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Chapter 3 - Clarity of the Past, Present, and Future

[Unknown Realm]

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So there I was… standing at a crossroads in an unknown realm.

A world of black and white.

Well… not exactly black and white.

It was more like shades—light and dark blending into a gray, hazy existence. Like something between both extremes. If I had to describe it, it felt similar to a yin and yang balance… light above, dark below.

At least… that's how it felt.

Because the truth is—I couldn't tell what was up or down.

What I thought was above would suddenly become below. Left became right. Direction itself felt meaningless.

It was disorienting.

No… more than that—it was absurd.

Just trying to make sense of it made my head spin.

But that wasn't even the strangest part.

The strangest part…

Was that I wasn't alone.

No—more accurately…

There were others.

Other me's.

My past… my present… and my future selves.

Yes.

Plural.

I know how that sounds. Trust me—I was just as confused as you are right now.

Even to this day, I still don't fully understand what I saw.

How can someone have multiple pasts? Multiple futures?

It doesn't make sense.

At first, I thought I had finally lost my mind… that this was some kind of hallucination.

But it wasn't.

I remember it too clearly.

The feeling… of being watched.

Of countless eyes fixed on me…

And mine fixed on them.

And yet…

None of us moved.

None of us spoke.

Not a single sound.

We just stood there… staring at one another in complete silence.

Like statues.

Frozen.

Deaf. Mute. Unmoving.

I don't know how long I was there.

Time didn't exist in that place.

But after a while… something changed.

The fear disappeared.

The anxiety faded.

And all that remained…

Was peace.

A strange, overwhelming sense of calm.

As if I had accepted everything—myself, my past… even my death.

Why did that happen?

I don't know.

I have theories… plenty of them.

But that's all they are.

Theories.

And without proof… they'd just make me sound insane.

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While I was trapped there…

Locked in a silent stare with my other selves…

Back in the real world—

Chaos had already begun.

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Scene Change

[August 4, 2005 – 5:50 PM | Mombasa Hospital]

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A large man burst through the hospital entrance, carrying a small boy in his arms.

The boy was covered in blood.

"Help! I need help—this is an emergency!"

His voice echoed through the halls, filled with panic.

Footsteps rushed toward him.

"Dear God… Nurse! Get a stretcher—now!"

"On the way!"

A doctor approached quickly, his expression turning serious the moment he saw the boy.

"I'm Dr. Nichoke. What's your name, sir?"

"I—I'm Msemo… and this is Dhalik. He… he needs help."

Msemo—the community's security guard.

A good man.

Everyone respected him.

He did his job well… even chased off dangerous thugs more than once.

But that's a story for another time.

Dr. Nichoke nodded.

"I can see that. Try to stay calm and place him on the stretcher."

The nurse rushed in.

"Here!"

"Take him to the ER immediately—and inform Dr. Mwenyeji."

"Yes, Doctor!"

They rushed off.

Dr. Nichoke turned back to Msemo.

"Mr. Msemo—will you be alright?"

Msemo hesitated.

"Will he be alright… Doctor?"

"We'll do everything we can. But first, I need you to answer a few questions."

"O-Of course…"

Dr. Nichoke studied him for a moment.

He's shaken, he thought. Calm him down first.

"Take a deep breath."

Msemo inhaled… then exhaled slowly.

"…Better?"

"Yes… thank you."

"Good. Now—can you tell me how the boy was injured?"

"I heard he fell from a roof—"

"You heard?"

"Yes… I wasn't there. His friends came to get me. When I arrived, he was already on the ground… bleeding."

"I see. Go on."

"They said he tried to climb down… and fell. Then they ran for help."

Dr. Nichoke nodded.

"Are you his parent?"

"No… I'm just the community guard. His mother has been contacted—she should be here soon."

"Understood. Do you know anything about his medical history? Allergies? Medication?"

"…No, I don't."

"Mhm. That's fine. Thank you, Mr. Msemo—that will be all for now."

Footsteps echoed as staff rushed past them toward the emergency room.

And somewhere beyond those doors…

A boy hovered between life…

And death.

To be continued…

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