Leading To You

6. An Unexpected Encounter

Maeve

Days went by and my obsession with the boy from the Fragment only grew. Emma and I had become amateur detectives, trying to piece together any clue that might lead us to him. We spent hours scouring social media, local news articles, and even the internet's obscure corners in search of information. It was all futile, since we didn’t even know what to look for. All I knew about him was how he looked.

"Em, I just have this feeling that he's out there, somewhere in Strenmont," I told her one afternoon as we sat in her room, surrounded by printouts and notes.

Emma glanced up from her laptop, her brow furrowed in frustration. "I know, Mae. It’s just that, we've been over this so many times, and we still haven't found a single lead."

I sighed, leaning back in my chair. "It's just... these dreams, these Fragments—they can't be for nothing, right?"

My best friend reached out to pat my shoulder reassuringly. "We'll keep looking, Mae. But maybe it's time to consider other possibilities. Like, maybe he's not from around here."

That thought had crossed my mind as well, and it only fueled my determination. But what if he was only visiting Strenmont? If he wasn't from Strenmont, then where? I couldn't rest until I had some answers.

Who are you? And how do I find you?

Our quest hit one dead end after another. Emma was patient, but even she was beginning to doubt the feasibility of our mission.

One evening, as we sat in my room surrounded by stacks of papers and open web browsers, she let out a sigh of frustration. "Mae, maybe seeing this guy might just be a figment of your imagination. Wouldn’t it be possible that you got so affected by these dreams that you thought you saw him in the real world?"

I shook my head, unwilling to give up. "No, Em, I’m sure it’s him. The boy I saw at the subway station was the same as the one I'd seen in my dreams, in the Fragment. He's real. I know he is. Even if my eyes deceive me, I know how I felt when he was near me."

She placed a hand on my arm, her expression softening. "Mae, I believe you've seen him, but will it be possible that he's not in Strenmont anymore? Maybe he's moved on, and we're chasing ghosts."

The words stung, but I knew Emma was right. We had exhausted every avenue, and still, the boy from the Fragment remained a mystery.

—--

High school had its own rhythm, a steady beat that marked the passage of time. On this particular morning, I hurried through the bustling hallways of Pinnacle High, weaving through a sea of students rushing to their classes. The bell had already rung, and I was late—again.

As I rounded a corner, I collided with someone, sending my books and papers scattering across the floor. A chorus of laughter erupted from nearby students before they went on their way.

"Sorry!" I mumbled, quickly crouching to gather my belongings. The person I hit mumbled something before they rushed off. Well, guess I wasn’t the only one in a hurry.

A hand reached down to help me, and I looked up to see Emma grinning mischievously. "Mae, you really need to work on your timing."

I chuckled, accepting her assistance. "Yeah, yeah, I know. I can't help it if time flies when I'm sleeping. It seems like other times time is dragging on and the moment you fall asleep it’s morning again.”

Emma rolled her eyes playfully as she stood up and handed the stationary I had scattered. We then started heading towards our class. "Speaking of sleeping, have you had any more of those dreams lately?"

I shook my head, my mind drifting back to the boy from the Fragment. "No, not for a few days now. It's not like I get them every day.”

"Hmm… Anyway," Emma continued, "we have a big chemistry test coming up. Are you ready?"

I nodded, shifting gears and focusing on the immediate future. "Yeah, I've been studying hard for it. I can't afford to let my grades slip."

We reached our classroom just in time, sliding into our seats as the teacher began the lesson. The rest of the school day passed in a blur of classes, lunch break, and conversations with friends.

After the final bell rang, signaling the end of the school day, Emma and I made our way to our lockers to stow our books and head home.

"Hey, there's a new play that opened downtown this weekend," Emma mentioned as she organized her backpack. "We could check it out. I really need some entertainment after that test.”

I chuckle as I turn to her. "Not today, Em. I’m drained. I just want to get a cup of coffee in me and then head home. Maybe we could go tomorrow?"

“Yeah, sure. I heard that they will be performing till the end of the week.”

Soon we were walking out of the school compound. Emma got a call from her sister asking her to get home and I headed to the cafe to get my energy refill.

Now that I was alone again, my thoughts drifted to my dreams and the boy from my dreams. Do I really give up? Is there a point in searching for something when I don’t even know how to go about it?

The moment I stepped inside the cafe, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee hit me, already lifting up my spirits. It feels like a sanctuary in the midst of chaos.

I took my usual seat while I waited for my order. The barista, a friendly young woman with a penchant for latte art, placed a cup of coffee in front of me, and I thanked her with a smile. While the cafe buzzed with the low hum of conversation, the soft jazz music in the background added to the soothing ambiance.

I was lazily running my eyes around the cafe–students engrossed in their textbooks, artists sketching on their notepads, and professionals having hushed discussions over laptops. The cafe was like a microcosm of the city itself, a melting pot of diverse lives and stories.

But then, something caught my attention. My gaze, like a magnet, got stuck on a particular table situated right in front of two tables from mine. There were two people sitting there, and initially, I couldn't see their faces. One person had his back to me, while the other was obscured from my vision by the first.

As I looked closer, a strange sense of recognition tingled in the depths of my consciousness. The person facing me was a familiar face, and it took me a moment to connect the dots. It was Dr. Callahan. He was engrossed in a conversation with a young boy. Their discussion seems intense, filled with animated gestures and hushed tones.

The atmosphere around their table crackled with an energy that drew my attention like a moth to a flame. There was a peculiar pull, a magnetic force that I couldn't seem to explain. I felt an inexplicable need to see the face of the young boy, as if some unspoken mystery was about to unravel before my eyes.

Curiosity got the better of me, and I stood up, leaving my coffee behind, and began to walk towards them. With each step, my heart pounded in anticipation. What was it about this boy that had my heart racing? Could it be...?

As I approached their table, I caught pieces of their conversation. The boy, whom I assume is around my age, mentions Future Fragments, and my ears perk up.

"...like they're whispers from another dimension," he was saying, running a hand through his tousled hair, his voice laced with wonder. "I saw her on the subway, and it was like we shared a secret, a connection that defied explanation."

Dr. Callahan, his expression thoughtful, nodded in response. "It's fascinating, isn't it? The idea that these fragments of the future can guide us, lead us to unexpected encounters and revelations."

The words sent a shiver down my spine, and my breath caught in my throat. It was as if they were speaking directly to my own experiences, to the boy from the Fragment who haunted my dreams. Every word they uttered resonated with my deepest thoughts and desires. My heart was beating a mile per minute.

As I reached their table, I felt the boy stiffen for a moment. It was as if an invisible thread had snapped between us. As though he sensed my presence. Slowly, he turned around, his hazel eyes locking onto mine and time seemed to stand still.

It’s him.