There are other realities where physicality is slightly misaligned. You make use of these other realities to walk through walls. You only stay in the other reality for a moment – just long enough to bypass the barrier. One day you get stuck. You're not where you were supposed to be. You cannot get back.
You notice that you're in a hectic place. You're not supposed to be there. There are changes occurring all around you. People are reacting strangely.
This is becoming an anxiety problem.
Something has to be done.
You're surrounded by civilians and soldiers. When they see you – it is important they do not touch you.
It is not whether they are aware of you – it is whether they are aware that you are aware of them. The earlier you leave the book, the less chance of this happening. You need to go. You need to go now, without delay.
You notice the man across the street. He is watching you. He seems angry. Perhaps he knows what you have done. Perhaps your step into his reality was seen by others. Perhaps he has seen you, too. He's staring at you. There's a look in his eyes.
You keep your head down and make your way to the intersection. In a moment, he will be after you. You can't get anywhere fast on the tracks leading away from here. He will sense your presence, surely. What happens next will depend on his reaction. If he looks to the side and studies you a moment longer, then he will almost certainly be forced to move toward you.
You move quickly. As you leave – he begins to breathe heavily, to lose his balance. He is close behind you.
It's not just the tracks that you need to watch – there are other dangers.
You notice a woman carrying a thick, brightly colored pole into the distance. She has it held in both hands – as if to fend off an attack.
You know better. But what about her?
You want to stop looking around for more dangers. You don't want to look away from the man behind you…
His hands find your shoulders from behind and twist so that his thumbs are on the nape of your neck. His arm shoots out and grasps the pole. His other hand grips your wrist and begins to exert pressure. And then you notice the fear on his face. You might have smiled, had you the strength.
You feel the tension in your arms – you feel your elbows bending at angles that they were not meant to take. And it is at that moment that you know you will pass out soon. You know that you will come to and in this other place, you will wake up again. But there's no time to think of this now.
There's a man on the tracks ahead. There's a woman behind you. And you're out of time.
You open up another door.
There's a crack.
There's a flash of black and white.
And then there is blood.
“…The man on the tracks ahead. You see him now? He's waiting for you. No one knew about him. No one will tell him about you.
“…The woman behind you. You need to take your time. Can you hear me? He is staring at you. He is taking his time. He is just waiting for you to figure it out.
“…The bell rang. The train is waiting. It's the wrong train. It will take you to the wrong place. But he doesn't seem to know. There's no gun.