"You idiot! You scared the hell out of me!" Wyatt yelled, his heart still thumping against his ribs.
"I am just wondering how careless I was!!!!" Calloway said as he let out a heavy exhale and stood from the sofa. His gaze shifted down to the cold floor, walking towards Wyatt's side and picking up a crumpled paper from the marble floor. "I know... You're going to reject my offer, aren't you?"
Here we go again, with his creepy stories, Wyatt thought, a familiar annoyance bubbling up inside. "Don't be bossy at me... Why do I have to follow your stupid words? Do you think I was dumb like you?" He roared, his voice deep and casual, confident in his tone.
A knowing smirk appeared on Calloway's lips as he silently sat at the edge of the bed, his gaze looking hypnotising, then shifted to Wyatt's hand. He pulled out his sleeves as he pointed to the cut scar. "Do you want to know the reason why this scar happened? How?" he enquired, his tone coated with full manipulation.
Wyatt yanked his hand back, an irritated huff escaping him. His jaw tightened, and his brows arched like a rainbow. "I never fall for your cheap tricks... First of all, I don't want to know the reason. If it's already been deleted once, there must have been a good reason behind it."
Shit! He's good at making a person annoying. But I am Wyatt... You forget about it! Calloway questioned himself as his tongue rolled over his mouth in disappointment, and a disconcerted smirk appeared on his lips. "What if it makes you get out of the regret of your past? What if you find out you're truly alive after knowing the secret behind the scar... I have an ultimate secret..." He was trying his best to convince Wyatt.
"Ah!!!!! I lost my fucking sleep.... Probably because of this arsehole!" Wyatt yelled, the fury finally boiling over. He sprang from the bed and stormed towards the washroom. Without bothering the Calloway presence, he slammed the door shut and locked the door tightly. He sat inside the empty, dry bathtub, his eyes fixed on the white curtain. "Why is he making my life risky... He has no clue how risky it is to get inside the other dominion. What the hell does he want from me?" he whispered in a low, curious tone.
After a few minutes, silence settled over the room. The bathroom door opened with a soft click, and Wyatt poked his head out as his eyes scanned around every corner of the room. He pulled a towel from the hanger, wrapped it around his waist, and walked towards the cupboard. "Where the hell's he gone? Did he vanish in the air?" he whispered as his gaze swept the entire room again. "Probably back to the future?" He opened the cupboard with a relieved smile.
"Woof?" Calloway's voice boomed, his fingers crawling like an animal's paw from inside the cupboard.
"Ah!!!" Wyatt screamed, his voice echoed throughout the entire room as he placed his hand on his chest, and his heart was hammering faster. "God!!!!!! You scared me, man!!!" he roared, letting out a deep, shaky breath of relief.
"Haha... Calloway playfully chuckled, stepping outside casually. "I like your reaction..." he teased again.
Wyatt rolled his eyes like he didn't care as he began buttoning his crisp white shirt. I can't deal with him... I can't stay home either. I probably don't want to be burdened with this problem anymore, he thought, walking towards the dressing mirror.
"Why can't we make a deal?" Calloway asked, bringing a new idea.
"Hmm... Wyatt hummed with a single nod. "You are smarter than I thought..." he murmured as he adjusted his messy hairstyle.
"Wyatt... Calloway called out, his tone low and playful. He leaned against the dressing mirror cupboard, and his gaze fixed on Wyatt. "Have you ever been in love?" he asked, intentionally to make a smart move this time.
Wyatt showed no reaction, as if hearing the word for the very first time. "Love! What does it even mean?" he asked casually, almost dismissively.
I got you, baby.... Calloway wondered as a satirical smirk appeared on his lips. "Do you want to figure it out?"
"Hmmm..." Wyatt hummed as his eyes moved upwards, biting his lower lip in thought. Then he nodded his head from left to right. "Nope!!!!"
"Huh?" A shocking air escaped from Calloway's lips. His tone rising to a peak, "It's the world's best feeling ever..." he continued, then lowered his voice, "And the worst too..."
"I know it's your trap..." Wyatt whispered back, leaning in close to Calloway's ear. "But I want to give it a try... because I don't want to see your face all day." He grabbed the entry cards and walked towards the entrance, his movements as determined as if a soldier were going to war.
"Not bad..." Calloway smiled, watching him go.
----
After a few hours driving, Wyatt finally stopped the engine in constant travel in front of Dominion Gate 9. His eyes scanned the modern architecture gate with an eagle symbol in the centre of the gate like a symbol. This gate is simpler when compared to my Dominion, he thought as he handed the files and entry card towards the checking officer.
"Clear..." Another checking officer checked the entry card and ID. He gave a thumbs-up sign. After the confirmation, "You may go... sir..." the office approved, handing back the entry card with a nod.
Wyatt straightened his posture, his hand on the wheel, and started the car forward. His eyes scanned the identical buildings and apartments, all with the same repeating pattern. "Everything seems identical and different to Dominion 7..." He arched his brows in wonder. "Interesting!" he murmured, stopping his car near a coffee shop, where Calloway pinned the address on the letter.
"I think this is a correct place to get some information...." Wyatt decided and fixed his spot. He casually walked towards the authentic mixed coffee shop. While walking inside, a coffee aroma was spreading throughout the entire cafe, refreshing the mind. People were silently drinking their coffees, with still, calm expressions and peaceful faces. A sudden notification from his phone beeped inside his pocket, and he pulled it out and glanced at his screen, without warning, accidentally bumping into an old woman. She looks beautiful with wrinkly skin, a confident, beautiful gown, and a pretty smile on her face.
"I am sorry, Mrs.... Ma'am, is everything okay?" Wyatt apologised, glancing down at the scattered things on the floor. He immediately knelt, grabbed everything, and put it back inside her luxurious pinkish-coloured handbag.
Again, "I am sorry, Mrs..," he apologised.
"It's okay, little man." The old lady assured with a smile. Her gaze drifted towards the bleeding finger. "Oh! Son, you are bleeding..." Without hesitation, her trembling hands grabbed his. Both sat at the table, and she gently placed a bandage on his wound. "Sorry about this wound...."
"No... It's just an accident; it's not your fault..." Wyatt murmured in a calm tone, his gaze scanning the identity card on the table. "Thank you so much, Mrs. Annabella."
"It's okay... Don't need to appreciate my service.... I was just hurrying... It's not your fault.... I am running to a school. Children make a new day, new problems, like this. I always kept a bandage on all the time...." Annabella laughed to make the tense, guilty atmosphere normal.
She works at school, which means she has a lot of stories about children, and she's my target today, Wyatt realised, a plan forming. "I'm working as a psychologist... here to collect information about people and their experiences, how they feel about their life... like that..." he explained, trying to sound as professional as possible.
"Wow... That's amazing... Anabella replied.
"Can I start with you? Do you have ten minutes? Just a ten-minute interview; it won't take extra time...." Wyatt proposed, his request sounding genuine and respectful.
Annabella glanced at her old model watch, and, realising she had enough time, she gave an agreement nod. "Okay... Dear... Go ahead...."
Wyatt gave a single nod and immediately pulled out a Calloway's pre-prepared questionnaire and advanced pen. "What is your name and age?" he started, just as their ordered cat design decoration coffee with rich aroma was delivered to the table and steaming above the coffee.
"Annabella Jason, and I am in my 70s," she replied with a proud, soft smile.
"Good... Let's go with the second question.... What's your favourite food from your childhood?" Wyatt asked, his eyes remaining on her expression.
Annabella's sagged eyes went downwards; her gaze fixed on the table. "Food!!!" she murmured. Umm! But I don't have much memory about my childhood... Why? It's blank... she thought. "Creamy pasta and chicken noodles..." She answered with some hesitation in her tone, not sounding fully compliant.
"Interesting!" Wyatt is scratching his pen on the paper. His eyes shifted to the next question. First, all I need is if she has any scars on her, just like me, he thought as he scanned her face to hand. "How did that burn happen on your hand?" he pointed.