The Distortion

In a click, it all made sense. The handwriting, the voice, the “you idiot”; how did he not notice it sooner? Then again, it had been a long, long decade—akin to a century—since he saw his brother. And all of a sudden, there he was standing in front of him, a grown adult with a mature look—longer hair and a full thick beard—much different from what he remembered him as.

Laith still hadn’t fully recovered from the fact that he just faced two robots, and now his brother was standing before him, a brother he gave up on the chance to see again. Laith knew there was no definite proof that Adam wasn’t brought to this world after the Distortion, but after ten consecutive years of absence…his brother was as good as dead to him.

He’d seen many people cling to that hope for far too long, only to have their hearts shattered when they found out the truth. In the end, it was best to assume the worse than live with a faint—almost nonexistent—hope. A miracle almost.

And yet, miracles could happen. In fact, it was an abundant commodity after the Distortion.

“I see you still can’t wrap your head around it.” Adam said, pushing back his glasses “Well, I don’t blame you, it’s a lot to take in. Trust me, I too am having a hard time getting used to your new aesthetic. You’ve developed a tan, unlike me who’s still as pale as a ghost. Not to mention how much taller you’ve grown since I last saw you, I mean you’re nearly as tall as I am…although your face still looks like fifteen yea—”

Laith, before his brother could even finish what he had to say, pounced at him with a hug that nearly broke Adam’s bones.

“Going sentimental on me now, are you…” murmured Adam as he hugged his brother back, choking up a bit.

For a minute, he could drop his guard down and allow himself to be vulnerable. After all, he was no longer alone, a state of being that weighed down on him greatly. His brother Laith and his parents eventually reunited, getting through most of the ten hellish years together. Whatever occurred, they had each other’s backs. Adam was the only one who had to endure it all on his own, and it was not an easy road.

He had wished, day in day out, that he would one day meet a family member, a friend, an acquaintance, anyone he could recognize from before the Distortion…that person never came. It certainly didn’t help that forging new bonds wasn’t as easy of an alternative as one might assume. Relying on oneself was the route many had taken, and Adam was no exception, unpleasant though it was.

“I missed you all so much.” Adam said as he finally let go of some tears, tears he had been repressing for far too long, much longer than a normal man could withstand before breaking down completely.

And yet, Adam held it together, withstanding all the blows, whatever life threw at him, refusing to fall down. He himself couldn’t properly explain his stubbornness, for he had long since despaired of this scene he was living. However, the woven thread of fate had proven once again how limited his insight was, a larger force at work bringing him together with his brother despite all odds.

And how sweet it was. Although Adam would never admit it to Laith, his younger brother was the closest thing he had to a best friend. This reunion, however brief compared to the anguish and pain he carried all along, made all of Adam’s hardships no more than an afterthought almost instantly.

Granted, more pain and anguish awaited him—preferably them—but that could wait a little.

Laith scanned his surroundings, scouting for potential threats.

“We’re safe, right? I hope we won’t have any more of those nasty robots chasing after us.” Laith checked with his brother.

“Don’t worry, those were the only ones programmed to get this far.”

“This far? How far is that? And how long have you been running away from them?” Laith asked, confused—where his brother came from was nothing but a vast stretching desert.

“I crossed all the way from the southern half of the continent, beyond The Scorch, a country called the Republic of Neumund—I doubt you heard of it. They chased me for a good third of the night.” Adam answered casually, not realizing how insane his claims sounded to Laith.

“You really expect me to believe that you crossed half the continent in less than a night? Unless you tamed a freaking Pegasus—which I have yet to encounter by the way—I find that hard to believe.” Laith joked.

“No Pegasus, just a very fast and effective vehicle that can somewhat fly.” Adam replied idly, pushing back his glasses.

“What kind of existing vehicle would carry you that fast?”

“You just destroyed bloody robots; I think you can guess a few options on your own. Don’t tell me you’ve completely forgotten about the possibilities that existed before the Distortion?” Adam sounded snarky.

I guess the rumors of the futuristic country are true…, Laith thought.

Seeing how the world looked after the Distortion, it was hard to believe the stories about a technologically advanced country with “towers as high as the clouds, reaching for the sky itself”. Especially since very few travelers ventured beyond the Scorch since the latter took up most of southern half of the Gharbi continent.

“And where is this so called ‘vehicle’ you just mentioned?” Laith kept harassing.

“Destroyed. By those same robots you just destroyed.”

“Huh, how convenient…” he liked to tease his older brother every now and then. Although this time, he did so intentionally in an attempt to make him feel home again—in his own annoying way nonetheless.

Adam pulled a tissue from his right pocket, removed his glasses and wiped the sweat pouring down his face. Adam had an inkling that growing out his hair and beard was about to be a real pain, and now he confirmed it the hard way. He had always avoided sporting that look, mainly adopting it out of necessity for the time being. Regardless of the hairy mass, Adam was already ill-equipped to deal with the suffocating heat of the desert. He was no fool to ignore his own frailty.

Laith noticed his brother on the verge of turning to liquid and thought it best to stop the idle chatter.

“Let’s not stay here any longer than we should Adam, I can think of a couple of people who might want to see you.”

“I wonder who.” Adam let out a chuckle.

“You too Râad, the desert is clearly not your favorite place in the world.”

Râad was indeed very happy they were finally leaving as he couldn’t tolerate the heat anymore.

“Huh, catchy name. How did you choose it?”

“I mean, have you heard his roar?”

“I admit it does sound like thunder.”

“Bingo”

“Well, at least you managed to pick a good name for your pet.” Adam said, pushing back his glasses.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Laith frowned.

“Don’t tell me you forgot about the long list of super lame names you picked for you videogame avatars. ‘Scorpion96’…God, what a stupid name.”

“Ever the asshole, eh?” Laith shook his head while smiling.

Adam contemplated Râad with a very skeptical and wary look. He just saw the beast save both their lives and act all friendly with his brother, but he was still…a bloody tiger. There was no guarantee he wouldn’t suddenly pounce on a lowly human like Adam.

“How did you even end up petting a tiger of all animals?” Adam wore his confusion on his sleeves.

“Well, the first time I came across him was about three years ago. I found him gravely injured in a ditch somewhere. I have no idea how he got there or how he got injured, but he was in desperate need of help, that much was clear. I admit I was a little hesitant at first, but eventually I tended to his wound and fed him whatever I could.

“I never intended on keeping him as a pet, but I wanted to watch over him until he at least fully recovered. So I had him stay in the vicinity of the town, near the sea which I guessed would be the closest thing to a favorable hunting ground for him. Baba also came around and agreed to feed him every now and then—he charged me for it though.”

“Wise man. I would too if I had to risk feeding a giant tiger, no way I’m doing it for free.” Adam said, still cautious of the predator walking beside him.

“Yeah yeah…smartass.” Laith gave his brother a flat stare. “Anyway, we grew more attached as days went by and he’s become like a buddy of mine. He would accompany me whenever I needed him, he even fought a war with me.” explained Laith.

Adam eyed him skeptically. “I have a hard time imagining your superiors agreeing to that…”

“Well, suck it up cause they did.” Laith said proudly.

The topic of conversation—Râad—was hardly interested as he paid no attention to the talking brothers. He was desperately waiting for a change of scenery to relieve him from his ongoing torment because he was starting to consider some drastic measures to lower his body temperature…like removing his entire fur from his body. Râad had no idea how he would actually go about it, but he seriously entertained the idea.

“Well, well…isn’t that an interesting relationship, albeit unusual I have to say.” Adam paused shortly, glancing at the tiger. “Still gives me the creeps though, are you sure he won’t eat me?”

“Can’t guarantee it.”

“That’s reassuring.”

They would barely cross some hundred meters before Adam stopped to catch his breath and drink some water—alongside Râad. And yet, the multiplying pauses seemed like they were simply delaying the inevitable: getting dried up in this place.

The sun was beating down on them and the burning ground did them no favor. They were getting smacked from above and below…Laith, on the other hand, was as good as new. Nothing bothered him, be it the distance, the heat, the fight…he could probably do it all day.

The latter, however, had been on his mind the whole trip. He just defeated two robots that were chasing his brother…who had been missing for the last decade…all the way across the desert…which in no world could have meant something good. Laith was slightly reluctant to bring up the topic so soon, lest he undermine his brother’s “revival”. Too bad his curiosity got the better of him.

“Look Adam, don’t take this the wrong way, I’m grateful that you’re back and your return trumps every other issue potentially brewing. Still, it’s hard to just gloss over something so…spectacular—for lack of better words—so what was that about back there? Why were you being chased in the first place? Not to mention the fact that you clearly knew about my whereabouts. Where have you been all this time and why come back now?”

Laith quickly realized he sounded like he was leading an interrogation, which might have been a little inconsiderate to his brother.

“Of course, I understand if you don’t want to answer now, it’s fi—”

“No it’s alright, I was gonna to tell you later when we get back, but I guess now is as good a time as any—would be a way to kill some time too.” Adam said. “However, you have to bear with me as I have to go back to when it all started.”

Adam pushed back his glasses.