Present Place. Present Day. Present Time. Hahahaha.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk9Ji1AOhcK
"What the hell are you laughing about all of a sudden, huh?!" Remy demanded, turning to glare at Alice, his tone sharp with venom and accusation. His hands twitched, betraying his hidden volatile demeanour, as he eyed the baseball bat in his backpack at his feet. Eva and Bart flinched at the sudden aggression from the usually carefree man, while Ramona remained unfazed, familiar with his outbursts.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZxMIbAkEG
Alice's laughter ceased abruptly, and the air turned frigid. Her midnight-blue cosmos-like eyes, slowly side-eyed him, making deliberate eye contact. Her very presence seemed to explosively expand, engulfing the SUV's interior. The passengers, except Eva, felt an overwhelming suffocating pressure, sweat pooling on their skin. Remy, feeling scrutinized and insignificant, was dwarfed into a speck of dust under Alice's hardened gaze, a silent warning to behave or face severe consequences.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFAObhJsvQ4
Breaking the dangerous tension, Alice retorted, "I am surprise that none of you have noticed what’s the bigger problem with the world outside. It's as obvious as a neon sign," her voice dripping with sarcasm.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJTbFsLXkM
The passengers, finally able to breathe again, peered out their windows and noticed the strange anomalies: buildings, screens, cars, and roads glitches, blending new and pristine with old and familiar. The most glaring clue was the advertisements switching between many different dates.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuq17qc6DfM
Ramona and Remy paled, their faces filled with hyperventilating panic. Yet amidst their expressions was a glimmer of recognition. "This is not supposed to be happening! Not again! I want out!" Remy thought angrily. Ramona's fretful mind raced. "She better have a good explanation and make a good deal for us or we're done taking more orders!" Both reached for their phones, frantically texting someone.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKuRKAR5Ced
Alice glanced at Remy and Ramona coldly yet knowingly. Deep within her gaze, pure, unadulterated rage simmered, later cut by waves of melancholia as she looked into the rear-view mirror at Bart and Eva. Bart rested his head against the window, watching the scenery pass by with a hint of optimism beneath his hopeless expression. Eva had shrunk into her seat, trying to feel small and forgotten, guilt washing over her for failing her mission to exterminate Apophis and save the world. She fidgeted, scrubbing her hands together as if trying to remove unseen dirt.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoTHqEXelm6
Alice's regretful eyes returned to the road. The SUV shook as the world quietly quaked, not enough to displace them but familiar nonetheless. The glitches began to spread across the city like an infectious disease.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj158OILmjZ
“Alice, do you have any idea what might be causing this? Two different times, I mean,” Bart mumbled, his face still squished against the window.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV0y7t3GQsf
“Theoretically,” Alice replied, unsure where to start. “Be careful what you reveal,” Schrödinger cautioned her mentally.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrGo4CNWYjq
“Let’s hear it. It's better than having no explanation for this phenomenon, even if it's just a theory,” Bart softly encouraged.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrcyCndhBVn
“It might be caused by an Interstice, an anomaly in the fabric of spacetime linking different parallel universes, each with its own timeline. For me, you, and Eva, it's 2203, while for Remy and Ramona, it's 2023. These Interstices form where our timeline intersects with others, allowing the transfer of matter and information. The shaking and glitches we're experiencing could be the result of this Interstice's influence, connecting our time in 2203 to another, like 2023, or perhaps other timelines."
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8QJMJ4uC2G
Bart straightened up, eyes wide with curiosity and concern. Eva perked up, and Remy and Ramona stopped typing on their phones. “So, you’re saying we’re overlapping with another timeline?”
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlEdib6GUp0
Alice nodded slowly. “Yes. Imagine multiple timelines like a network of nervous systems. Usually, they run parallel and never touch, but sometimes, due to anomalies or disturbances in spacetime, they intersect or overlap. When that happens, you get these Interstices. The more they intersect, the more pronounced the effects become—like the shaking and these ‘glitches’ we’re seeing.”
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwqqde3UvAw
“Why now? Why here?” Bart asked, his voice tense.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdHJIW4xHnt
“There could be many reasons,” Alice continued. “Advanced technology or experiments might have inadvertently caused these intersections. Or it could be a natural phenomenon we don’t fully understand yet. The important thing is that these rifts are not stable. They’re like cracks in reality, and if they spread too much, they could tear the fabric of our universe apart.”
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIElcMPIbGQ
Bart took a deep breath, trying to process the information. “So, what do we do?”
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi3tgZMKZyf
Alice looked ahead, the city’s distorted reflections dancing in her eyes. “First, we need to find the ‘brain’ of the rift. If we can understand how it started, maybe we can find a way to close it and stop these timelines from colliding further.”
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVfUJ7qSks2
“You don’t have to waste time finding the ‘brain’. The Interstice already formed at Central Park. I saw it happen. Particles of light floated from the ground, and a tower came crashing down from the skies like a broken holo-TV screen,” Eva gloomily interjected. “Then a giant snake Void, which we designated as Apophis, emerged from the rift. It’s likely to crush ‘our’ world, destroying it.” When Eva mentioned Apophis, Remy and Ramona's eyes widened with fear, horror stricken on their face as they reliving the memories;
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdRoCuVaG89
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpDU1RadSHs
Their vision blurred like a trembling video recording. The infinite expanse was dark, jet black, yet covered by a web of pulsating, multicoloured lights. The floor and walls were made of slippery flesh, flowing like lava, adorned with abundant mounds and craters. Remy and Ramona sprinted frantically across the expanse, Ramona clutching a Honeywell RT10A, typing frantically.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAXehXSepkC
"Remy! Our escape route is blocked off!" Ramona shouted in perturbation, continuing to type on the robust tablet.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbFZxvDgzvs
"What? But that was our only way out! Find another route, Ramona! We're going to die!" Remy paled at the news, his distress drawing the attention of an unknown slender entity shrouded in white, manifesting from the darkness.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ98ZLkRXCgz
Their panic-stricken faces turned to dread. Remy slipped on the liquid floor, and Ramona quickly helped him to his feet. They struggled to keep a distance from the hunter chasing them.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZl6fzYXZge
"They didn't tell us this place is dangerous! We should have brought something to defend ourselves!" Remy screamed, looking back at the hunter. Distracted, they tumbled down a slope into a crater, groaning in pain as they landed in a pit full of corpses, writhing yet still dead—a mass of missing people.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxM70BS1mLY
Remy spotted a baseball bat among the corpses, once owned by a baseball player. The entity landed in the crater, charging at them, but Remy intercepted it and swung the bat, hitting it hard enough to scare it away.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYmvboxrj63
Relieved, Ramona took out the tablet, trying to re-establish communication with headquarters. "Connecting to Main Server: Failed," she read aloud.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZxI1RObXcS
"Come on, let's find what we're looking for and get out of here," Remy said, leading the way with a radar tracker. The crater wasn't deep, so Remy hoisted Ramona up, then she pulled him to the surface. They followed the beeping radar until they saw a woman in a white lab coat, her brunette hair tied in a bun, tying a makeshift ladder from scraps of wood and metal using clothes from the corpses. She was so engrossed in her work she didn't notice them until the tablet alarmed with a beep, making the woman jumped.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtlnJvxONJr
"Hello! It's good to see some human faces. My name is Elizabeth!" the woman greeted joyfully, extending her hand. They shook hands, but their eyes locked on the gold chain-link choker around her neck. It had unique thorn patterns entwined at the hexagon frame around a composite deep sapphire gemstone characterized by its shimmering multicolour inclusions, sculpted into a rose pendant.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvybzoHLVev
"That's what we were looking for!" Ramona thought gleefully.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjqY8azqphk
"We found it! Our day is getting luckier," Remy thought avidly.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTgnAMAlChB
After their handshake, Elizabeth limped to a nearby crater filled with junk.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbalsAYWH2d
"You're hurt," Ramona observed with concern.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ2o91Z3nNX
"Yeah, I broke my ankle while playing cat and mouse with Valkoinen," Elizabeth replied nonchalantly.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP8lzJsC2ey
"Valkoinen?" Ramona inquired.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH8RfDe2xhp
"The entity in white. That is what I call it. It owns this realm. It likes to hunt humans, including its own kind. It pulls people into its realm. I assume that's what happened to you two, right?" Elizabeth asked.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAfe8PwtJgf
"Yes, we have an important assignment from our boss. We finished our day, ate, went to sleep, and then woke up here," Ramona half-lied, while Elizabeth's inquisitive stare focused on her.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRF4fJyrIjf
"You guys are a couple or something?" Elizabeth asked, taking them aback.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE16agLyHhM
"YES! We've been through hell and back," Remy declared.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfANfWCyz28
"That's good. You're not alone to face the troubles ahead," Elizabeth said cryptically.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh2OC6HV1Yq
Remy and Ramona helped Elizabeth build a very tall ladder.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhF85obdVnA
"Elizabeth, what are you planning to do with the ladder?" Ramona asked, exhausted.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFHspmfq8N2
"There's an exit to get out of this place," Elizabeth explained. Remy and Ramona were thrilled. They carried the ladder, following Elizabeth as she limped as quickly as she could. The web-like lava on the floor and walls became more prominent as they ventured. They reached a point where she looked up at the cliffs, a glitch, a tear in the expanse, 19 feet above the ground. The walls were mostly covered in fleshy lava.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0paQ7zlESv
"Come on, let's get out of here! We have to go through that tear before it closes permanently," Elizabeth said enthusiastically.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwgcZCGAq0f
They found a stable spot on the ground, free of lava, using it as a stepping stone. Remy and Ramona planted the wobbly ladder, excited to see it reached their target.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡib3qdHJNec
"I'll go first to test it out," Ramona volunteered. Elizabeth nodded in agreement, stepping back to let her climb. Both Remy and Elizabeth held the ladder steady as Ramona ascended. She reached the top, hoisting herself up where there was no lava.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIRKdPalBQV
"Okay! The ladder is good, come on up!" Ramona yelled down.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8J3YNrMeTi
"Okie dokie!" Elizabeth called out. As she touched the ladder, a blunt force impacted her head. She collapsed, clutching her head in pain. Remy had swung the bat at her. He roughly shoved her body with his boot, ripping the choker from her neck and tucking it into his pocket.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsRSqs6ZYx6
"Remy, what are you doing?" Ramona screamed, holding the ladder above as Remy quickly climbed to the top.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzIxdnEkK1G
"I'm following orders: find and retrieve the pendant that Elizabeth has and what stay in MAD stay in MAD. That was our mission," Remy argued. The ladder creaked as Elizabeth began climbing slowly, blood streaming down her face. She fought dizziness, driven by something to climb.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUuQ8O6kmWJ
"Get back down, you stubborn bitch, or I'll bash your brain open!" Remy threatened.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb2PTbEFPky
"Please, I just want to go home. I need to see my sister again," Elizabeth pleaded, looking at Remy and Ramona.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOtlUrJ097w
Remy pushed the ladder with full force. Elizabeth tumbled back down, but the ladder fell into the pit. She cried in desperation as the only tool to escape was gone. Suddenly, she screamed in rage, crawling and digging her fingers into the lava-like liquid. To Remy and Ramona's horror, Elizabeth's fingers were reduced to bones as the skin peeled off. She ignored the pain, nearly reaching the edge. Remy moved to kick her again, but she grabbed his boot tightly. Remy screamed in terror as Elizabeth grabbed the edge, ready to hoist herself up, but Ramona hit her head with the bat, causing her to fall to the pit below.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtzrKzfY2jc
Hyperventilating, Remy grabbed Ramona, when they saw a giant serpent that have the same appearance as the wall and the ground, opens it eyes, and rise up looking at them, due to the commotion they causing. Remy and Ramona runs as fast as they can and escaped through the glitch simultaneously it closed behind them, the serpent then goes back into slumber, after the intruder disappears. Down in the pit, Elizabeth landed on a small ground, breathing laboriously and still crying, eyes shut. An unknown figure watched the scene unfold.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrFve9xC35t
"Well done, you both managed to complete the assignment," said a woman whose appearance was hidden by the dim light of her office, holding the choker necklace.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnlxs3xKiK3
"Nah, it wasn’t too hard," Remy said smugly, while Ramona fidgeted at his implication.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8y8gQzMsKA
"Of course it wasn’t. Enjoy your rewards. I hope we will continue doing business together. Now, dismissed." The woman concluded their meeting, and Remy and Ramona left her office.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlhBYmEdSPL
"What a pity. Even after all that, she still had the strength left in her, wanting to go home." The woman smirked at the video recording on the tablet Ramona had carried. She then switched off the video.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVHf39CVyma
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeKi4Anxvlh
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx7hWUwhw3f
“Ohhh?!!!” Alice smiled excitedly with satisfaction, her eyes lighting up as puzzle pieces began to fit together. Her voice caused Remy and Ramona awake from their recollection, and everyone looks at her, bewildered. Without letting any of them ask questions, she explained what was on her mind. “You might be onto something, Eva. Tell me, what’s unique about Central Park?”
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6sn0xRyDs5
As Alice took a left turn, Eva answered, confused by the question. “Nothing much, just NIX Polytechnic, Training Grounds, NIX Bistros, and Scenic Park for picnics or study groups.”
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ87NoXF2ALZ
“NIX put a school in the middle of Central Park?” Ramona asked, turning to Eva for more information. Bart answered for her. “Yes, NIX Corporation is known for constructing their establishments in or on park reservations and historical landmarks, like Central Park and Rockefeller Center. It's part of their code to integrate natural parts as we move into the future and beyond.”
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv6v4Myu9aK
“Speaking of Rockefeller Center, that reminds me, what happened to the 53W53 MoMA Expansion Tower, Alice? Please tell me the building that collapsed isn’t the 53W53!” Bart pleaded, hoping his assumption was false. Distracted by his treatment of Eva, Alice’s near car accident, and the spatial-temporal collisions, he had forgotten something important in that tower.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZGvpIdmSyQ
“Oops,” Alice replied blankly, feigning innocence.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcAlSR9K22h
“No! My seven Ultra Rare Sanrio x Swatch Collections are gone!” Bart cried out, gripping his hair in frustration.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZIEffDpC9Q
“Why would you put your valuables in a place full of ‘cannibals’ in the first place, Bart?” Alice deadpanned but gave him a sympathetic look.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPOjHAnybMR
“There weren’t any ‘cannibals’ in 2203!” Bart froze in shock, his misfortune sinking in as his soul seemed to leave his body. Alice, impassive yet with eyes widened by Bart's reaction, glanced into the rear-view mirror to check on him. His sudden silence freaked her out, and she quickly spoke with indifference, “Bart, take a look at this. It appears I am correct in my deduction. Central Park is unaffected!”
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSpnK1yEohM
Bart’s soul immediately repossessed his body. He looked ahead, along with the other passengers, all their focus shifting to the new discovery. Alice drove towards the Central Park entrance at E 72nd St. The atmosphere in the vehicle shifted from tense to cautiously hopeful.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYDjOIrKHDn
As they approached the entrance, the sight of lush greenery was a stark contrast to the altered reality they had been navigating. Trees stood tall and vibrant, untouched by the anomalies that plagued the rest of the city. The familiar landscape brought a strange sense of normalcy amidst the chaos.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOdduKqYxOW
“This is incredible,” Bart murmured, his eyes scanning the park. “If Central Park remains unaffected, it could be a crucial point of stability. Maybe we can find some answers here.”
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkFMD5P0UMq
Eva, who had been silent, now leaned forward, her curiosity piqued. “Do you think this place could hold a clue to fixing everything? Maybe it’s some kind of temporal anchor.”
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqt2iytW2Ue
Alice nodded thoughtfully. “It’s possible. We need to investigate further.”
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhpiWTch4nL
The SUV was parked in front of the Central Park Information Kiosk, with the sunset light filtering through the gaps in the tree leaves. Alice turned off the engine and, instead of taking the key with her, left it in the ignition. “Alright, I’m going to check out Central Park. You guys can stay here until I get back,” she said monotonously.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJUJt5swvTf
“Alice, I hope you don’t mind, but I’d like some fresh air too,” Eva requested, a touch of nostalgia creeping into her voice.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvI6WtcrUhL
“That’s fine with me. Bart, please help Eva to the nearest hillside,” Alice softly instructed.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk7V4VzPnN9
“Okay! I might be able to determine the time there with my Gizmo, I need to collect samples and analyze them. This could be the breakthrough we need.” Bart enthusiastically volunteered, helping Eva by placing her arm over his shoulder.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuHJJkmFfbD
“Let’s get moving. It looks like Remy and Ramona didn’t take the news well. Let’s give them some space. Oh, while we’re out, would one of you both be able check the news for me? They might have something new, maybe even a last message,” Alice spoke with impassivity, their attention on their phones too engrossed to acknowledge her request.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNxBAKIfUcb
Alice whispered something into Bart’s ear, causing him to raise an eyebrow, but he shrugged it off. Alice began walking in the opposite direction, while Bart guided the injured Eva. At that moment, both Remy and Ramona received new messages on their phones.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZtCiPAwbn
“So, did you receive the same orders?” Ramona asked firmly.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRow3nLR3IG
“Yeah,” Remy replied with equal resignation, both of them glancing down at their text messages.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyFqAVv3WYk
Message Thread:
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmuPV5hvXUo
Sender: Unknown
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6hXjZxQJ7K
Do you know what is happening?
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdP67LlpXSb
Yes
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsJ8alSeRNC
Everything?
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGLsk9YT40v
Everything
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡifMucUXoUl
What do you propose we do now?
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡILPIBhJHae
Bring them to JFK Airport
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbGM33vKWZ8
What for?
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrALb3Niw13
You don’t need to know all the details. My offer still stands. I’ll give you a bonus as much as you request, no conditions—just complete the assignments and you’ll be rewarded accordingly.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc4aAkJEQqH
How are we going to convince them? We can’t just tell them we’re going to JFK Airport without clear reasons.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlg1iExLKl5
Don’t worry. It’s already in the news announcement from several hours ago. Show it to them, and it will all work out just fine. Trust me.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbc6sYOVHw
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZut7rjpJX5
A new notification popped up, and they read:
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgvtcEcP8zN
NATIONAL EMERGENCY ALERT
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAuEUV7GzBQ
Date: February 13th, 2023
Time: 8:58 A.M.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYXrAspc6NX
URGENT NOTICE TO ALL CITIZENS
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8GZhm9EiSw
This is a national emergency. Unknown entities have begun attacking major cities across the world. Immediate action is required for your safety.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTRIVUkIkpu
New York City residents:
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfeD8lchsty
- Evacuate immediately: Head directly to JFK Airport for further evacuation procedures.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsm3qwnGtv9
- Avoid densely populated areas: The entities are highly concentrated in these zones and pose extreme danger.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTAhaK16DkS
- Gather essential supplies: Bring food, water, medications, and other necessary items as much as you can.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNY8icg5pfv
- Stay calm and follow the instructions provided by emergency personnel and authorities.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUgjhnrMdMF
- Further updates will be provided as the situation develops.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhjDTZtygDF
Stay safe, stay informed, and act swiftly.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfJjuJb9sPG
End of Message
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMsyEZ8Ml6F
With the emergency announcement, Remy and Ramona's mouths formed thin lines of concern.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyD7Uy9mLvi
"Hey, Remy, does Alice look familiar to you?" Ramona asked, troubled.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Ek7yj1POm
"It can't be, Ramona. Alice and Elizabeth have different physical traits, and plus, it happened seven years ago. Stop thinking about it and move on," Remy assured her confidently.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOVF1Slrmmb
"I don't know, Remy, but did you see her face after you yelled at her?" Ramona persisted, still disturbed.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Y8ZiHTsZi
"What?" Remy began to feel annoyed by Ramona's constant worries ever since that day.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9PoxTWFt8U
"Alice was looking at us directly, not at the road, eyes wide, and smiling like it was going to rip her cheeks. Within those eyes, she remembered us, and she wants to rip us to shreds, alive," Ramona explained her worries.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqC9rLi8yRP
Remy gulped at her words, then sighed. "Ramona, let's get this over with," he said, opening his car door. Reluctantly, Ramona followed, and they both walked in the direction Alice, Eva, and Bart had gone. During their walk, Ramona asked, “Remy, how did Alice know there would be something in the news, and also as a last message?”
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGoZ67cpPYv
Remy had no answer, his silence a testament to his own unease. They continued on their way, wary.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHSzJyRibUB
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOQvkFr2PUN
Central Park, Manhattan, USA, Present Day (Seek Confirmation), Present Time (Seek Confirmation).
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwmHZ4ynHzv
Central Park, Alice in Wonderland, E 74th St.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCAFmhY82yx
Alice glanced at the statue and read the title, "How ironic," she thought, releasing a sigh as she waited for someone. "Well, that is what people call karma." Schrödinger laughed, a fake, hollow sound that made Alice glare daggers at him. A soft meow caught her attention. "A stray kitten?" she wondered, crouching down carefully to avoid scaring it. The kitten's fur was as white as snow, and its mismatched eyes—one green, one blue—held her curiosity. Notably, one of its forelegs was injured, and it appeared extremely exhausted. When Alice cupped her hands around it, the kitten immediately fell asleep. Lifting it closer for inspection, she thought, "He ran for miles from the city to find safety in Central Park, only to encounter hostility and get injured, fatally. He doesn’t have much time."
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5epkTTIiPo
Schrödinger mentally replied with aloofness, "Then heal him, care for him, like you always do with animals you pity. Play god when it’s their time to die. It’s part of the cycle. They are insignificant beings."
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcvzfCR06Ha
Alice darkened at the thought. "No, he is not dead yet! I don't play god by making them cheat death! I diagnose them and prevent their death by curing them. That’s what it means to live. Just so you know, you and I are insignificant compared to them," she replied coldly, anger and resolution in her voice. Schrödinger growled, and they locked eyes in a fierce staring contest. Schrödinger's blazing fury met Alice's icy yet incandescent chaos.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr9JUqQDYQt
During their stare, Alice extended her hand toward Schrödinger, who faced the dying kitten, struggling with laboured breaths. "Get into his body," Alice proposed calmly. "You will be free from me as I will be from you. You can do what you want, just as I can. No permissions needed. But on one condition: the first thing you eat from whoever feeds you, you must protect, care for, and guide that person as a form of gratitude. It’s a non-zero-sum game, don’t you think?"
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd7CSkVSBcw
Schrödinger burst out laughing at her absurd proposal, finding it preposterous. However, he enjoyed being rebellious, even if the proposal seemed too good to be true. He decided to test her patience. "Make me," he said smugly.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxrmrYD3nfc
Alice's expression softened into kindness, and she faintly smiled with satisfaction. "With pleasure," she said gently. Schrödinger's perception of the world shifted from the vibrant lushness of Central Park to the cold, endless expanse resembling outer space. Boundless raw information flooded into Schrödinger's mind, overwhelming him and leaving him completely immobilized. He felt everything and nothing simultaneously. "Nexus!" he thought, thunderstruck.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb2nh7MkSpa
"Schrödinger, possess this kitten, obey my decree!" Alice commanded. Schrödinger's senses warped, his eyes forcefully closed, engulfing him in blackness. He felt pain, hunger, and cold for the first time. He felt warmth when someone wrapped him in a cloth. "Poor thing, he must be hungry!" he heard a woman say softly. He clutched something in his paws that was removed by the woman. "Uh? There’s a note: Found him at E 74th St. He’s injured but not life-threatening. His foreleg is sprained, so don’t forget to tell Bart to treat him. I named him Schrödinger, FYI. Kind Regards, Alice."
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRMRkz9NiEA
Hearing Alice's name made Schrödinger's veins pop with anger. "I’ll make her pay for this, making me a fool! I should have known her powers were exponentially growing. She was playing damsel-not-in-distress!" he fumed. His eyes remained closed due to the kitten’s exhaustion, and hunger rumbled in his belly. The woman manifested a Gizmo and typed something on a holographic display. An inventory popped up, and she retrieved a small bento box. Opening it, Schrödinger smelled the contents and heard clatters as something was offered to the front of his mouth. "There you go, this is for you," the woman said kindly.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ZQE0iL7xi
Schrödinger hesitated, then took a bite, eating the pieces longingly. He realized the meal was Edamame! "I’m glad I had some left. I nearly ate most of the Edamame before my deployment to exterminate Apophis," the woman chuckled. “Oi, are you sure you know how to feed a cat, or are you just a vegetarian, seem like not!” Schrödinger thought dumbfounded. With efforts, and for the first time in this kitten's body, Schrödinger opened his eyes to the beautiful scene before him. Eva smiled warmly. "Pretty, you have mismatched eyes, but I remember cats don’t have horns," she remarked, inspecting him curiously.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSV4t8b3ycj
"That’s because only I have them," Schrödinger spoke, startling Eva. "You can talk," she said.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJMASf3KCoy
"You are calm," Schrödinger noted.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5j4dzzSped
"Only on the outside," Eva smiled nervously. "Would you like some more Edamame? There are two left in the bento box," she offered, and Schrödinger “Why didn’t you eat them all?” mentally question her, unimpressed, but he hummed in confirmation, eating the remaining two.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFTeChEbshR
"Yo, Eva, what you got there?" Bart inquired, noticing the kitten on her lap.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNNKtJRactV
"Bart, I’m glad you’re here. Alice gave him to us to look after. He sprained his left foreleg, but most importantly, he can talk!" Eva revealed excitedly. Bart peered at him curiously, only to be met by a soft meow.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHDqVuE63Nq
Bart chuckled. "Of course he can. I’m going to treat him now," he said. Eva was confused by his statement. "I think only you can understand me," Schrödinger said during the treatment.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBTIY3UGiV1
"Oh," Eva realized. "Maybe it’s part of the effect from the Interstice," she thoughtfully assumed. Bart nearly finished treating Schrödinger's injuries when he suddenly remembered the condition. "The first thing you eat from whoever feeds you, you will have the duty to protect, care for, and guide that person as a form of gratitude. It’s a non-zero-sum game, don’t you think?" Alice's words echoed in his head. He turned to Eva, now watching the falling cherry blossoms, realizing he had to fulfil the bargain. "CURSE YOU, ALICE! YOU FORESEE THIS, DIDN’T YOU?" Schrödinger screamed internally.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoQqAhcCXf6
0.4 miles away, Alice smirked, knowing everything had gone according to her plan. With her hands behind her back, she turned and walked back to the statue, where a man in his 70s waited beside it. He held a kiseru in his right hand and blew smoke as he looked above the scenery, his monocle reflecting the light. His slicked-back white-grey hair and prominent widow's peak matched his formal, Victorian-era attire.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1OGLpVHDnt
"Ah, Alice, it is finally good to meet you again," the man greeted.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGNYYxmq9HD
"Likewise. I hope I am not tardy," Alice apologized.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy5pLo8mxOW
"Tardy? You were very overdue, my dear, but now you are just as punctual," the man corrected, gesturing for her to walk with him.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXRHCft3j1o
"I am delighted to hear that. May I ask what purpose you had in summoning me here, Aristotle?" Alice inquired politely.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX20Ksy4ySh
There was a long pause from the man, Aristotle. "It is time for me to go," he said, a sad smile gracing his lips.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Wvq6Ge0CF
Alice was struck by the news and turned to look ahead. "I see, time flies," she spoke quietly.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyjmu6s7q4S
"Alas, I am the last of your Sefirot. The rest have already retired, just as I do now. You will be all alone, our Infinity. I am ashamed that I cannot help you 'solve' this world," Aristotle bowed his head as they walked.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxDktHiHXcD
"Everyone has their own limits, just not equally. You have all done well. Please, have the rest you deserve. It's okay for me to fight this battle alone for I have always walked this path alone. Thank you, and to all of the Sefirot. You all gave me the strength to dream in my final moments in that box; it was everlasting." Alice smiled encouragingly and hugged him for comfort. He reciprocated.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9cW1XI6pkJ
"Don’t downplay your deeds, my dear. It is you who discovered and gave us the power of imagination we didn't know we possessed. You gave us purpose, and for that, we thank you," Aristotle said. They were halfway to Pilgrim Hills, passing the restaurant by the lake.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUXfnfofZNA
"May I give you a gift as your Wisdom, for it is the last time I will see you?" Aristotle asked.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMMbOEfpdYt
"You may," Alice agreed. Aristotle produced a top hat from thin air and extended it toward Alice. Inside, the hat was filled with lustrous white bundles of raw silk cocoons. Alice tilted her head curiously.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiOV6kYTGdp
"It is Psyche’s Silk. It is the same silk that sprouts from the Beginning, cuts off at the End, and reattaches at the Revives of the Nexuscape. Please accept my gift, I have spent nearly an eternity collecting these" Aristotle explained, still extending the hat.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYZGTp1JdX6
"Hmmm. I don’t know what to do with it yet, but I shall accept it. I might find a tailor upon my Narrative." Alice accepted the top hat, still examining the contents.
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQybhFPfHu
Aristotle smiled for the last time. "Fairfarren, Alice." Then he vanished within the wind, leaving Alice alone. She manifested her Gizmo and put the top hat into the inventory. With indifference, she walked away from the area, heading back to the group, having completed her task in Central Park.
ns3.143.214.100da2
