XXXIV. Room 22

Raine’s POV:

What if there was another Earth?

And on that Earth, there was another you?

Different Universes.

Different versions of ourselves.

Different environments.

Alternative outcomes.

No, that can’t be possible.

My Earth doesn’t have mythical creatures.

So, is it still considered a parallel world?

“They say that one day, the two worlds will collide and become one again.”

I couldn’t stop it.

“Mom?” she giggles, her plump cheeks made its appearance. “Aren’t you going a bit too fast?”

My mouth part, but nothing came out. Instead, unintelligent stutters made its appearance. It’s difficult to breathe. I can’t breathe. I clutch my chest and inhale a shaky breath.

When my legs gave out, she held me. It’s warm. It’s real.

Without a second thought, I embraced her body with all my might and cried. She didn’t respond; instead, she pats my back.

Slowly, my body fell on the floor, but I refused to release her.

Not this time.

“M-Mom.” My tears refused to disappear. “I’m sorry. I’m so so sorry for leaving you. I won’t go anywhere. I promise. I’ll be a good girl. I’ll be the best daughter in the world. I’ll never let you feel like you’re alone anymore.”

The momentary happiness was just that—momentary happiness.

“Mom?” A profound voice question.

I turn my head, and Leon made his way towards us. She smiles, “Leon. Your dad told me about your mate.” She looks at me and my heart shattered into a million pieces. Her eye color wasn’t the same. “She quite emotional. So, you better treat her well.”

Steadily, my arms drop from her, and I step back.

It’s not her.

This woman isn’t my mom.

There it is.

That feeling.

I can’t breathe.

“Are you okay?” Leon asks me.

This woman is his mom, not mine.

I took another step away from her.

“Darling-” she turns towards Preston. “Is she okay?” Preston looks at me and tilts his head.

“You-” that word left my lips. “You’re not her.”

“Who am I not?” she question.

“You’re not her.” I look around the room. This isn’t my home. Of course, it isn’t. This is another world. I’m still stuck here. My mom is still light-years away...alone.

The image of her lifeless body appeared.

“Raine. Where are you?”

No.

That was all a dream - a nightmare. It can’t be real.

I shook my head and fell back more, away from her. When I look back at the woman in front of me, I realized that I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t stay here.

Tears blind me, and I turn, running as quickly as my legs will allow me. I bolt through the door like the house was set on fire. I didn’t stop when I heard the screams. My veins pounds inside my feet, but I didn’t feel the pain.

I have to get out of here.

Away from that woman.

My heart throbs inside my chest.

It hurts.

I couldn’t do it. For the past year, I’ve been harboring the pain. My only light was that one day - I’ll return home. Then, it will all be over. Like a dream. But I can’t do it. Not if I have to be reminded every day of what I left behind.

Insanity.

It’s a matter of time before it catches up with me.

If not, grief would.

The sounds of howling.

I know they’re chasing after me, and it’s only a matter of time before they catch me, but I couldn’t stop running. My legs went on autopilot, pushing more and more distance between us. I want to get away.

Please, take me away from here.

I close my eyes.

Somewhere.

More howling.

Anywhere.

Howls.

Please.

I close my eyes.

If there is a God, please take me away.

Then, it all stops—and I could hear the sound of birds. My eyes open, and immediately it widens with the sight of a building. My legs slow its motions as the structure came closer—the pounding of heartbeats echoes inside my ears.

It’s the abandoned building on top of the mountain.

My fingers jumped rhythmically as if in a spasm, and my feet scrap back against the dirt.

How did I get here?

I held onto my stomach, my bowels suddenly churned, and I wanted to vomit badly.

I did.

My knees pound against the dirt, and I threw up all the content inside my body. I told myself to calm down with each steady breath. I shook my head a few times. Then, the memories emerge. Leon said there were witches on Crescent Moon territory, so that must be it. Someone may be playing a prank.

I spit out what I could and wipe my mouth the shirt. I lift my head, and at that moment, the sunlight reflects against the abandoned building. To put it nicely, it was a complete mess. From outside, the windows were boarded, and from inside, I could see the iron rods.

I took a step back. It looked scary and threatening at all angles. From what I know, behind a scary exterior was an equally worse interior.

I turn my back.

I need the get out of here.

“Hello?”

Not good.

A voice.

I swallow the lump inside my throat, and steadily, I turned my head. I must be hearing things. I really should leave.

“Hello! Does anyone hear me?”

My eyes widen at the feminine voice.

I turn my whole body and stared at the abandoned building.

“Hey! Warren! Reese! Judy! Ruth! Where are you guys?” the female screams. “This isn’t funny anymore! I’m scared!”

I took a few blinks and exhaled steadily. Then, I cupped my mouth and screamed: “Is someone in there?”

“Yes! Can you help me?”

My legs feel weak, “What happened?”

“I came here with some friends, and we got separated!”

“Why were you all in there?”

“Because we’re stupid teenagers! Can you please call someone? I can’t get a signal!”

“Walk towards the door?” I suggested. If I could hear her, it must mean she is close, right?

“I can’t see!”

“What?” I look up at the sun. It’s so bright outside, so there should be some light inside.

“It’s too dark in here! I can’t find the exit! Please, I’m scared!”

This sounds like the start of a horror movie.

I tilt my body and creep around the building at a safe distance. I could hardly see the inside, but I know there should be light. I didn’t see anyone inside. “Is this a prank? Are you punning me or something? Because I can’t take another prank. I’m sick of being teleported!”

“What? Can you just call my aunt?”

“F-Fine! What’s her name?”

“Sally! She lives in the town near here.”

I grab my phone and flip it open. Shoot. No signal.

“MistVille!”

The phone nearly slips from my hand. I look at the building. “C-Can you say that again?”

“My aunt lives in the town near here! MistVille! Let me search for her number!”

I swallowed intently and waited for a reply. I didn’t hear wrong. She said MistVille. But, MistVille doesn’t exist in this world. When I first came here, they told me that it wasn’t real.

When she didn’t respond, I screamed: “Hey! Are you okay?”

No response.

The birds flew past me and onto the rooftop of the building.

“Hey!” I screamed again. “Are you okay?”

No response.

My feet scrap backward, but I couldn’t keep my eyes off the building. I’m about to do something stupid. I know it. But, she said it. She said my hometown name.

MistVille.

No one here should know about it.

Steadily, one leg after another, I creep closer to the building entrance. I strapped on the rape whistle and placed it between my lips. I switched off the gun safety switch and held it firmly. My hands are shaking, and I’m not surprised if the gun went off by accident.

I reached the front of the building, but the automatic door refuses to slide open. There’s no electricity. I peek past the boards to see a small dosage of light. Moving around the building, I grab nearly all the knobs I could find.

Complete lockdown.

How did the girls and her friend get in?

Then, I saw it.

At the side of the hospital, covered with vines, was an entrance.

The door was wide open—an invite for death.

I could die if I walked through that door.

I know I shouldn’t behave so idiotically and walk away.

“Raine. Where are you?”

Desperation makes a person stupid.

Steadily, I made my way towards the door. The whistle dangled around my neck, knocking against my raging heartbeat. I grab my phone and switch on the light. It was still quite dark, even with the sunlight breaking inside. I stepped inside and noticed that the vines stretched into the hallway. Mother nature took over.

With each step, I bite my inner cheeks harder. I swallow the blood inside my mouth. Sweat moisten every inch of my body, and I couldn’t stop picturing a murderer with an ax appearing from one of the doors I passed.

Furniture is still intact.

Old abandoned beds inside the rooms.

In some rooms were large chucks of holes and scratch marks. There were some paints leftover on the wall, but time will eventually catch up.

“Crescent Moon old laboratory building.”

That’s what Miguel said.

But why would a laboratory need beds?

I moved past the rooms and noticed an elevator at the end of the hallway. My eyes motions left and right. Emptiness. I press the button. As expected.

Broken.

I want to scream, but it feels like it may attract something else.

I made my way down the right hallway.

With each step, the discomfort only emerges. Some doors are still intact while others are broken, allowing a complete view of the room. A thick layer of dust settled on everything in sight, giving the place an atmosphere of being untouched for years.

I shouldn’t be surprised.

This is an abandoned building.

I felt like I was walking into a vortex. There’s no end to the hallway even when the building outside doesn’t look this big.

“Over here, guys! I found a door!” Another voice shouts. This time a different female.

I turn around and rush towards the voice. There wasn’t a single sound made from me except for the heavy breathing from my mouth.

“Come on, Val. Afraid of ghosts?” A guy’s voice.

“Afraid me?” It’s that girl I heard earlier. “Please.”

“Then, let’s go.”

“Hey!” I shouted. “Anyone there?” I rush towards the voices, but I didn’t see anyone.

I swiped the sweats off of my head and held my hands against my aching knees. I felt like I’ve been running forever. My back pressed against the wall, while my lungs play catch-up.

A small groan exit my throat. “What am I doing?” I’m stupid. I know it. One day, my stupidity will kill me.

Technically, it kind of did.

I heave a breath and look upward. My brows furrow at the sight of the painting. I got up and shone the light at it. The tone of the art is silent. Each stroke had a smudge of loveliness, reflecting a watery image like a rippled in the ocean. A wolf rests in the middle of the forest in front of him was a blue umbrella.

My fingers ran across the painting towards the edge.

There it is.

R.F.

I remembered when I first visited my grandma. They had this painting they just purchased. I thought it was pretty and claimed it as mine by writing my initials on it.

I rush down the hallway.

This can’t be possible.

How can the painting with my initials be here?

It shouldn’t be in this world.

My legs halt, and I look up at the door.

Room 22.

With a shaky hand, I grab the knob and twist it open. The light burst into the darkness, and the wind brushes past the white curtains. It’s the same as I remember it.

Grandma Raelyn’s room.

Stepping into her room was like stepping into a whole other world.

My world.

I explored the room, every crook, and angle. My eyes drop towards a large straw hat with a planet attached to the side. Then, there it is, the photo beside the nightstand.

A family of five.

Grandma. Grandpa. Dad. Mom.

Me.