Return to 2023

Alex slowly regained consciousness, his head pounding and his body aching.

The sterile smell of antiseptic filled his nostrils, and the harsh fluorescent lights above him cast a cold, clinical glow.

He opened his eyes to find himself lying in a hospital bed, surrounded by white walls and medical equipment.

His mind was a whirlwind of fragmented memories: the ritual, the attack, the old woman, and Lena's desperate plea.

He struggled to sit up, feeling disoriented and confused.

His mind was a jumbled mess, and the memories of his recent experiences felt like a dream.

He looked around, trying to make sense of his surroundings.

Everything seemed unfamiliar and unsettling.

A nurse entered the room, her expression neutral.

"You're awake," she said, her voice flat. "How are you feeling?"

Alex blinked, trying to focus. "Where am I?" he asked, his voice hoarse.

"You're in the psychiatric ward of St. Mary's Hospital," the nurse replied. "

You've been here for a few days.

"Alex's heart skipped a beat. "Psychiatric ward?" he repeated, his voice rising in alarm. "Why am I here?"

The nurse's expression didn't change. "You were brought in by the police. They found you wandering in a disoriented state near your workplace. You seemed to be suffering from a severe mental breakdown."

Alex's mind raced. His workplace? He remembered the office, the ritual, and the attack. But how did he end up here?

"Can I see my colleague, Sarah?" he asked, hoping for some clarity.

The nurse shook her head. "I'm afraid that won't be possible. Your colleague, Sarah, was found dead in your workplace. The police are investigating her death, and you are a person of interest."

Alex's heart sank. Sarah was dead? How could that be? He remembered her warning him about the ritual, but he couldn't recall anything after that.

"Can I speak to the police?" he asked, his voice trembling.

The nurse nodded. "They'll be here soon. Try to stay calm."

The police arrived shortly after, two officers in plain clothes.

They introduced themselves as Detective Johnson and Detective Martinez.

"Mr. Turner," Detective Johnson began, "we need to ask you some questions about the events leading up to your colleague's death.

"Alex nodded, trying to keep his voice steady. "I'll do my best to help."

Detective Johnson leaned forward. "Can you tell us what happened the night Sarah was killed?"

Alex took a deep breath, trying to piece together the memories.

"We were working late, researching an old manuscript. It contained a ritual, and we accidentally activated it. Something went wrong, and Sarah... she was attacked.

"Detective Martinez raised an eyebrow. "Attacked by what, exactly?"

Alex hesitated. "I don't know. It was... something ancient. Something powerful."

The detectives exchanged a glance. "Mr. Turner, we found you wandering near your workplace, talking to yourself and claiming to have seen things that weren't there. Can you explain that?"

Alex's mind raced. He remembered the strange symbols, the ritual, and the feeling of being watched. But how could he explain that to the police?"

I was disoriented," he said finally. "I think the ritual affected my mind. I don't remember much after the attack.

"Detective Johnson nodded slowly. "We found Sarah's body in your workplace. She had been strangled. Do you have any idea who could have done this?"

Alex shook his head. "No. I don't remember anything after the attack. I swear, I didn't hurt her."

The detectives looked unconvinced. "We'll be conducting further investigations," Detective Johnson said. "In the meantime, you'll remain here under observation."

Days turned into weeks as Alex remained in the psychiatric ward.

He was subjected to daily evaluations by doctors and nurses, all trying to determine the extent of his mental instability.

The memories of his time in 1963 began to blur with his experiences in 2023, making it difficult for him to distinguish between reality and hallucination.

One day, a young doctor named Dr. Emily Carter entered his room.

She had a kind face and a gentle manner, which Alex found comforting."Mr. Turner," she began, "I've been reviewing your case.

You mentioned a ritual and strange symbols. Can you tell me more about that?"

Alex hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal.

"We were researching an old manuscript. It contained a ritual that we accidentally activated. After that, everything went wrong."

Dr. Carter nodded, her expression thoughtful. "Can you describe the symbols you saw?"

Alex took a deep breath and began to describe the symbols, the ritual, and the events that followed.

Dr. Carter listened intently, taking notes."Mr. Turner," she said finally, "I believe you. I think you're experiencing something very real, and it's affecting your mind.

But we need to find a way to help you."Dr. Carter leaned forward, her eyes meeting Alex's. "What happened next? After the ritual, what did you experience?"

Alex hesitated, his eyes darting around the room. He didn't want to talk about the other world, the strange and terrifying experiences he had endured.

It all seemed so surreal, and he feared that revealing those details would only make him seem more unstable.

"I... I don't remember much after that," he lied, his voice barely above a whisper. "I think I lost consciousness."

Dr. Carter studied him for a moment, her expression unreadable.

"Mr. Turner," she said gently, "I understand that this is difficult for you. But as a psychologist, I can tell you that your mind is trying to process something very traumatic. The more you share, the better we can help you."

Alex looked away, his mind racing. He knew she was right, but the memories were so vivid, so real, that he feared they would be dismissed as delusions.

He took a deep breath, steeling himself for what he was about to say."Alright," he said finally, his voice trembling. "I'll tell you everything."

He began with the moment he first arrived in 1963, in a small town called Willow Creek.

He described how he had tried to blend in, to make sense of the unfamiliar world around him.

He talked about the nights when he was attacked by ghouls, their eyes glowing in the dark, their eyes glowing in the dark, their presence filling the air with a scent of blood in the darkness.

He spoke of Elijah, the sinister figure who had deceived him and forced him to work in a dark, foreboding factory.

"And Emily," he continued, his voice softening. "She was my friend. We fought back against Elijah, tried to escape. We managed to get some of the workers out, but Lena... she disappeared. One moment she was there, and the next, she was gone."

He paused, his eyes distant. "Then there was the attack. Out of nowhere, these men in hoods appeared. They took Lena, and we tried to follow them, to save her. But it was too late. There was an explosion, and everything went black."

Dr. Carter listened in silence, her expression a mix of concern and curiosity.

When Alex finished, she leaned back in her chair, her fingers steepled together."I see," she said finally.

"Mr. Turner, what you're describing is incredibly complex and... unusual.