The Cursed Carol ( Season - 1 & 2 )

Season 2 Episode 2 : The Virtual Reality

Things are better if we see them in the way they appear. You try to follow the truth, you wind up dead.

The time came. The time from when we were about to enter that universe from where there was no return. What it feels to be alive. What it is when you are dead.

Thinking about that incident now, I just wish I could have done something. If only I could've change something. Somehow, if I could just remove the first day of December from that year's calendar. Some way that this never happened.

I was in my backyard, waiting for the rest to come for the meeting. But neither of them was on time.

Why am I the only one always on time everywhere?

Maybe because it is my home everybody is coming to.  Let's be real; there are a lot of benefits to arriving at places early. Of course, not everyone thinks about their daily existence in terms of literal life and death, but it's important to step back and consider why you use your time the way that you do.

I was reading a science magazine. It was what they said about Virtual Reality. Something that make sci-fi real. But it is only possible in computers. That is what I believe. Scientists, however, have really discovered the way to generate an exact clone by this damn virtual reality thing. They stated it would be possible to recreate a destroyed thing and even would be able to bring dead into life. I think it's stupid. 

I was in my thoughts when all of them came. I stood up with George to welcome them. Dustin always feared George. God, I don't know why. He is such an adorable creature. Maybe he looked a little dangerous but everyone should be judged by their heart. Even dogs have such rights of liberty. 

We reached the headquarters to start the meeting. The things there along with the atmosphere were like every time, except for George, who was with us only this time.

Dustin was talking to me, "I heard from Lucy on the way that you like Kate. Brother, I would really suggest to go for it this time. Just imagine you and her telling your children not fairy tales but the scientific reason for Solar Eclipses. "

I stopped him with a gesture of irrelevance , "Just shut up, Dustin."

Dustin continued, "Wouldn't it be fun telling them how their mother used to top the class and their father passed only due to his good fortune?"

I laughed and responded, "Be quite for now, Dustin. I promise, I will tell you everything later."

Dustin answered, "That's cool. By the way, your watch it is amazing."

I said proudly, "Oh, yes. It is Casio. But the best thing about it is its blue-black color."

He was always jealous of the things I had. Because they were all more amazing than he could have.

Then, everyone joined us.

We talked for about an hour. We had the usual topics of the other students of our school. The experiences we had with our parents or with anybody. Then, after talking, we planned to play the game of dare. It had always been fun. But it wasn't that day. The game started and that bloody bottle tip, it pointed toward me. It was my dare.

Before I could say anything, Lucy gave me exactly the dare I was thinking about. For me to go out with Kate in the park, alone. Romance always did manage to amaze us! I mean, of course, as we were teens. Seeing me and Kate together, talking to each other, without any interruptions did seem amazing.

It was Kate to take the initiative. Of course, I was being such a jerk at that time.

Kate started, " So how was your day ?"

I said, "It was okay. Nothing useful came out of it. Worst of all, I burnt myself!"

She showed her concern, saying, "Oh! Let me look at it."

I showed her my left hand's palm. My fingers were really burnt. I acted so stupid at the time when I should be the one trying to impress her. I then continued speaking, "It's fine. Just leave it. Now you tell me how your day was."

She said, "It wasn't that bad. My father bought me new dress. But for me, the worst was the fact that a mosquito kissed me today. It left a mark on my face!"

I laughed out loud and stated, "I ask you not to be so cute! "

Sometimes even I could be flirtatious. 

It was so much fun and that was a lifetime opportunity to take in onto Kate. And it was not exactly what I thought it would be. But yes, it was like a dream. I didn't know what happened. But in the heat of the moment we held hands. I changed positions with Kate because she was not comfortable. And so it was my unburnt hand, she was holding. Then we kissed. It was like a dream come true. My first kiss. It was so amazing. And at that time, my mind should've been full of romantic thoughts. But I realized something. There were so many weird things happening around either my house or my mom since the last 2-3 days. I was noticing things happening with both of them all these days. And the moment we were kissing, I realized something that could be a link to what happened. 

That sped up in my mind. I  became so uncomfortable. 

"What happened?" She asked.  

There are multiple versions of reality. Each having its own perspective. But not all these versions are true. That was exactly I was thinking at the moment. 

"Listen Kate, I will be back in a moment. Just be here." I said. 

"But where are you going?"

"Just wait here."

I rushed to my home. There were too many thoughts in my head at the same time. My brain had too many tabs open at the same time. 

I opened the door. Of course, it wasn't not locked. I climbed the stairs as fast as I could to my room. I noticed the footsteps and the dirt on the floor. I rushed to my room and opened the door of my room.

And there, in front of me, was standing me. Yes, a creature. Most probably a homo-sapien. He looked exactly like me. By exactly, I mean exactly. An exact replica. Even wearing the same clothes that I was wearing that day. At the moment, I thought about all the weird things I noticed in the past days. 

Whether it would be a pair of shoes of a man, ringing of the doorbell  the previous night, mom acting unusual and George barking all the time without any reason. Even when I gave him his favorite food. 

But apart from that, the worst was a boy exactly like me standing in front of me at that moment. A boy wearing a blue-black Casio wrist watch on his right hand . A boy wearing branded Adidas red boots. A boy with burnt left hand fingers. A boy with a band on his shoulders with a text - 'The Dog Days'. He was holding a blade in his right hand. He threw a rope behind him. His legs were badly bleeding. 

That was the moment in which, for the first time, I believed in Virtual Reality. 

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