Chp. 9:The Club Elysium Date

I stepped into the led lit Club Elysium, the pulsating music and eerie atmosphere enveloping me like a shroud. The air reeked of smoke, cheap perfume,and moss. I wondered how these people are breathing under these conditions. It took me a few minutes to adapt. They probably come here everyday so it doesn't effect them. At first it felt like I was suffocating in the toxic environment.

I was on a mission. I scanned the crowded room, my eyes adjusting to the low-lights and environment. My senses in overdrive, I could sense at least 8 people staring at me specifically watching my every move.

That's when I saw her - Mystery girl, with her daring Crimson red hair ablaze like a wildfire in the shadows. Her golden eyes sparkled like diamonds as she danced, her body swaying to the rhythm.

I couldn't help but smile, my heart skipping a beat as I made my way through the sea of bodies. The music was a cacophony of sound, but I tuned it out, my focus solely on getting to her. As I approached her, she turned, our eyes locking in a flash of recognition.

For a moment, we just stared at each other, the chemistry between us crackling like electricity. Then, without a word, I reached out and took her hand, pulling her close.

"Let's get out of here," I yelled over the music. This is my first time in a place like this, but in the past few minutes, I don't think it's somewhere I'd like to hang around much longer, especially if we need to have a conversation without screaming at each other. The environment is way too loud, and the fact that there are random bodies all around me pushing up against, not only me but her is unacceptable. I don't think I like this.

Her eyes sparkled with mischief as she nodded, and I led her through the winding corridors of the club, the music and chaos fading into the distance. We emerged into a quiet alleyway, the cool night air a welcome respite from the stifling club. I leaned against the wall, grateful to be in a isolated space.

"We need to talk, you summoned me" I said, my voice low and serious. Her expression turned curious, her golden eyes sparkling with intrigue. "What's going on, Terrchel? Don't you want to let loose a bit and dance first?"

I responded "Isn't it a tad peculiar that you're on a first-name basis with me while I'm still in the dark about yours? She smiled knowingly, tilted her head, and declared, "It's Meriella." I took a deep breath, my heart pounding in my chest. This was it - the moment of truth. I looked into Meriella's eyes, my voice barely above a whisper.

Terrchel: "Why have you been following me? You called me here to this horrible place might I say and now you're acting like I'm the one who told you to meet with me".

Meriella: "Woah slow down tiger, I was only having some fun. You seem to be emotionally invested, so are we dating now?"

I was utterly flabbergasted by the words that came out of her mouth. Did this girl intentionally stalk me and lure me here to trick me into being her boyfriend or does she have a really weird sense of humor. What should I say, if I say no she might be offended but if I say yes that would be crazy because we don't even know each other.

Terrchel: "I'm going to assume you are being sarcastic?"

Meriella: "Dur, what you think girls just fall out of the sky to worship you because you're rarely attractive. We have business to discuss, starting with the past".

Terrchel: "ohhhh so you think I'm attractive, rarely so. Did you need to drag me out here of all places to talk though?"

Meriella gave me an irritated glance and rolled her eyes. She kind of looks cute when she does that but I definitely can't let her know that.

Meriella: "I brought you here because I'd like to get straight to the point without wasting time and the time travel portal is right beneath this club".

Terrchel: "Great, lead the way my lady, or should I say my girlfriend that I've obtained overnight".

We started walking side by side down the alleyway through a door that led to a downstairs basement.

Meriella: "Only I'm allowed to make such jokes! You stick to being a guy which means saying nothing relevant".

Terrchel: "ohhhh so me calling you mine would then be relevant".

Meriella glanced over at me, and her death stare made me feel like she would slap me through the roof at any second and with that metallic arm enhancements I have no doubt she's more than capable. I instantly folded my lips into one another and looked at the ground. We entered the basement, and a glowing portal stood before us. It looked similar to the one I took from The Light Realm to here when I was reincarnated.

Terrchel: "How is this here? How did you find this? I'm sure this shouldn't be here. Is this a trick? Are you from The Light Realm coming to take me back and end my human life!"

Meriella burst out laughing. "You ask a lot of questions without giving any chance for them to be answered".

All I could think about is how short lived my human life was and how I don't want to be a fly again even though I complained about both! I think I'm starting to enjoy being a human and I didn't get to see Leghorn one last time.

Meriella: "You look like you're about to cry. Look, I've been tracking you for days. The leader of The Undergrid noticed your sudden appearance here days ago and that you strangely resembled both him and his father. So I've been doing my research and put 2 and 2 together. Years ago Commander Leghorn made Emerson Maximus take me in and before he left he confided in me that there will be a day when someone will be reincarnated in the likelihood of the Maximus bloodline but will be a transfered soul with the destiny to lead our people back to victory. When I saw you I knew it was you but I also know that it would take too much time to explain everything and help you understand exactly what's been going on".

Terrchel: "This is definitely a lot to take in. Are you sure you don't have the wrong guy? I'm really nobody special. I'm literally just a fly, and I've been suppressing Arnold's memories, so a lot of what you're saying doesn't make sense. I've been experiencing his emotions, but the memories come in waves and are mostly a blur".

Meriella: "I know this is all alot to take in Terrchel but trust me okay. Hey look me me in my eyes".

She gently grasped my hands, perhaps sensing my lack of self-assurance, and in that moment, as I looked into her eyes, I placed my trust in her without hesitation. She placed a finger on my chin and said "Walk worthy of your calling stop beating yourself up". My cheeks flushed and eyes were glistening. Nobody has ever believed in me like this and she doesn't even know me but I can sense she's being genuine and it's making me want to try and be the best human I can be. We both smiled at each other and she grabbed my hand and pulled me into the portal.

As we stepped through the shimmering portal, we felt a strange, tingling sensation wash over us. The air seemed to thicken and distort, like the surface of a pond on a summer's day. My stomach lurched as the ground beneath my feet seemed to dissolve, leaving me feeling weightless and disoriented. I reached out instinctively, my hand closing around Meriella's arm closely pulling us together as if to anchor myself to her.

Meriella's eyes widened as the world around us began to blur and distort. Colors swirled and merged, like wet paint on a canvas. It felt like a strange, creeping sense of déjà vu, as if I'd lived through this moment before. The sound of rushing wind filled our ears, a deafening roar that seemed to come from all directions at once. My hair whipped back and forth, stinging my face, while Meriella's red locks streamed behind her like a fiery banner. How does she manage to look beautiful even in this moment.

As we tumbled through the portal, we caught glimpses of fragmented images: fleeting moments from the past, echoes of memories that didn't belong to us. A child's laughter, a lover's whispered promise, the scent of smoke and burning wood. The sensations were overwhelming, threatening to tear us apart. But we held fast to each other, our hands clasped like a lifeline as we plummeted through the swirling vortex.

In an instant, we were through. The world snapped back into focus, leaving us stumbling, gasping, and disoriented in the midst of a familiar yet strange landscape. Which seemed to me like a downgraded version of Arcadia.

●・○・●・○・●