When I opened my eyes, I was cold.
That was the first thing I noticed.
Not confusion.
Not fear.
Cold.
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It wrapped around me like something alive.
Clinging.
Watching.
I blinked slowly.
The world came into focus.
And my stomach dropped.
I was standing under the streetlight.
The same one.
The same circle of pale, unnatural light.
“No…” I whispered.
My voice sounded… wrong.
Distant.
Like it didn’t belong to me anymore.
I tried to move.
My legs responded—but only slightly.
Like I was pushing against something invisible.
Panic surged through me.
“No, no, no—this isn’t real…”
I forced myself forward.
Step.
Step—
And then I hit it.
An invisible boundary.
I stumbled back as if I’d walked into glass.
My breath quickened.
I reached out slowly.
My hand met nothing—
But I couldn’t pass through.
I was trapped.
My chest tightened as I turned toward my house.
The door opened.
And I saw—
Myself.
Walking out.
Calm.
Relaxed.
Like nothing had happened.
Like everything was normal.
“No!” I shouted.
But no sound came out.
My mouth moved.
My lungs pushed air.
But the world remained silent.
The version of me outside stretched lazily.
Looked around.
Then… glanced toward the streetlight.
Toward me.
Our eyes met.
And it smiled.
That same wrong smile.
It raised a hand.
And tapped its chest.
Then pointed at me.
As if to say—
Stay.
My legs gave out.
But I didn’t fall.
I couldn’t.
I was held in place by the light itself.
Then the flickering began again.
On.
Off.
On.
Off.
And the voice returned.
Not from above.
Not from outside.
But from inside my head.
Deep.
Slow.
Satisfied.
“Now you understand.”
To Be Continued….
