Regression: Leaking Reality

Chapter 2

Kael hesitated, then stepped into the elevator.

Inside a teenage girl and a middle-aged woman watched as he entered then proceeded to ignore him. The girl busied herself with her phone while the woman stared straight ahead.

Kael glanced around then squeezed himself into a corner, his gaze moving up to the glowing elevator lights. The number 11 was lit but just as he was about to move his gaze away, the light flickered and shifted from 11 to 3, then 9, and then back to 11.

Frowning, he glanced around and saw the girl still engrossed in her phone but the middle-aged woman had been looking at the numbers. He noticed as she forced her gaze away immediately, ignoring the anomaly.

Kael's squint deepened slightly but he remained silent and continued watching the numbers.

The silence dragged on forever but eventually they reached the ground floor and everyone hurried out including Kael. As they headed out, two figures rushed forward, engrossed in a heated discussion and failing to notice someone in front of them.

Though preoccupied by his thoughts, Kael twisted his shoulder and avoided the collision.

He stepped in the direction of the bus stop but paused, after a brief hesitation he turned and took a different route.

He'd barely walked a few minutes when his phone vibrated, and a message blinked on the screen.

"Please report to HR regarding an incident."

Kael stopped and glanced around briefly before continuing, his steps now quicker. He chose to walk in the quieter streets and alleyways, avoiding any path with high traffic.

Holding the strap of the backpack over his shoulder, Kael kept his head down as he walked, his mind preoccupied with the events from earlier.

As he walked past a secluded alley, a figure jumped out from the back door of a building thrusting a knife at his side.

Before even seeing the person, Kael leaned away from the thrust and delivered a sharp kick back.

"Ugh!" The kick connected and Kael turned sharply, there was no one there, the alley was empty.

It was as if the attack had never happened and yet he was sure someone had stabbed at him earlier! He glanced down at his leg where he could still feel where he connected with the attacker's shoulder, then up at the locked back door of the building.

After a few seconds without any answers, he raised his backpack again but felt a slight strain. Frowning, he lowered the bag and opened the first two buttons of his shirt to reveal a long scar crossing from his left shoulder blade to the right side of his chest.

"This wasn't here this morning" he muttered. His fingers trailed the line slowly, it didn't feel fresh but it wasn't old either. While it didn't hurt there was a dull pain that told him it hadn't completely healed.

After trying hard to think of what could have caused it but coming up with nothing. He turned around to continue home but froze.

A woman stood in front of him, the same woman he had seen through the glass wall at the office.

Once again his breath caught and he leaned forward for a hug.

'Not this time' Kael gritted his teeth and restrained himself. He stopped right in front of her and straightened his shirt.

Voice breaking slightly, he asked, "Who are you?"

"You're leaking faster than expected" she replied, a soft tender gaze on his scrunched face.

"What's going on?" Kael blurted urgently. Today had been by far the most bizarre experience of his life.

"You haven't noticed yet?" the woman asked back, her brows scrunching lightly.

"I'm Darya," she introduced herself.

"Kael, but I guess you already know me," Kael replied and took a step back.

Every odd person he met today had attacked him. Although he had somehow survived it, he knew it was not by his own skill.

"I do," Darya nodded gently and a small smile appeared on her lips. "...and you know me," she added.

Kael stared back at her. He hesitated briefly, then he said.

"I killed a man, he was going to kill me,"

Perhaps he was seeking logical respite or an explanation for today's events but even he did not know why he thought it okay to tell her.

"I know," she nodded.

"Why does anyone want to kill me? I'm no one" he asked voice slightly raised.

"You are not no one, Kael," she replied again, her tone still gentle and her eyes staring fondly into his.

Just then, the atmosphere dulled and the skies flashed as if with lightning. They both looked up at the sky and it was mid-afternoon again, the sun burning in the middle of the sky.

Frowning, he glanced at the time on his watch.

12:41 PM

"They're already correcting"

Kael looked up at Darya only to find her flickering like a bad lightbulb.

"Don't go!" he called urgently despite himself but her figure was already gone.

Kael paused, then glanced down at his hands. He raised his head and looked around him at the quiet alley. A determined expression slowly formed on his face, he needed an explanation, he needed to understand. Regardless of what was waiting for him back at the office, he had to find Darya. He didn't know why he believed her to be there, but he did.

Without any hesitation, he took off in a run back toward the office.