THE WANDERER

DIVERGENCE

Erica was shocked to find Eric's bed empty when she invaded his room in the early hours of the morning. She had been put in charge of the home and her little brother -- the thought of disappointing their mother was an upsetting one.

"That piece of shit. Where the hell is he?.......... Fuuuuuuuuck."

It was a good thing no one was present -- her fury burned like a volcano, capable of turning anyone within range to ash.

"I'm going to kill that piece of shit when I set my eyes on him."

She tried his phone but it wasn't going through. She was agitated at this point, restless even. She didn't like the thoughts that were popping up.

What if something bad has happened to him? God, Mum will kill me.

Unknown to her, Eric was at the dining table, watching. She was pacing uncontrollably. He stood there for a few minutes, then finally spoke.

"If I didn't know better, I'd say you're worried about me."

Erica startled at his voice, ran to him, and hugged him tightly. They held that position for a long time.

Erica suddenly broke contact and slapped him on the head.

"Ouch! I thought we were having a moment."

"Where the fuck were you, you had me worried sick?"

She barked.

"Uhm, I've been here, fixing breakfast."

"Don't give me that crap."

"I've been here this whole time."

"I swear to God if you lie to me again...... I'm going to castrate you."

Eric could see the change of countenance on his sister's face. She wasn't bluffing.

"I'm serious. I've been here this whole time. Well, not here, the roof I mean."

"What were you doing on the roof?"

"Couldn't miss the blood moon."

"The what?"

"A total lunar eclipse."

"You mean you spent all night staring at the moon"?

Seeing the relief on her face, emphasised by the calming tone in her voice, Eric responded,

"Yeah."

"Really?"

"Yeah. I've been sneaking out for ages. It just happens that this one lasted longer, making me stay out beyond the threshold of your unconscious state."

"Please speak English, I'm not interested in your word plays."

"I always come back in before you wake up, until now."

He replied, pressing a palm to his face.

Erica quickly pulled up her phone. Her fingers moved swiftly over the screen for a few minutes. Then she looked up and said,

"Cool, there was a lunar eclipse last night. Kinda awe-inspiring."

"You thought I was lying?"

"Given your track record, you didn't give me a choice. Also, aren't you all about 'logic and verifiable exactitude'?"

Erica gestured.

"Touché"

Eric remarked.

"So, what's for breakfast?"

Erica asked peeping into the bowl on the dining table.

"Sorry. I didn't account for your stomach. Besides, you're capable of getting yours."

"You little......."

He didn't wait for his sister to finish. With his breakfast, he went upstairs, in between munches.

As he got to his room, he locked the door behind him, sat on his bed, stared at his computer screen for a few minutes, then let his mind analyse the event he just witnessed.

He could still hear Dr. Norton's voice clearly -- it was forever imprinted on his neural circuitry. He closed his eyes and let the memory play. Nonetheless, he decided to make the best of his memories...................

"Hello, Kids,"

Dr. Norton said as he stepped through the wormhole.

He could still see the fear on Terry's face -- Katy had seemed to handle it well.

Still going down memory lane, Eric recalled the most his memory could support.

"What's wrong, you look like you've seen a ghost?"

Dr. Norton said, with a smirk.

"I'll be brief."

Dr. Norton said curtly.

"I know you guys are smart, given the equipment and the analysis you've made,"

He quickly glanced at Eric, then continued,

"I'd like you guys to extend those smarts to the area of discretion."

He paused and looked at Katy, then up at Terry.

"It would be in our best interest if you don't mention the events in these woods to anyone. I see you've already added another to your inner circle. I'd prefer you stop at a trinity -- three is already a crowd."

"What are you guys looking for on our planet, in our universe? What's so special about this place, this particular location?"

Katy inquired, summoning courage.

"What, Special?"

Dr. Norton said with a chuckle.

"There's nothing special about this place, nature doesn't do 'special'. She works with what's available at the moment. The wormhole opened here because it could open here."

"Not really," Eric remarked.

"Pardon?"

"The wormhole didn't open here because it could, well, maybe. But to be precise, the wormhole opened here because this universe has a higher proximity to yours during the quantum decoherence caused by the wormhole. We're your next-door neighbors in the quantum foam. You're here because our universe provided the least path of resistance compared to others."

Dr. Norton was impressed by Eric's explanation -- but his expression told a different story.

"I see you've figured it out. But this is way beyond you, this is way beyond any of us. I advise you to stop coming here henceforth."

"I'm sorry, you can't do that Mister. You can't come to our territory and give orders. I don't know who you think you are, but we don't work for you. So, buzz off."

"Are you crazy?"

Terry whispered from the tree top.

"You're the feisty one, I see," Dr. Norton responded, his condescension barely concealed.

Eric, not seeing the situation in the same light as Katy and Terry, went on to ask,

"How did you do that?"

"Do what?"

"How were you able to close the wormhole? Normally, it has to be left open, but it opened as you came through and closed immediately after."

"Your question implies you have a working knowledge of how wormholes are supposed to work."

"Well....."

"Quit it, Eric, this isn't the time to be nerdy,"

Terry cautioned.

"Well, two months is enough time to tame a wormhole -- when you have the right brains, of course."

Dr. Norton replied.

"Wait, two months? You guys just opened the wormhole like yesterday."

Katy said, still maintaining her poker face.

"Interesting -- it appears our universes run at different time rates," Dr. Norton said, gazing curiously into the woods.

"It doesn't have to be so. Perhaps they both run at the same rate -- just not at the same scale. Like metres and kilometres. Different units."

"You’re confusing scale of measurement with actual physical scale. Rudimentary error." Dr. Norton said.

"Eric! Where the fuck is my charger?"

A furious and familiar voice interrupted his journey down memory lane.

It was Erica, frantically banging on Eric's door.

"Go away, I'm not with your charger. Just retrace your steps."

"Hope you're not masturbating while eating Eric. It doesn't speak well of you."

"Not in the mood for your drama Erica, Go look for your charger."

"Mmmph, whatever."

With that, she stopped bothering him, leaving Eric with his memories.

"Are you guys aliens?"

"Why are you here?"

"What do you want?"

"Why are you telling us to leave this place and never come back?"

"If there's going to be an alien invasion, would you spare us?"

Dr. Norton found Terry's questions irritating.

"It seems you're just as annoying in every universe."

Dr. Norton remarked.

"Anyway, heed my warning. Tell no one what has happened here and never come here again."

Dr. Norton said sternly.

"Hold on, what did you mean by that statement?"

Katy demanded an answer to Dr. Norton's remark on Terry.

"In time, all will be revealed. More appropriately, all has been revealed, you just don't remember yet."

"The fuck?"

Terry muttered to himself

"What do the dreams mean?"

Katy flinched upon hearing Eric's questions.

"Ah, the dreams."

Dr. Norton gestured.

"How do all these relate to consciousness?"

Eric was desperate.

Pressing one finger to his ear, Dr. Norton gave a quiet command.

"I'm ready. Pull me in."

The wormhole opened. He walked through and it closed behind him, leaving the three of them confused and disoriented.

"Can we go home now?"

Terry demanded.

Terry drove Eric home and helped with the equipment just in time -- Erica was still asleep. They were lucky. It was around eleven in the morning.

A rush of excitement and curiosity flowed through him as he replayed the event in his mind.

Meanwhile, at the house of the Smiths, Katy had a new obsession, uncovering the mystery of the dreams. She was determined to understand the connections between the wormholes and the dreams, especially now that she was aware that Eric was also having the dreams. Even more fascinating, they were having dreams before the wormhole showed up. Katy found this intriguing.

We need to stop doing this, Alfred."

"That's funny -- a few minutes ago you were asking me to do something else entirely," Alfred said, fixing his buttons, slightly out of breath.

"Come on, stop that."

Laurel said, playfully.

She fixed her hair and checked her light makeup.

"What if we get caught?"

"This is why I've always suggested we go public. These adventures are becoming . . . tiring."

"And I thought you enjoyed the adventures. The thrill of the moment, the exhilaration caused by the thought of being caught?"

She said with a seductive smile, caressing his chest.

"How would going public help? Really, how? I don't want people's noses in my business."

"And yet you ask us to stop. I'm confused as to what you want Laurel."

"I want you, Alfred."

She said with dreamy eyes.

"It's not about what I want, but what I need Alfred, I need more time."

"Here we go again," He said with a lethargic groan.

"I don't know about you, but I'm not immortal. I can't wait forever, Laurel. I love you and I want you in my life."

"I feel the same way Alfred, but the........."

"What Laurel?"

"I just don't think it's the right time yet. You know, the kids."

"Come on Laurel, they're no longer kids, they can think for themselves. Besides, have you told them about us, just to get their opinion?"

"Erica is already aware. But Eric, I don't know how he's going to take it."

"We've talked about this Laurel, you need to stop shielding him, you're not going to be with him forever."

"You know how he is."

"He's not a baby, you should stop treating him as such."

"What now, you're gonna teach me how to raise my kids?"

"I didn’t mean it that way. But you need to let him grow, you worry too much about him. He's the same age as Erica for goodness sake. I believe he's smarter and more independent than you give him credit for."

"How can you even say that? I've been with him all my life. I think I know my son better than you do."

"Ok. But, are you sure you're not just projecting? I think you have an idealised version of Eric in your head and you believe he fits into this image you're projecting unto him."

"What? Are you my fucking therapist?"

"I apologise if I hurt your feelings, Laurel. But given my interactions with Erica and what she usually says about her brother, I think Eric deserves more of your praise than pity. There's more to him than meets the eye."

"Can we please change the topic?"

Laurel said curtly.

"Can I come over to your house?"

Alfred demanded.

"Uhm, for what exactly?"

"To see the kids of course, especially Eric. We didn't talk much the last time we met."

"Uhm, I don't follow. What's the point?"

"Well, since you said we can't officially be together, putting the kids as your reason, I'd like to make them aware of my intentions. I'll be asking for their permission to date their beautiful mother." He said, gently stroking her cheek. She seemed to enjoy it -- the smile, the glittering eyes, the dilated pupils were strong indicators. Whether it was the stroking, the compliment, or both was hard to say.

"I believe this line of action is more appropriate. So, what do you say?"

You drive a hard bargain, Alfred," she said softly, leaning in to kiss him.

"Sure -- I'll notify them and prepare them for your visit," she said as they parted lips.

Katy was iterating through the events she'd witnessed. It was still difficult to wrap her head around it. At least, now she knows for sure that Eric was also having dreams. She thought about confronting Eric about his dreams and why he decided to keep them a secret. She later changed her mind when she realised that Eric owes her no explanation regarding his personal life, most especially, his dreams. She found something else to consume her attention.

She recalled Dr. Norton's remark about Terry being annoying in every universe and pondered it for several minutes. Her conclusion was clear -- they had doppelgangers in the other universe, but older versions, fully grown adults. She went ahead to conclude that the other universe contained their doppelgangers, but these other versions were not the same age as them, they must be fully grown adults. At this point, she strongly believes that Dr. Norton is the doppelganger of Eric. She was confident in her analytical skills, but she still couldn't explain the dreams. Then a thought crept in:

The wormholes must be behind the dreams. But how could they be having the dreams before the wormhole opened? Maybe the wormhole had always been opened, but it wasn't steady. Perhaps the first time they saw the wormhole open wasn't the first time, at least not for the wormhole. Even at that, how does information travel across universes and appear in dreams of the sentient beings present in those universes? What is truly going on here? If these events have occurred in the past, like way back in the past, then her mom must have seen something or dreamt of something that's making her act all jittery around Erica.

Katy had no doubt there was a connection between her mother and Eric's twin sister.

 So, she decided to go through her mom's stuff. She hoped to find some photos, a journal, a diary...... anything that would give her a clue regarding the current events. She laboriously searched everywhere. She found what she was looking for -- well, not exactly. It was an old photo of her mother at a medical facility, or someone who looked very much like her mother.

 She squinted her eyes as she looked at the photo, an effort to take in more detail.

Her efforts paid off, she noticed a male figure sitting opposite her mom at the table. It was the same man that visited them at the wormhole, It was Dr. Norton. But, there was something else, something that surprised and scared her. Something she wished she had noticed before, she felt stupid because it was too obvious. The man in the photo, and the man at the wormhole all share similarities with someone she knows or knows of. She has been to Eric's house too many times and seen too many of their family photos to not notice. These men all share a resemblance with Mr. Robert Norton, Eric's Dad.

Katy paused, awestruck. She needed a moment to take it all in.

"It all makes sense now, at least it's starting to."

Katy said to herself.

"Of course!" She said with a realisation.

"Eric's Dad also has a doppelganger, but how did those equipment end up at Eric's place? Did his dad make contact with his doppelganger? What is going on here?"

She gave up trying to make sense of the whole stuff and decided to give Eric a call to notify him of her recent findings.

The phone rang for a few seconds before she finally heard a voice on the other side. What she heard shocked her. Unknown to her, Eric has also been doing some research on his end...

Katy: Eric, I have something to tell you"

Eric: My dad is that guy at the wormhole.

Katy: Wait, what? I was going to say his 'doppelganger', but I'm curious.

Eric: Of course, you would think that...

Katy: C'mon Eric, this is not the time to be a smart ass, please explain what's going on. I'm really scared.

Eric: This is a whole fucked up conspiracy of cross-dimensional time travel.

Katy: Time travel?

Eric: Yeah. But I can't explain everything on the phone. You have to come over. It's fascinating.

Katy: Eric, you need to get out of your head. This stuff is real and it's happening to us.

Eric: What?! This is mind-blowing. Traveling through time across different universes, imagine the possibilities...

Katy: This is serious Eric, stop fooling around. I'm on my way.

Eric: Oh! My sister is your mom, making you my niece. I'm your uncle.

Katy: What the fuck are you talking about?!

Eric: My Dad is not dead.

Eric: Hold on, Terry is calling. I'm patching him through.

Tyrell: Hey guys, That wormhole guy looks like Eric's dad.

Eric: You're a little behind on that.

Katy: Eric, what the fuck did you say about my Mom?

Terry: Wait, what! Are our parents in on this?

Eric: Just come over to my place and I'll explain.

Terry: Seems you've got this all figured out.

Eric: You sound surprised. Anyway, I'll be waiting for you guys...

He hung up.

He put down his phone and intently stared at the chart he made on his bedroom wall.

Katy tried to steady her hands on the steering wheel. If what Eric said was true, it would explain why her mother always acted strangely around Erica -- it would explain a great deal. But Katy didn't want to think about it. The thought disturbed her.

As she made her way to Eric's place, a low rumble rose beneath the ringing. The things in her car began to levitate. Then a bright flash -- a wormhole, opening directly in front of her. As it swallowed her up, she caught a glimpse of Dr. Norton watching from a distance. The wormhole closed. She was gone.