Genesis Reality

EPILOGUE

"I waited for you here... he told me that you were another version of me..."

"Who told you?"

"You know... The man with the blue hood... the one who doesn't show his face."

Vincent awoke inside his dreamscape. He looked around in search of Peractorum but he was nowhere to be found.

"That voice... it didn't sound like Peractorum at all..." Vincent thought to himself as he slowly walked through his version of Crescent City.

In the corner of his eye, he witnessed what appeared to be a young boy poke his head around the corner of a building and quickly hid again.

"Who are you?" Vincent called out, quickly jogging to the sight of the boy.

Vincent leaned against the building and poked his head around the corner only to see no one was there.

Vincent scratched his head and looked around.

"You said you were waiting here for me?" Vincent called out, continuing to walk around.

In the distance, Vincent heard footsteps and quiet laughter.

"If you want to catch me you have to find me!"

Vincent picked up the pace in walking speed and searched every corner of nearby buildings and signs.

"Where could he be hiding..." Vincent whispered to himself.

Vincent felt a gentle tap on his shoulder only to turn around and see Peractorum gesturing for them to stay quiet putting his finger to his lips.

Peractorum pointed to a large bush across the street where small feet were sticking out. The sneakers were slightly dirty and one shoe was untied.

Vincent quietly walked up to the bush, "You know... if you want to win at hide and seek you shouldn't leave your feet out of your hiding spot."

The boy turned around and pulled his legs in, closer to his body.

"You're a lot older than I expected..."

"Come on... I'm not going to hurt you," Vincent said as he held his hand out to the young boy.

Vincent felt no fear, only familiarity with the child.

The young boy grabbed onto Vincent's hand, hesitating to firmly grasp it.

Vincent gently helped the boy out of the bushes, dusting his clothes off.

"...That game was too short... I want to play another one,"

"We can play another game... but tell me your name first," Vincent suggested.

Peractorum watched the interaction from a city bench nearby, smiling at the two conversing.

"My name... My name is Jacob. What's yours?" The boy quietly said, looking into Vincent's crimson eyes.

"It's nice to meet you, Jacob. My name is Vincent," Vincent said as he held out his hand for a handshake.

Jacob looked at Vincent in confusion, unsure what to do.

"Do you not know what a handshake is? You grabbed my hand just now," Vincent asked.

"I do it's just... I'm remembering what the man in blue told me... he said you were another version of me," Jacob explained.

Vincent briefly looked at Peractorum and looked back at Jacob, "You see, there are these things called Paradoxes... they're like other worlds where other versions of ourselves exist."

"That sounds boring... I want to play another game," Jacob said as a toy sword suddenly appeared in his hands.

"Let's play fight!" Jacob said as he pointed his wooden sword at Vincent.

Vincent attempted to summon the Ptolomaea, but instead, a wooden sword appeared.

"Go easy on him," Peractorum telepathically warned Vincent.

"Right..." Vincent whispered to himself.