Chapter 10: How it all began
A mixture of confusion and curiosity swirled within me as I beheld the frenzied scientist before me. There was an odd sense of contentment knowing that someone else, especially a scientist, acknowledged the existence of another world.
Despite the dire situation, a glimmer of hope flickered in my heart. Maybe, just maybe, he held the key to my return.
"Excuse me?" I ventured, my voice barely audible amidst the room's chaos.
No response.
"Excuse me?" I raised my voice a notch, hoping to pierce through his intense concentration.
It seemed he was not one for conversation. Well, there was one way to pique his interest.
"I AM FROM THE OTHER WORLD. THE SAME WORLD YOU ARE LOOKING FOR!" I blurted out, desperation tainting my words.
Yet, he remained unfazed.
"Hey, I am serious, okay! One night I got super drunk, went to sleep, and the next morning I woke up in this world. In my doppelganger's house, no less. I know it sounds unbelievable, but you have to believe me. If you've found any way to send me back, I'll be eternally grateful," I implored, pouring sincerity into every word.
The scientist halted abruptly, his eyes widening in disbelief.
"You are from the other world?" he stammered, astonishment etched across his face.
"Yes," I affirmed, my voice tinged with both hope and desperation.
"Child, I…I am so sorry you had to go through all this," he mumbled, genuine remorse in his eyes.
"What do you mean?" I inquired, my confusion deepening.
He began recounting his story, revealing his lifelong quest for answers, his insatiable curiosity leading him to probe the existence of another world. He spoke of years spent studying, researching, and pondering the possibility of a parallel universe. The intensity of his dedication became palpable as he recounted his moment of success.
(Flashback)
His fingers trembled as they hovered over the button, the culmination of years of toil and hope resting in that single press.
Scientist: "And the interval between the two points is defined as the square root of the sum of the squares of the separation between the points along two spatial dimensions. Phew! I hope this works."
He pressed the button, and suddenly, blinding light engulfed the room. The portal had opened, a beacon of potential.
Scientist: "Please don't tell- WHOA!!"
A powerful gale buffeted the surroundings as the portal surged to life. The scientist marveled at his creation, a mixture of awe and trepidation in his eyes.
Scientist: "That's enough for today. I should really reward myself with good sleep after all this work."
(Next Morning)
The following day, he awoke to an inexplicable sense of calm. His exhaustion had been replaced by an unusual tranquility.
Scientist: "Who's there? Whoever you are, you'd better show yourself. It won't be a pleasant meeting if I find you myself."
Intrigued yet cautious, he ventured into the kitchen, only to discover a trembling girl behind the sofa.
Fear laced his voice as he said, "Who are you? Why are you here?"
Amidst sobs, the girl revealed her story, a tale as extraordinary and bewildering as his own.
The scientist, in that moment, realized the enormity of his discovery. He had not only opened a portal to another world but had inadvertently brought someone from it. Guilt and fascination warred within him as he faced the unintended consequences of his relentless pursuit of knowledge.