Timeline of Errors

Part 10 - You

As I walked through the darkness with Zubat, slowly I began to see a faint light coming through the exit. Dragging my feet into the light, I soon find myself standing in front of a plain. Thin, dull blades formed a thick carpet of grass rolled out towards the horizon covered in darkness and frost. The white dots in the sky remained silent as they watched me and Zubat slowly made my way across the plain.

The sound of chatters, footsteps, and clangs began to enter my ears as the marketplace came into view. People walked down the street, where merchants shouted all kinds of offers. They stopped to look at me as I walked down the same street, soiled and wet. The smell of spices and food wafted in the air, mingling with the smell of fresh water and dirt on my person. Huddling my arms, I turned to one of the pasta stalls under a bright street light. Slowly, my feet began making their way towards the light and stopped in front of the stall.

"Can I have a small pasta?" I said.

"Sure, that'd be $8.90," the person behind the counter said, "what would you like?"

"Spinach and feta ravioli, please," I answered.

"Sure, one moment," they replied and began putting the pasta onto a small box.

I looked around as I waited, watching the faces go by - of individuals, couples, group of friends, families. With each faces passing, suddenly I found myself staring right at a white high-neck shirt with long sleeves. When I looked up, I came across a pair of protruding chestnut eyes looking at me, slightly covered by the owner's side-parted wavy golden fringe. They belong to a man with really slim cheeks and long, pointed nose, and wavy messy hairstyle...

"...Antonio?" the name escaped my mouth.

As soon as the name entered his ears, the young man's pupils widened. He looked down and clenched his fists, before quickly dashing away to the opposite direction. Right then and there, I felt a pang of disappointment.

"Wait, Antonio!" I yelled.

"Here you go, miss," the pasta seller said.

"Thank you," I said and took the box from them before shoving it into my bag.

The next second, my feet has taken off chasing the young blonde man. Pushing my way through the crowd, I could feel my heart racing inside my chest and my breaths turning into gasps. And yet, the sight of the young man with blonde locks disappeared from my view. As I took a step out of the crowd, there was nothing but a lonely stretch of road leading back towards the wilderness underneath the blanket of stars.

Where did he go? I thought as I kept looking around.

And why did he... run away from me?

Did I do something wrong?

Suddenly, I felt my foot stepping on nothing. I felt myself falling and falling before landing on a very foul-smelling pool of water. I was drenched from head to toe. Dirty water dripped from my curls, racing down to re-join the pool of their mates. I looked up and found the light coming from above. The Zubat I just caught curiously flew nearby as it watched me stood up.

And I fell into the sewers today, because of course, I needed to, I thought.

Suddenly I felt something fell on my laps. Then I heard a squeaking noise and a splash.

R-Ratatas?! I thought and looked around.

"Damn... I better try to get out of here first... somehow..." I muttered and looked around, "Zubat, use Supersonic again to-"

I turned around and spotted the very same young man that went missing a few minutes ago. In the minimum light, I could spot his chestnut eyes, forming a narrowed gaze with a mix of wariness and annoyance.