Seth stared at the road, his head resting on his palm, still clueless about how to figure out what kind of world he was in.
'I'm thirsty.' He patted his thigh and stood up.
He wandered until he spotted a 7-Eleven. Inside, he grabbed a water bottle, paid with the cash from the wallet he'd found, and stepped back outside. He took a long swig, the cool liquid refreshing him.
Water still tastes good, not gonna lie, he thought, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
He kept walking but froze when he noticed a dark alleyway to his left, its shadows untouched by streetlights.
'Maybe there's something in there. If I don't check, I'll never figure out this world. With a mix of curiosity and caution,' he stepped into the alley, hoping for a clue.
But it was just a dingy passage filled with homeless people huddled against the walls. He passed through safely, disappointment sinking in.
"This is getting way too annoying," Seth muttered, kicking a stray pebble.
As Seth turned his head, a voice called out from a few meters away, as if the speaker knew him.
"Zach, what are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be with your sister?"
The voice belonged to a woman with shoulder-length brown hair and fair skin, slightly shorter than Seth. She looked strikingly like Sophia Bush from 2005, though Seth didn't recognize the resemblance.
He glanced around, then pointed at himself. "Me?"
"Yes, you, Zach. Quit messing around," she said, giving him a playful swat on the arm.
The name Zach clicked, the same one from the notebook in the sewer. This must be Zach's body, Seth thought. And she's probably Emily.
"Emily?" he tested.
"Yeah," she replied, tilting her head curiously.
I'm right. But why does she look like a TV star? Am I stuck in some kind of show? Seth's mind spiraled, momentarily ignoring Emily standing before him.
"Zach, snap out of it," Emily said, waving a hand in front of his face.
"My bad," Seth mumbled, jolted back to reality.
Emily's brow furrowed with concern. "Did something happen with your sister? You're acting weirder than usual."
"Nah, just needed to clear my head," Seth said, sidestepping her question.
"Since when do you clear your head by wandering around?" Emily asked, crossing her arms. "What's going on, Zach? You're freaking me out a little."
Seth sighed, scrambling for a believable excuse. "I'm just… stressed out. Don't know what to do about it."
"Do you want to talk about it?" Emily's voice softened, and she reached for his hand, her touch warm and steady.
Seth shook his head, careful not to reveal his true confusion. "Not ready to talk yet."
"That's okay," Emily said, squeezing his hand with both of hers. "When you're ready, I'm here. For now, let's go home, watch some movies, and relax. Sound good?"
Seth managed a small smile. 'Zach's pretty lucky to have such a kind girlfriend,' he thought, a pang of guilt hitting him for deceiving her.
Emily tugged his hand gently, leading the way toward what he assumed was Zach's home, her warmth a stark contrast to the questions swirling in his mind.
As Seth followed Emily, her hand warm in his, he scrambled to keep up the act of being Zach. 'Gotta keep her talking, avoid slipping up,' he thought.
"So, uh, how was your day?" he asked, trying to make small talk as they walked through the St. Louis streets, the evening air crisp with the hum of distant traffic.
"Eventful," Emily said, her voice brightening. "Work was crazy. I met some big shots today. But one girl was seriously annoying."
"What'd she do?" Seth asked, genuinely curious, hoping to learn more about Zach's life.
"She's always sizing people up, like she's better than everyone," Emily huffed. "I can't stand it."
"Don't let it get to you too much," Seth said, keeping his tone neutral.
"I know, but it's frustrating. She was even rude to my boss," Emily added, rolling her eyes.
"Really?" Seth raised an eyebrow, steering the conversation to keep her talking.
"Yeah," Emily said, shaking her head. "Total power trip."
Seth nodded, skillfully guiding the conversation as they walked. He'd always been good at this, controlling the flow, asking just enough to keep people talking without revealing too much himself. 'One of my better talents,' he thought, grateful it was helping him pass as Zach.
They reached a modest two-story house, its brick facade glowing faintly under a streetlight. Seth froze, a strange familiarity tugging at him. 'Why do I know this place?' He racked his brain, searching for a memory.
Emily unlocked the door, and they stepped inside, the faint scent of coffee lingering in the air. Without missing a beat, they collapsed onto a worn couch, just as Emily had planned.
She flicked on the TV, some 2005 sitcom blaring to life, and nestled her head against Seth's arm. He stiffened for a moment, then relaxed, playing along as Zach while his mind raced. 'This feels too normal. But that notebook, the goo, those claws… none of this adds up.'
Seth lounged on the couch with Emily, her head resting on his arm as a 2005 sitcom blared on the TV. The cozy living room, with its clunky CRT and scattered DVDs, felt oddly familiar, like a half-remembered dream. 'Why do I know this place?' he wondered, his mind still grappling with the notebook, the gooey masses, and his Wolverine-like claws.
Around 10:30 PM, the front door creaked open. A man stepped inside, his silhouette framed by the streetlight's glow. Seth's heart stopped. The man looked exactly like him, same face, same build. The real Zach.
Zach's eyes widened, shock turning to fury as he saw Emily curled up with someone wearing his face. "What the hell?"
Emily sat up, gasping, her gaze darting between Zach and Seth. She scrambled back on the couch, confusion etched on her face. "Zach? What—?"
'Fuck, I'm not the real Zach!' Seth's mind raced, panic surging. 'I'm screwed.'
"Who the fuck are you?" Zach demanded, stepping forward, fists clenched.
Seth didn't think. Instinct took over. He bolted for the nearest window on his right, adrenaline pumping. Glass shattered as he dove through, rolling onto the cold grass outside. Without looking back, he sprinted down the street, heart pounding, legs burning as he pushed himself to escape.
Emily and Zach rushed to the broken window, staring in disbelief at the figure fleeing into the night. "He… he looked just like you," Emily stammered, gripping Zach's arm.
Seth's mind screamed as he ran. 'Fuck, fuck, fuck! What's going on? Am I a clone? A shapeshifter?' The notebook's cryptic notes, the gooey masses, his claws, all of it swirled in his head, but no answers came.