Chapter Text
“You want me to believe that nonsense, Liron?”
Shiki replied to the young thief, his voice calm and bored, as if talking about something as trivial as the weather. To rub it in the thief’s face even more, Shiki never looked away from his cup of tea. “I’ve seen many things in my lifetime, but this sounds far too ridiculous, even for you.”
“Guys, I promise! Why would I lie about something like this? I saw it on the news and everything!”
Ashkariel laughed.
“Oh you humans come up with the stupidest things.”
“Caelen?”
“It is very, far-fetched, Liron.” Caelen tried his best to sound sympathetic.
Shiki snickered at Caelen’s unintentional dog pun.
“What? What’s so funny?” Caelen asked, turning to Shiki.
“No, no. Nothing’s funny. Nothing of the sort.” Shiki then continued to stir his tea.
Elias silently thought about the situation; There has been a crisis of disappearing objects -which he believed was due to the rifts- and now people. Reports said that when the few of them returned, they described a yellow hell-scape they ‘no clipped’ into. Somewhere that everything was vaguely familiar, but so very wrong- at least the few that could talk, most of them spoke incoherently, or never at all.
Elias wanted nothing more than to learn about such a place. Imagine how much it could further his research. He was no stranger to dimension hopping, none of them were, but if even the wildest rumors were true- the ones saying they found people in there- then maybe Elias could find the one person he desperately searched for.
He should’ve been the rational one, he almost always was, but the possibilities engulfed his mind. And he would do anything to see his grandfather-
“-lias?”
Elias snapped back into reality, looking to Liron.
“Hm? Oh, sorry, Lilo. What did you need?”
“Ugh, I asked if you at least believed me. Y’know, being the ‘mad scientist’ or whatever.”
“First of all, I’m not a mad scientist.” Elias could tell no one in the room believed him.
Elias inhaled, choosing his words carefully. “I do think it’s a possibility. Since we’re all from different universes ourselves. And- I’m sorry, what was the point of this?”
“Oh, nothing. There was no point at all. Just wanted to share this urban legend thing with you guys.”
“Mm. Wow. Thanks for sharing,” Ashkariel replied.
If Liron argued with the god, Elias didn’t know, he went straight to his lab, passing Caelen, as he closed the door.
Elias threw himself onto his bed. A moment passed before he looked to his side, a seeming normal shelf by his head. As he reached for it, he pressed the side, revealing a secret compartment.
Inside was a communicator (switched off), and three photographs, which he picked up.
Positioning himself to sit up on the bed, Elias observed the photos.
The first was of a woman, who held a much younger Elias in her arms. She had grey eyes and the same teal hair, which flowed past her hips. Her smile was faded and soft, and her eyes were towards her son in her arms.
The boy had curly hair and his arms were raised in excitement around his mother, in a weird sort of makeshift hug. He had a bright smile, and a face full of innocence.
This was the only photograph Elias had of his mother, especially one without his horrendous father.
The second photo was of Elias and a few kids. They were his childhood friends. Annie, Dennis, Andrew, Mia May and Jennie. Most of the time they had fun together, though they too were trapped in the delusion of a peaceful and fated demise. Well, Mia May and Andrew were the exception. Andrew helping Elias with his calculations, and Mia May offering encouragement after especially… ‘escalated’ arguments with his father had occurred.
A small part of Elias wondered what it would’ve been like if he brought them with him, though he supposed he did try to convince them. They were probably fine, anyway.
Finally, was a photo of Elias’s famed grandfather. One his mother gave him the night he left.
Elias had never seen his grandpa looking so young.
“You’re just like him, Eli.” One hand cupped her sons face, the other pushing his hair to the side. Her tired voice had a hint of sorrow in it, “please be careful, baby.”
“You’re… letting me go?”
“I know I can’t stop you, once you’ve made up your mind. Please, just be safe. Live how you want to, Elias. And smile for me, my darling son.”
“Mother-“
There was a knock at the door.
Elias shoved the photos under his pillow, and slammed the drawer shut.
“Come in, Caelen.”
“How did you know it was me?”
“You’re the only one who knocks.”
“Oh. Right.”
Caelen closed the door behind him, as Elias sat up.
“What do you need, Caelen,” Elias calmly asked.
“Well, I don’t need anything. It’s more that, I just wanted to ask if you were alright.”
Elias made a puzzled expression.
“You seemed a bit off, is all.”
The teal-haired scientist did his best to play it down, “Oh, ever so observant. I’m fine, Caelen, just tired.”
Caelen didn’t look convinced. “You know, if you ever want to tell me something, I’m here, okay?”
“Oh, Cae. You really are soft, aren’t you?”
“I- what?”
“I’m fine, Caelen. Thanks for asking.”
Caelen wanted to press Eli, but knew the scientist’s walls were up, and nothing would get through.
“Alright then, goodnight Elias.”
He turned to leave, closing the laboratory door slowly.
The smile on the scientist’s face immediately dropped. He plopped onto the bed, his face buried in a lavender-colored pillow.
Liron’s words played in Elias’ mind on loop. It was so tempting, the mere idea tasting sweet on his tongue.
He picked up his phone, attentively scrolling on the articles the prisoner had mentioned. All accounts recalled it as a place like a broken mirror, or a bad dream. Everything so familiar yet so wrong.
Reading about it was one thing, but going to such a place. Oh, that idea made Elias smile. It filled him with an excitement he hadn’t felt in a long time. Sure, there were many variables at play, and it was only a hypothesis that this could further his research and find his missing grandfather.
But, if there was one thing about Elias Delborne, it was his ability to be determined on something, and never fail until his goal was met.
Elias closed his eyes, placing his phone on its charger. As sleep claimed him, he whispered ever so softly, “Oh Lilo, I believe you.”