Between Two Worlds

“Oh, no, that would be foolish. And there is no way to guarantee that we wouldn’t become the next meal for the Kreuzung.”

“Then how will we know that the creature ate her?”

In response, he points behind us. I turn to see he is pointing at the giant pile of clothes I noticed when I first entered the cavern. “We leave her tied up here, and we leave. We watch the entrance of the cave for the Kreuzung to arrive. Once it leaves again, we sneak back inside and see what we find. If she is still alive, we just wait. We know the deed is done when we find nothing but a pile of clothes.”

“Why do you leave the clothes? Why not come back and burn them or something?” I ask horrified by his plans for Kat.

“We tried that. The Kreuzung hunted down the men who removed the clothing, killed them, and then dragged the clothing back. Apparently, it’s sleeping in the clothing or something.”

“Oh.” I pause a moment before speaking again. “You never did answer my question, earlier.”

“What was it?” Altair asks.

“Were you a product of the Ghemin as well?”

“You sure like to ask the same questions over and over again, don’t you? You wouldn’t be trying to distract me while you think of a way to free Kat, would you?”

“No. Of course not. I see what happens to those who don’t follow the rules. I was genuinely curious. After all, we are to be married. And I don’t want any secrets between us. How will I defend you against those who doubt if I myself don’t know a single thing about you? Right now, all I know is that you are the leader of the Dini, that you ask for respect from your followers, and that you want to marry me.” I lie.

“Hm. In that case, yes, I was, a long time ago.”

“What did they do to you?” So, how do I free Kat?

“Nothing really. There was some sort of freak lightning storm while I was on the table. Lightning traveled through the building’s electrical wiring and into the nodes monitoring my life signs. The Ghemin thought I was dead at first, and it surprised them that I survived it. I was sold as a soldier to a strange race, ran away, and started the Dini.”

“Back when I first got here, you said you had an arrangement with the Ghemin. What is that arrangement?” I ask. I hear a faint skittering noise, and something nags at the back of my mind. Rodents. Just some sort of rodent or other pest.

“Any experiments that no one else wants are to be sent to me.”

“Any experiments...”

“And should a lightning storm cause another freak accident... well, I am to be notified right away.”

“Freak accident? Like what happened to you?” I ask.

“And to you.”

“Okay. But why did you want someone that got struck by lightning? What’s so great about that?”

“Oh, come on now Rayanna. Surely you have figured it out.”

“No. I’m sorry. I haven’t. What am I supposed to have figured out?”

“The reason I choose you. The reason we are getting married. We both have the same exact ability to travel between realities.” Altair explains.

“But I can’t anymore. The other reality is a little blurry, but I do remember that I died in it. So that means I am no longer special. I am average.” There’s that skittering noise again. What is it? A rat? A bat? Please don’t let it be from anything else.

“Hardly my dear. You see, when I first discovered this ability, years ago, I too died in one of them. And then the next thing I know, I popped up in a new one. Seems like we can only travel between two realities at a time. When you die in one, there is a lapse and then you wake up in a new one.” He says.

I think back on that conversation I overheard in my apartment when I first awoke after the lake. “So, you are hoping that if we have kids... they will.... what? Be able to travel between realities as well?”

“Exactly! Don’t you see how exciting this would be? Can’t you see the possibilities? We would start a whole new race of people that would basically be immortals!” he shouts with excitement.

“I don’t know. Wouldn’t we eventually age out? Still, die?” What’s that noise? It’s faint but familiar. I feel the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Whatever it is seems to be getting closer.

“We probably would die, but eventually our new race would never die. That’s what I’m doing here. The Dini. The experiments. Only certain individuals are allowed here. I’ve managed to find some that have longer lifespans, some that heal quickly, and so much more. So, what do you think?” Altair asks.

“What do I think? Of your breeding program? Of the new species you are creating? Of a life with you?”

“Yes.” He says, staring into my eyes.