a heartbeat, as if purely on instinct. He took a step backwards, slamming against the door, his free hand, hastily grasping air multiple times before grabbing hold of the doorknob, twisting it open, entering, and closing it shut.

As he stepped into the room, he only had time to give it a quick glance through before reverting his undivided attention back onto the phone. In that hurried peek he saw, a small modest space, furnished by a small unmade bed occupying an area in the middle. A bedside table with a book laid sprawled open right beside it. At the other end of the room was a leaded window, squarish and short in size, masked by curtains hanging lifelessly above it, except for a small slit in the middle that allowed a hint of moonlight to filter through, shimmering dust particles swaying slowly in the shine.

Still gazing attentively at his phone, Subaru scampered his way onto the bed, neglecting to remove his sneakers as he laid his feet against the footboard. He sat upright, inclined, his head resting on the headboard.