Chapter 1 – The World Next Door
Rion Vale woke up gasping.
His first thought was that someone had broken into his apartment —
because there was no way in hell his room had glass walls and a floating blue clock that greeted him with:
> "Good morning, Engineer Vale. Meeting in ten minutes."
He stared at it. The words literally hovered in midair.
"…Okay. I'm still dreaming."
He slapped his own cheek. Hard.
It hurt.
He tried to sit up. His sheets were smooth silver fabric that shimmered under the lights.
The city outside his window didn't even look real — glowing highways hanging in the sky, drones gliding through towers that touched the clouds.
Panic started to rise in his chest.
He jumped out of bed — nearly tripping on the polished floor — and ran to the window.
Down below, a sea of light and motion moved with eerie silence.
No cars. No streets. Just streams of energy and hover platforms.
He pressed his palm against the glass.
His reflection stared back — older, sharper, wearing a fitted gray uniform with a badge that said:
> Quantum Division – Rion Vale.
"...Quantum what now?"
His heart pounded. "Okay. Either I'm dreaming, high, or abducted by aliens who love cyberpunk."
He paced the room. Tried to call someone.
His wristband projected a holographic screen. A holographic screen.
And then — he thought, desperate — I just want to go home.
The city vanished.
He blinked — and nearly screamed again.
He was back in his small 2025 apartment. Dusty fan, cracked phone, half-eaten instant noodles.
Everything exactly how he left it.
He fell onto his couch, shaking.
"What the hell was that?" he whispered.
Hours passed before he dared to sleep again.
When he did, he woke up to the same floating city — the same badge, the same voice saying:
> "Good morning, Engineer Vale. Shall I prepare your usual breakfast?"
This time, he didn't panic.
He stared out at the futuristic skyline, heartbeat slowing.
"…Okay," he muttered, half in awe. "If this is a dream… I might as well enjoy it."