Strange and Unknown

Traveling (Part 4)

Well, it couldn't get worse than this.
I look around, confused. Sallad, 23 miles away, a sign says. Unfortunately, there was nothing on Nitsua. I'm definitely lost, so let's keep walking toward Sallad and see if I can find anything there. Yes, I said walk. My bike is gone now, and if I were to summarize what happened to it in a couple words, I'd say, pedaling, restroom, stolen, chase, burritos, and death. Crazy, huh. I somehow feel overly calm about things like this, maybe because all my life, such insane and odd things happened. We'll get into detail about that another time.

Glancing at the street sign once more, I begin to walk in the direction it pointed in, toward Sallad. Why Ducky made such a dumb name? I don't know. I try to keep myself occupied with thoughts, specifically about my personality. Ever since I began middle school, everything has forced me to change personalities constantly. Trying to fit in as a social awkward boy that's half-introverted and half-extroverted is tough. I had to keep pretending to act like someone I wasn't, each time I passed certain people.

That was a disastrous plan. I couldn't keep up with my original personality, and soon, it was lost. I began to drift away from society, attempting to find my personality, once alive and bright, and restoring it. I didn't care what others thought. Maybe it was like that one saying, "You don't notice something's missing until it actually is." I was distress. And just when I started to give up, I met her at Nitsua, when my family and I came for some extracurricular activities, mostly for college cred. And, that's when I met her. She was casually sitting on a bench in the park, taking a survey of everyone passing by, and eventually, she came up to me and asked,

"If you had the chance to reverse time, would you?"

"Yeah."

I guess she saw something deeper in that one word, because she began to question me more and more, and I had a feeling it wasn't part of the survey.

"Why do you want to travel back in time? Most of the people I asked had a different look in their eyes, but you seem to have something much deeper. Perhaps, regret? Actual regret?" she said with a mystical look in her eyes.
"How can you ask such messed questions without caring? That's amazing," I say, somehow, feeling something return, a feeling of some sort.
"I get that a lot, call it honesty!" she said, with a smile.
"You're a strange person, aren't you?"
"Could be, could be not. Does that make sense to you?"
"Pshh, who cares, it'll make sense if we believe! Screw the laws of grammar!" I said, feeling something rise and stir. Cool.
"Yeah!" she said, pumping a fist into the air.

We had a conversation for another 2 hours, before I had to go. I felt my personality come back.
"Cya Erin!"

"See you Cliste!"
We planned to meet again someday, but I haven't seen her since. I also forgot to get her phone number and a way to contact her. And right as I left, I felt something go back into hiding, and something else rise. Sorrow. I knew I was going to miss her. She brought out my personality and was even interesting to talk about. Or maybe it wasn't sorrow. I have no idea. But since then, my personality went into hiding again. That's why I'm traveling. To find it again.

I continue to walk down the road, glancing for anymore road signs. Staring for a bit, I find none. Well, I'll guess I'll keep walking. Not much to do anyways, apart from tinker with my pocketwatch, which was also a compass, and try not to starve. I'm running low on sandwiches, and I only have a couple $10s left. Who knows how long I'll be walking.

(3 hours later)

I finally reach another sign. Sallad, 10 feet away. Nitsua, 12 miles away. I guess I'll stop my journey here in Sallad for a bit, I'm tired of walking anyway. Pulling my phone out of my pocket, and and opening a pack of bocky, which I bought on the way here, I search for places to sleep in Sallad. I've only been here once or twice too, but I'm pretty good at finding my way around, right? Nah, probably not, but it wouldn't hurt to try finding my way around. Scrolling down on the results on Qoogle, I find a place called, "Sleep4U." Prices seem cheap so might as well. Besides, it looks fairly new and clean, so I'll give it a chance, despite its terrible name.
Time to switch on the GPS and start walking over there.

(Another 2 Hours)

Oh gosh, another time skip, give the audience what they want Ducky!
Ducky: Alright jeez, I'll type down as much as I can without skipping around. Besides, how would I write about walking??
I DON'T KNOW.
Ducky: YOU'RE THE ONE WHO RECOMMENDED IT.

As I reach the inn, I see someone standing around the corner, giving out an odd vibe. He's dressed in a knight's armor. There are cosplayers in Sallad? Cool. And now, he's walking toward me. I'm going to turn around and walk the other way if he's actually gonna talk toward me. Seeing a cosplayer and talking with one is completely different.
"Sir Cliste Tran? Is that you?"
WHAT THE FOCK? HE KNOWS MY NAME, SH!T. WELL, I'M DEFINITELY RUNNING. GOOD DAY TO YOU SIR. I run away, before I feel all of my body muscles stiffen. I try moving them, but it doesn't work. Whoa
"Sir Cliste, you shouldn't try moving while I use my ability. They could cause soreness if you move too much while I'm contracting your muscles," he says with a look of deep respect for me, as if I really am a "Sir."
Ok, based on my knowledge of getting talked to by random people on a basis, also a long story, I need to remain calm. Or at least try to. First time I'm getting ambushed by a random cosplayer in a city I don't know well.
"Ok, do you mind unfreezing me then? I'd like it if I can move."

"I will do as you say, sir. After all, you are an invitee to "Number Wars," he says with a cheesy noble expression with a straight, shining set of teeth. I almost want to punch three of his teeth out. Almost. If he were any cheeser. Also, what is a "Number Wars?"

"So," I say, moving a couple of my fingers to test if he really unfroze me, before continuing with, "who are you? A knight?"

"Sir Cliste, my name is Progras. I would deeply be grateful if you called me 'Sir Progras.' I've dreamed of being a knight ever since I was a wee child," he says, extending a hand. I reach out with mine and shake it.

"Cliste, though you already know my name, Sir Progras."

"Yes, I do," he says with a shrug. At least he's still humane and sane.

"So, what's a "Number Wars?" I ask, getting straight to the point.

"Well, first, you need to know what a "Number link" is, my liege. A number link when your social security number is linked toward pieces of your brain. The ones that are the most vulnerable. Malicious, isn't it?" he says, though I don't quite understand. How could it be malicious? And what strange things would it do? I put my hand to my chin, assuming my typical thinking stance. It's a habit I'm trying to use this to think, instead of biting my fingers off.

     "Continue," I respond.

     "Ah, yes. As I was saying, when you're linked, you begin to develop, let's say, powers."
     "Like the muscle-contraction thingy?"
     "Yes. Depending on your brain structure and experiences, it will vary. Also, revealing your Social Security number can result in severe brain damage, causing you to act mentally impaired, while your internally stuck inside your brain, forever knowing that you're mental."
     "Whoa. You're serious?"
     "Yes. Which is why I'm here to ask. Will you join Number Wars?"
     "What kind of rewards will there be?"
     "You'll live in Nitsua, with no fees, and also, you can drop out anytime you want. With such high, yet, low risks, if you are one of the ones to survive, you can get anything you want."
     "Anything?"
     "Anything."
     "I'm in. What do I need to do? Rest?"
     "Sir Cliste, I hope you won't mind getting knocked out, while I number link your brain."
     "Go ahead, I'm tired anyways, make sure I'm in Nitsua tomorrow morning. I don't care where, just get me there."
     "As you wish," were the last words I heard, before I blacked out.

Hopefully, this should give you a better insight on how the next arc will work! Also, if you have any questions, feel free to ask! Again, I need feedback! What do you want to see? Who should I ship? ARE THERE GOING TO BE SHIPS???

Sigh

Anyways readers, thanks again for reading! Remember to share this story with your friends and vote for it!

-Ducky