Peter took a deep breath before he began to speak.
"Doctor, are you sure you've made this decision after careful thought? Let me explain a bit more about it first." After a short pause, he continued:
"I've already told you about astral projection. Now I'll explain the place where the soul arrives. The place is called the Spiritual World. That world can take any form. Sometimes it may be endless darkness that is, a void. Or it might be an expanse of light stretching as far as the eye can see. Rose will be able to shape that world according to her own desires.
Now let me tell you the most important thing first. The last person who performed astral projection with me, when his soul reached the Spiritual World, what he saw was white radiance. And even then, he was unable to endure it. But if Rose sees only an empty darkness there, it will mean she is facing the greatest possible danger.
When her soul enters the Spiritual World, it will descend along a different path, as though flying downward. Once she arrives, Rose's soul will appear to stand upon the ground just as in the earthly world. But her condition there won't be like it is here instead, she will exist in a state of perfect health."
From now on, the reason she performed astral projection must be put into action. The figure that tried to strangle her must be brought before her. Then she must fight it and defeat it. The power to do so will be granted to her by the Spiritual World itself. Using that power, she must overcome that figure. If she defeats it, her desire will be fulfilled. This is considered a blessing of the Spiritual World. After her wish is granted, she will be able to return to her body.
But, as I said, it will not be so easy to accomplish. This is the most terrifying phase of astral projection. It must be completed within a fixed amount of time. The longer she remains there, the greater the danger to her physical body in the real world.
All of this will only be necessary if what she sees is darkness. If she sees radiant light, then she will remain safe and unharmed there.
"These are the things I can tell you about the Spiritual World," Peter concluded.
The doctor, who had been listening intently, could hardly believe any of it. In all his years of living in this world, he had never once heard of such a thing. And yet, knowing that nothing could be more astonishing than what he had already witnessed with his own eyes, he chose to believe every word Peter had said.
"So, if she wishes for her body to be completely healed, will that actually become possible in the real world?" the doctor asked with uncertainty. He spoke while staring into the empty sky.
"Perhaps it might," Peter replied. Then, as if struck by a sudden thought, he added, "But there's something I didn't tell you. The fulfillment of a wish requires a contract but Rose herself will not be aware of that contract. It is the Spiritual World that decides it."
"What contract?" the doctor asked in alarm.
"The contract the Spiritual World makes is with the very span of our lives," Peter explained. "Even when a small wish is granted, it consumes a portion of our lifespan. And if a great change is made in the real world, the Spiritual World will take a great portion of time away from Rose's life. We don't even know how much of a lifespan she has left in her current condition. That's why it's best not even to consider such a drastic change."
When Peter finished speaking, his gaze shifted from the emptiness of the sky back toward the doctor's face.
"I have one more question. What kind of powers will she gain in the Spiritual World?"
"I can't say for certain," Peter replied. "The person who once attempted astral projection with me only saw a white light. It is the Spiritual World itself that decides such things. Whatever wish Rose makes there, the more important it is to her, the greater the part of herself the Spiritual World will take in return. Sleep paralysis is only a temporary condition she's experiencing now. Her wish to overcome it isn't a long-term desire, so her life won't be in serious danger because of it. If you agree, doctor, then we can begin as early as tomorrow. There are a few preparations that must be done, and I'll explain those tomorrow."
After saying this, the doctor asked him another question.
"When I came here earlier, you were writing something inside your tent. What was it?"
"I was trying to find another way," Peter answered, "but I wasn't succeeding. If you agree, doctor, then we'll proceed with this plan. But there's one more thing no one else must know about this. It's too dangerous. If the others find out in the current situation, it could be disastrous. You don't have to give me your answer now. Take all of today to think about it. Just tell me your decision tomorrow morning."
"Don't stay out in the cold any longer go back now," Peter said before stepping into his tent. On the way back, the doctor's breath left his lips as white mist in the freezing air. All along the path, his mind was consumed with Peter's words. The chill of the night was nothing compared to the deeper shiver that passed through him whenever he thought about the Spiritual World. With those thoughts weighing heavily on him, the doctor struggled to fall asleep that night.
An unknown room. The place was in complete disarray shattered glass panes and broken flower pots scattered across the floor. Sofas and chairs were overturned, lying in chaos. In one corner sat Francis, trembling with fury. He was chain-smoking, and dozens of cigarette butts lay discarded at his feet. Suddenly, the silence was broken the shrill ring of a cellphone pierced the room. Startled, Francis crushed his cigarette into the floor, then reached for the phone lying nearby. Pressing it to his ear, he raised his voice:
"Hello? Who is this?"
It felt as though a surge of electricity had struck his head Francis jolted awake from his sleep in shock. His eyes were heavy with darkness, and his body slowly began to tremble. Beads of sweat started seeping out from every pore of his skin. Francis tried wiping it away with his hand, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't bring his body back to normal.
He reached for the pure water he had collected from the bamboo the previous day and began to drink. After finishing it all, he stepped outside to breathe some fresh air. The dream he had seen struck his mind again, as if it had been hammered into his brain. A wave of nausea rose from within, pushing up his throat until it burst out. Francis began to vomit violently. What came out was the pork he had eaten yesterday and the water he had drunk.
Seeing him vomit, Alice rushed to his side. She gently patted his back to help him. Afterward, Francis asked for a little more water.
The water in his hand had already been finished earlier. Alice gave him her own water instead. After the nausea passed, Francis quietly thanked her. While she watched, he pulled a cigarette from his pocket and lit it.
"There are people who smoke cigarettes to fight off the cold but if you keep smoking like this, it will kill you," Alice said to him. Hearing this, Francis looked at her and laughed.
"Thank you for your advice," he replied, before heading back into the tent.
When Dr. John Samuel approached Peter, he was sitting inside the tent, sipping his refreshing morning coffee. As soon as Peter noticed him, he placed the cup down and slowly stood up.
"So, Doctor are you ready to do it?" Peter asked as soon as he rose.
"I am ready. There's no other path left for me. But still…I cannot believe all this is actually happening," the doctor replied.
"Often, we have to reject reality. In my way of seeing it, reality itself is nothing but a deception. And what we are all going through right now this too is one such deceptive reality." Peter spoke as he placed a hand on the doctor's shoulder.
To be continued...