I let them lead the way, my mind still lost. If that was just a dream… then why do I still feel like something’s off? That didn't seem like a dream.. It felt too realistic to be one..

  ___________________________________________

  As we walked, I tried to shake the uneasy feeling. The wind was sharp, the ground solid beneath my feet..definitely feels real. And yet, my mind kept looping back to the… other place. That dream.

  It didn’t make sense. Aren't Dreams supposed to be blurry, distorted, slipping away the moment you wake up. But this? I could still remember every detail. The way the room smelled. The sound of their voices. Even the slight tension in the air. It was real. It had to be.

  What if.. I'm in a dream right now..? But that's nearly impossible..

  “So!” Nicholas’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts. “What’s your genetic structure like?”

  I blinked. “My what..?”

  Nicholas walked ahead, flipping his scanner open again, eyes practically glowing with curiosity. “Your DNA! Your physical composition! Your energy output! Do you even have a normal biological structure, or is it something entirely unique? Maybe some unknown anomaly? How resistant are you to extreme conditions? What about-”

  “Okay, whoa.” I held up my hands. “First off, I think I’m normal. Second, I have no clue what half of that means.”

  Nicholas gasped like I’d just personally offended him. “You think you’re normal? You don’t know?”

  I had enough. “Do you wake up every day questioning how you’re made..?” I sighed.

  Nicholas looked like he actually had to think about that.

  Mim groaned, dragging a hand down his face. “Nicholas, please. The guy doesn’t even know where he is, and you’re over here trying to catalog his entire existence.”

  Nicholas scoffed. “And that’s exactly why we should! If he doesn’t know, then that means we have an opportunity to find out!”

  Remy, who had been quietly leading the way, finally sighed. “Nick, you will scare him off if you keep that up.”

  I nodded. “Yeah, what he said.”

  Nicholas huffed but didn’t back down. “Fine, fine. But one more question.”

  I raised an eyebrow. “Just one?”

  “…For now.”

  I sighed. “ What is it?”

  Nicholas leaned in, eyes gleaming. “Do you have any special abilities?”

  Mim groaned. “Oh my god.”

  Remy gave Nicholas a tired look. “Dude.”

  I hesitated, lips pressing together. What should I tell him? Would he even believe me if I said I might be just a normal being..

  I shrugged. “I… don’t think so?”

  Nicholas squinted at me. Hard. Like he could somehow force the truth out of me just by staring.

  “I’m serious, I don’t think I do..”

  Nicholas hummed, clearly unconvinced. “Hmph. We’ll see about that.”

  I don't think I wanna know what he's thinking about doing.

  We kept walking in silence, the sound of our footsteps the only thing breaking the stillness. I couldn’t shake the feeling that Nicholas was behind me still studying my every move, like I was some kind of specimen.

  Remy, sensing my discomfort, finally spoke up. “Nicholas, not everything needs to be figured out. Sometimes, it’s enough to just be, live in the moment without the pressure of needing to know everything.”

  I glanced at him, the sincerity in his words catching me off guard. ‘ live in the moment..’ That's familiar..

  Nicholas, Obviously not listening to Remy, mumbling to himself. “I just need a few more tests. A couple of observations. And then maybe-”

  mim quickly cut him off. “Nicholas, can we just… go back to the SJA without turning this guy into your next project?”

  Nicholas flashed a grin, clearly not offended. “Of course. Just don’t be surprised if I have more questions later.”

  I sighed, not sure whether to feel relieved or more worried. As we continued walking back to the SJA, I couldn’t help but wonder if I was any closer to understanding myself, or if I was just getting deeper into something I didn’t fully understand.

  But Remy’s words lingered in my mind. Maybe I just need to be myself... Is that really enough?

  As we got closer to the SJA, the building looked the same as in the dream, but felt unsettling and suffocating.

  Nicholas’s voice pulled me back to reality. “You’re more than you think, Solarphel. I’ll need more data to prove it.”

  I sighed, not looking back. “Can we not.. give me a break.”

  Mim chuckled. “Good luck with that. Nicholas doesn’t do ‘breaks.’”

  We finally entered the SJA. Even with the familiar noise around me, something still felt off. I wasn’t sure if I’d ever find the answers I wanted. But I guess it was okay if I didn’t.

  If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

  Reaching Nicholas’s lab was as chaotic as I expected. The moment we stepped inside, the air smelled like rusted metal and suffocating.. Lots of weird stuff around made weird noises and beeped, screens flickering with data I couldn’t even understand. Shelves lined with labeled boxes spread along the walls, filled with stuff I didn’t want to question.

  In the middle of the room was a large circular platform surrounded by scanning equipment,

  and it didn’t take a genius to figure out that Nicholas planned to shove me onto it the first chance he got.

  The atmosphere.. None of this feels real. The way the lights buzzed above me. The loud yet beeping noise.. The sharp steps of Nicholas’s boots as he happily jumped toward a console. It was all very weird. Too weird and too defined. If this is actually a dream, then does anything I do here even matter?

  Maybe.. maybe not, why not try?

  A strange sense of freedom came over me.

  If nothing mattered, then I could do anything. It wasn’t like I’d wake up and deal with consequences..

  So Maybe I should test the limits of this dream. What would happen if I just... walked out?

  I took a slow step backward while mim was busy contemplating life at the corner, and Remy scolding Nicholas lightly while he fantasized about my cells.

  I noticed a strange ore on the counter. a small, pulsing yellow crystal. It glowed slowly and faintly, as if hinting something. I don't know what it is though im stupid, Just guessing.

  But Something about it felt... familiar.

  Nicholas, of course, was still too busy preparing whatever insane tests he had in mind. I Looked at the ore again. No one was looking at me.

  Without thinking, the automatic doors behind me opened. I took it as a chance and turned around and ran.

  Mim noticed slightly but waited a few seconds, "Hey nico, who will you experiment on now?"

  Mim’s voice sounded slightly pleased.

  "And what are you talking ab-" Nicholas realised, "HE RAN AWAY?!"

  "Oh." Remy sighed. "Yeah, Probably."

  And I was already halfway down the hallway, my feet barely touching the floor. The SJA was huge, and I just kept running to wherever seemed like an exit.

  "GET BACK HERE, YOU WALKING SCIENTIFIC BREAKTHROUGH!" Nicholas’s voice behind me.

  Nuh uh.. Absolutely not.

  I turned a corner so fast I nearly slipped. This was ridiculous. I'm having second thoughts.. Why did I run anyways? What will I do after I escape?

  I turned another corner and-

  … ran straight into a wall.

  Pain exploded through my forehead, stars in my vision, clutching my face. My brain took a moment to process what just happened. Did I really just knock myself out in the middle of my grand escape?

  I barely had time to feel embarrassed before I heard the sound of rapid footsteps behind me.

  Blinking through the dizziness, I turned my head just enough to see Nicholas sprinting toward me at full speed, eyes glowing like a mad scientist.

  "NOPE."

  Ignoring the pain, I spun around and ran off again, wobbling slightly from the impact but determined to keep my freedom.

  " BAHAH- HE HIT THE WALL!" Mim's laughter echoed from behind as he was speed walking behind just for entertainment, treating it like a show.

  "Wow.. how far do you think he’ll get..?" Remy sighed walking along with mim.

  Mim smirked, barely holding back more laughter. "Eh, ten steps before Nicholas grabs him- five if he keeps running like a headless chicken..”

  "I’ll bet on fifteen. He’s panicking, but he’s fast."

  Meanwhile.. I’m still dizzy, fueled by pure terror.

  Nicholas, on the other hand, was ready to jump on me with zero hesitation.

  Mim inhaled. "Oh, this is the best thing I’ve seen all week."

  I didn’t dare look back. I have no idea where I was going. Honestly, it feels great, the best decision I've made ever since I woke up in that dream.

  I turned another corner, barely keeping my balance. My only thought; Find somewhere, anywhere, to hide.. Maybe like a closet or something..?

  Then, like a miracle, I spotted an open supply closet, wow what a coincidence… is this scripted?!

  Without hesitation, I threw myself inside, slamming the door shut and pressing against it, heart pounding in my ears as Footsteps walked past.

  "WHERE THE HELL DID HE GO?!" Nicholas’s voice was close..too close.

  "Maybe he evaporated," Mim said lazily.

  There was a pause. "...Mim, that’s not how science works!"

  "Well, neither are you catching him."

  Nicholas dropped to his knees.

  "My project… my BEAUTIFUL, ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME DISCOVERY, GONE!" His voice wobbled, and to everyone’s horror, his eyes was holding tears.

  Mim blinked. "..uhh."

  Remy looked at mim awkwardly then looked back at Nicholas on the ground. "Umm, there, there?"

  He patted Nicholas’s shoulder, but it was clear from his face that he had no idea what he was doing.

  Nicholas let out a dramatic sniffle, clutching his lab coat.

  "He was right there, and I let him SLIP THROUGH MY FINGERS!"

  Mim leaned toward Remy, whispering, "Do we… do we just let him do this?"

  Remy sighed. "I don’t think we have a choice."

  With a choked sob, Nicholas suddenly stood up, wiped his nose on his sleeve, and bolted back to his lab, muttering, "I need a new plan… I need blueprints… I need..TISSUES!"

  The door slammed behind him.

  Mim and Remy stood in silence for a long moment.

  Then Mim shrugged. "Well. That was weird."

  Remy sighed. "Yeah… wanna go get lunch?"

  “Sure!”

  listening as their voices faded down the hall. Slowly, carefully, I cracked the door open and Coast was clear. That was indeed weird. I almost felt bad for nicholas.

  Slipping out, I sprinted in the opposite direction. Walking through endless hallways until I found a backdoor, just barely propped open.

  Did I question why it was unlocked? No. I ran through it, bursting into the open air of the city beyond.

  Cool wind hit my face, and for the first time since stepping into that lab, I could finally breathe.

  I was free.