"Huh…what is going on?"
I questioned as I opened my window and looked outside.
The landscape that should have been dominated by sky-high skyscrapers was dominated by two-story houses, making my room one of the highest places around.
But that was not all. My 8th story small apartment was suddenly a three-story house, and the architecture around me reminded me of gothic architecture.
No matter how much my brain tried to make sense of what I was seeing, it could not connect my current situation to being in a city.
"Huh-! Is this some kind of publicity stunt… but no-! Technology has not advanced so much that someone can replace the whole landscape like this… Maybe I am still asleep."
I questioned myself.
As a doctor and a specialist of mental health, I knew that the human brain was complicated and could often make up scenarios that were impossible to comprehend.
This felt like such a situation to me.
"Alright, let me think back on what happened-!"
I tried to recall what happened last night, but all I recalled was signing that contract with the shop owner and…
"I should head out first to see what is going on. After all, even if I am no longer on Earth, my room looks the same as the one on Earth. Maybe I will find some clues once I get out of here."
I walked out of my room and into the hallway, only to pause as I looked around. The hallway felt familiar but it did not look familiar.
But by the time I reached the stairs, the feeling of déjà vu was starting to take me over.
"This place is…the bookstore that I visited. Don't tell me…am I still here?"
I questioned as I looked around the place. I wanted to find the shopkeeper and ask him questions, but the man was not here.
"My phone-! I should look for it. Maybe I will be able to find some clues about what is going on?"
That was my best bet for now, but as I looked around, I came to a realization that my phone was not in this world.
In fact, none of my electronics were in this shop and I could not see any lights around either. The walls had no switchboards, or anything of such sort.
"H-Huh…isn't this going a little too far even as a joke? How did someone even manage this, even as a joke…those switches and lights were there until yesterday…"
I tried to make sense of what happened, but only illogical thoughts came to my mind…like, what if I had time-traveled or…been thrown in another reality.
As soon as that thought came to my mind, I slapped myself to get rid of it.
"No, don't be an idiot. You are a man of science. How can you believe in supernatural phenomena like…traveling to another reality. Come back to your senses."
I reminded myself and I slowly calmed down. Now that I knew how ridiculous I sounded, I felt calmer all of a sudden.
"First thing first, I need to find a way to survive. Since I don't have my phone or my passbook, I have no way to get money from my bank. I need to secure some food…"
I questioned and as soon as I turned around, a book fell in front of me.
It was an old and unremarkable book with a red cover, and it felt heavy in my hand. I decided to put it back at the counter when the door opened.
The same bell that I had become fond of over the years chimed and I looked at the door entrance, only to see a young girl walk in.
She came to my stomach (and I was not a particularly tall man) and her black and white makeup reminded me of a goth. The girl was cute like a doll, but something about her expression made me think twice about messing with her.
"Excuse me, but is my order in? Did you bring my book for me…"
The girl asked but then stopped talking as soon as she noticed the book in my hands.
Her attention was fully focused on the book in my hands, and my 10 years of experience told me that the book was the thing she was here for.
"Ah, are you here for this? One minute…let me ring it up. Just one minute."
I walked toward the counter where money was being kept when I suddenly took a look at my reflection.
Something about my reflection looked…different.
'Huh…are my ears…a little more pointy compared to before? How weird…'
The more I noticed myself, the more I could tell that there were subtle differences between the me of yesterday and the me of today.
Cough
"Are you done checking yourself out? Then, can you process my payment now?"
The girl told me and I realized that I had taken a lot longer to look at myself than I expected.
"Ah, of course. Give me a minute."
I told the young girl as I made her account entry. I looked at the title of her book, then at the young girl, and then back at the book in my hand.
"Excuse me, but what are you going to do with this book exactly?"
I asked the girl and she gave me a half-glare.
"Why do you care what I do with it? Keep your hands off my business if you want to live."
The girl spoke without much emotion in her voice, and my years as a doctor told me that the girl needed help in some way.
As a qualified doctor, how could I turn away when someone needed help like this.
"Hmm, I might be stepping over my boundary, but I must ask you…are you suffering from something? You look like you want answers to something, especially if someone like you has to buy a book like this. If so, then maybe I can help you out."
I told the girl and suddenly, she looked interested.
"You can help me out? How…interesting. Did you ask because you could see through my 'real self?'"
The girl asked in a curious voice and I nodded.
I had glanced at the book the young girl had purchased, and the book was called Witch Recipes for Dummies.
It seemed like a playbook written for little kids to keep them entertained, and I had a sudden feeling that the young girl in front of me might be in a phase where she daydreamed and wondered about being a witch.
Many people had brought their children to me to get this treated, so I was an almost expert at curing this condition.
"Dear customer, you are valuable to me. That's why I want to assist you in the best way possible. Please, follow me and we can get our private session started. I won't even charge you for it this time."
I told the young girl as I welcomed her toward the sofa. I made sure the seating was in plain sight so that anyone who walked inside could see what was happening here.
'It won't do good for my reputation to be perceived as a pedophile. But I also need this child to spread the word about my profession.'