Chapter 11: Déjà vu

Adex was disturbed by a loud knock at his door in the early morning. He remained in bed despite the firm and persistent knocking, hesitant to leave Lydia's warmth behind. Her soft breathing created a soothing rhythm that tempted him to drift back to sleep. Nevertheless, the knocking continued.

Adex woke up feeling exhausted. He checked the clock: 6:20 a.m.—too early for visitors. As he got out of bed, his body ached. He glanced at Lydia, who was sleeping peacefully beside him, unaffected by the noise. He wished he could sleep like she did. The knocking grew louder. Adex walked cautiously toward the door, his feet heavy with fatigue. The moment he opened the door, he froze.

John was standing there looking pale and frightened, unlike his usual self. He looked around as if he was searching for something in the shadows.

"John!" Adex gasped, surprised to see his friend in such a state so early in the morning.

"I apologise for interrupting your sleep, but there's an emergency," John said urgently. "You need to come with me."

A wave of discomfort washed over Adex. This feeling was strangely familiar, as if he had encountered this situation before. 

John's concerned expression grew more intense. "Are you alright?" he asked.

"Something feels off about this whole thing," Adex muttered. His chest tightened, and his vision blurred at the edges. It was as if his body recognised something his mind couldn't yet grasp. He swayed, his knees buckling, and John had to grab him by the arm to prevent him from falling.

"You look exhausted. Did you not get enough sleep?" John asked, his voice firm.

Adex shook his head, his voice quivering. "I'm fine. I can't explain what's happening to me right now. I swear, I've been through this recurrence before."

He slowly looked at John, who braced himself with his arms behind him to avoid falling as he struggled to stand upright.

"Do you recognise this reoccurrence?" He paused and spoke firmly. "This specific conversation took place between you and me a week ago," Adex spoke softly.

John had a puzzled expression on his face, as if he was trying to understand what he meant.

"Have you realised it yet?" Adex asked.

"No, I can't. I have no idea what you're talking about," John replied.

Adex paced back and forth, his eyes drifting between the hallway leading to the bedroom and John standing before him. His breathing was uneven as he reached out and gripped John's shoulder. His gaze locked onto John's eyes, intense and desperate.

"If I tell you something… will you believe me?" His voice was low, almost muted, shaky.

John frowned and shifted uncomfortably. "Adex, what's going on? You are freaking me out."

Adex swallowed with difficulty. "Something is happening to me. It feels like I'm stuck in a loop… as if I'm experiencing the same moment over and over again." He paused, looking around the room with cautious eyes. " Look at you. This is the exact conversation we had a week ago. And now, here we are, having the same conversation again."

John's face twisted in confusion. His eyebrows furrowed as he stared at Adex, trying to understand what he meant.

Adex's hands trembled and continued. "You're wearing the same outfit, you have the same expression, and you knocked on my door at the exact time." His voice cracked, mixing frustration and fear. He wanted John to understand, but he could see it in his friend's eyes.

Adex released his hands from John's shoulders, his fingers hovering in the air for a moment before forming a fist. He lowered his gaze to the ground, his shoulders sagging under the weight of his thoughts. A storm brewed in his mind, and the unspoken words caused uneven, heavy breaths.

Meanwhile, John stood frozen, his brows furrowed and his lips slightly parted. He looked confused, as if he was trying to solve a puzzle that had missing pieces. Something that defied understanding no matter how he tried to think about it.

"You don't believe me, isn't it?" Adex's voice was quiet, almost distant, his words barely above a whisper. His eyes remained fixed on the ground.

John exhaled loudly. "Adex, this is not why I am here." His voice was firm.

"I get it. No one ever believes me." The weight of disbelief was pressing down on him, causing his expression to fall.

John's brows drew together. "We'll discuss it again once we're finished. I need you to come with me right now."

John's tone was so resounding that it pierced through Adex's confusion. He took a deep breath before nodding. " Can you give me a minute? I'll be right back."

He returned to the bedroom, gazing at Lydia. She was tucked under the blankets, her face serene in sleep. He felt a strange compulsion to reassure himself that she was real. He extended his hand and placed his fingers against her skin. It was warm and firm.

As he leaned in to turn and leave, his gaze met the standing mirror facing the bed. He stopped and felt confused when he realised Lydia's reflection was absent.

His heart raced. He looked at the bed, but she was still there, breathing normally. However, her reflection was missing in the mirror.

He slowly stepped toward the mirror, waving at his reflection to confirm it moved with him, proving it was really his. However, Lydia's reflection was missing. He turned back to the bed and saw her lying there. He looked frightened as he gazed at Lydia, who was asleep.

He strolled toward Lydia, who was on the bed, and was about to tap her awake when John shouted from the living room.

"Adex! We're running late!" John shouted.

John's voice broke through Adex's thoughts. He was brought back to reality. He glanced at Lydia once more before getting rid of the uneasy feeling that was creeping up his spine. He grabbed his hoodie and walked toward the door, where John was already waiting. They stepped out into the cold morning air without exchanging a word.

John's car was parked by the sidewalk. It looked out of place on the quiet street, its engine running like it had been on for a while.

Adex hesitated before getting in the car. He sat in the front seat. "Where are we going?" He asked.

John didn't respond immediately. He steered onto the road, clutching the wheel so tightly that his fingers became stiff.

"John?" Adex called. "Where are we going?"

John inhaled sharply. "Something happened last night. Something bad."

Adex frowned. "How bad?"

John opened his mouth and then closed it as if he were struggling to find the right words. He glanced at Adex before focusing back on the road. "Do you trust me?"

Adex scoffed. "That's a dramatic way to start. Just tell me what's going on."

John let out a heavy sigh. "It's Lydia."

Adex tensed. "What about Lydia?"

"She..." He paused before continuing, "We'll find out soon," John said.

Adex shifted in his seat as his curiosity grew. He looked around and recognised the familiar streets. This road was known to him. He felt a sense of déjà vu but did not show it. Instead, he sat quietly with a sense of confidence, as if he already knew how this journey would end.

His thoughts turned to Lydia, who was asleep at home. At least, that was what he believed. He felt a strange feeling. Who was really sleeping in his bed? His mind was racing, flipping through endless possibilities.

He sighed internally. This is the part where I scream and cry, he thought. Whatever is happening to me… I hope one day I wake up from this dream.