Chapter 2: A Familiar Unfamiliarity

As I stepped out of the alley, the chill of the evening air brushed against my skin. The city around me was familiar, yet strange in subtle ways. I couldn't place it at first, but there was a nagging sense that this place wasn't quite right. The streets were filled with the usual bustle of urban life, people hurrying home, cars honking in the distance, the distant chatter of a nearby cafe. But the names on the signs, the brands I saw, even the ads playing on the nearby billboards, they were all different, just off enough to make me pause.

I searched my pockets, half-expecting them to be empty, but to my surprise, I found a set of keys and a slim wallet. The keys had a familiar feel to them, and I immediately recognized the worn, metallic keychain I used to carry. The wallet contained some cash, a few cards, and a driver's license. The name and picture were mine, but the details didn't line up with what I remembered, new address, new details about my life that felt… fabricated. It was as if someone had taken the life I knew and made small edits to it.

I found myself standing on a street corner, just staring at the license for a moment. The address on it was only a few blocks away. There was no harm in checking it out, so I started walking, blending in with the crowd. The city seemed normal enough as I passed by people who paid me no mind, and storefronts displaying the same kind of everyday items I'd see anywhere else. Yet, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was being hidden from me, just out of reach.

After a few minutes of walking, I reached a mid-rise apartment building. The exterior looked familiar, a modest brick facade with a small lobby beyond a glass door. I tried the keys, and they fit perfectly. The door clicked open, revealing a quiet interior lined with old carpet and faded wallpaper. There was a faint smell of cleaning supplies in the air, like someone had recently scrubbed the place down.

I took the elevator up to the fourth floor, where I found the door matching the address on the license. The number "406" was etched into a small brass plate beside it. With a slight twist, the lock gave way, and I stepped inside. The place wasn't much to look at, a small one-bedroom apartment with basic furnishings: a sofa in the living room, a cluttered desk near the window, and a modest kitchen tucked away in the corner. There were no personal touches that made it feel like home, no photos or decorations. It was like a blank slate, waiting to be filled.

The first thing I did was check the drawers in the kitchen. I found a few essentials: some cutlery, plates, and a can of coffee. It was all perfectly ordinary, yet something about it felt staged. Like someone had arranged it just so to make it look lived-in. I continued my search, finding more everyday items, a spare phone charger, some clothes in the bedroom closet, even a set of car keys resting in a bowl near the entrance. The keys were attached to a familiar fob; it belonged to a car I'd had before. I made my way back downstairs, the metallic jingle of keys in my hand.

Outside, I found the car parked where I'd always left it, an unassuming sedan. It wasn't the kind of vehicle that would turn any heads, but it was mine, or at least a version of it. I climbed in, sinking into the seat. The interior was just as I remembered: worn leather, and a small crack in the dashboard that I had never bothered to fix. It was as if someone had gone to great lengths to recreate my life down to the smallest details, yet everything felt ever so slightly off.

I started the engine and drove aimlessly, letting the city unfold before me. As I navigated the streets, I paid close attention to the minor differences. The layout of the city was mostly the same, but certain buildings seemed newer or had different names. Some companies I was familiar with didn't appear to exist, while others that were once obscure seemed to dominate the skyline. The gaming industry in particular seemed strangely less prevalent, no large ads for popular video game releases, no bustling eSports arenas or stores packed with the latest consoles. It was as if gaming had never quite reached the cultural peak it had in my world.

My thoughts drifted back to the choices I had made back in the white void. The gifts I had been given, the zero reaction time, the mind enhancement, the pocket universe, could all be invaluable here. I had a fresh start, with none of the baggage that weighed me down before. I needed to figure out how to use these gifts effectively, and that began with a proper assessment of my situation.

After a few hours of driving and exploring different neighborhoods, I returned to the apartment. The day had given way to night, and the streets were quieter now, save for the occasional hum of a passing car or the distant sound of laughter from a nearby bar. I parked the car and headed back up to my apartment, locking the door behind me.

Sitting at the desk near the window, I began to plan my next steps. I had the basics, shelter, some money, and a vehicle, but those would only get me so far. The gifts I possessed would be the real game-changers. I decided to test the pocket universe first. I closed my eyes and concentrated, focusing on a mental image of a portal with a crystal blue hue matching my new eye color. As I reached out with my mind, I felt a subtle shift in the air, a soft hum resonating just at the edge of my senses.

When I opened my eyes, a swirling blue portal had materialized in the center of the room, its surface shimmering like liquid glass. I stepped through cautiously, emerging into a vast open space filled with natural light. It was a world of its own, a serene, untouched wilderness that stretched far beyond the horizon. There was no sign of civilization here, just fields of tall grass, dense forests in the distance, and the clear blue sky above.

The air felt different, crisp and invigorating. As I walked further into the pocket universe, I noticed an energy in the atmosphere, almost like a subtle tingling on my skin. There was something special about this place, something I could harness. I took a mental note to create tools to measure and analyze this energy later on. If I could understand it, I could use it.

Returning to the apartment, I closed the portal behind me and sat back down at the desk. I now had a clearer picture of my situation. This world, while similar to my own, was different enough to give me an advantage. The technology here, while advanced, had some noticeable gaps, especially in the entertainment and gaming sectors. I could exploit that. I had always been good with computers and tech; I just needed to get started.

The next steps would be to set up a financial foundation. I could begin by developing a game, a simple but addictive one that could catch on quickly. With my enhanced mind, I could design it in days rather than weeks. As for the pocket universe, I would need to explore it more thoroughly, set up a base of operations, and find ways to tap into its resources.

For now, though, I was content to rest. I leaned back in the chair, feeling a strange sense of calm. I had died once, and now I was here, given another chance. I wasn't sure who or what had granted me this opportunity, but I intended to make the most of it. There were new possibilities ahead, and I was ready to carve my path through them.

This time, nothing would hold me back.