I read through the last page of what Melissa gave me. It felt complicated. So, me waking up in that labyrinth, me journeying through the island – most parts of it were but a part of an experiment of some unnamed researcher?

What about the mosaics’ town and statues’ village? Were they also experiments of that researcher? Just what did he do to them?

Melissa interrupted my contemplation, “It seems like you have finished reading. I want to know, do you want to return? If you don't, your body will die soon. A few seconds won’t change the outcome, but if you want to return, it’s better to do it now.”

I nodded, “Melissa, thank you for everything. You said you don’t have a body in the real world. Perhaps I should try making you a body when I’m back to our world? How does an awesome robot body sound to you?”

Melissa shook her head. We approached the funnel. I could feel an unimaginable amount of energy swirling within, while standing on a brink of the maelstrom.

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“Here,” Melissa handed me a doll which was a small copy of herself. “You can treat it as a souvenir. It will alert me, if within an hour you decide to return. I’ll pick you up then, though if I do, you won’t be able to return to Earth, not again.”

“Thanks, Melissa,” I grasped the doll, preparing for a dive.

It was like riding on a plane, a somewhat unsettling yet unusual feeling that made the world change my perspective. Just a moment inside and I found myself back in my room.

Erased memories flooded me, reminding me of every little detail that little me didn’t know about my future. I looked at the portrait that was hanging in the hall. Me and Rita were depicted on it, the photo shot during our wedding. She succumbed to a disease and age not so long ago.

Every move was a challenge. Not because it was hard for me to control my own body, but rather it was like this for a while. I was old, one leg in the grave, I would say.

I plodded towards a small drawer. Inside I found an old wanted poster. Melissa disappeared one day. She was expected to come and meet with me. But she never did. Even now I remember the call late at night that Melissa’s mother gave us, as she was trying to ascertain her daughter’s location.

Melissa, did you remember what happened to you on that day? My memories still felt jumbled, but I saw my future with clarity. All the answers, Rita, Melissa – they all belonged to that world.

I looked at the doll that remained seated in the corner. I made my decision. I closed my eyes.