American Comics: Multiverse of Madness.

Chapter 22 Awake
Pietro felt like he was in a dream.

In the dream, I was born in an ordinary small town. Although this town is relatively remote, it is quiet and very few outsiders come to disturb their lives. The residents live from sunrise to sunset every day. An ordinary day of rest.

His parents were farm workers, and their daily jobs were to feed horses, chop wood, and herd sheep. The farmer was a bearded grandfather. It was rumored that he had traveled around the world in his early years. Pietro liked him very much because he could always Give yourself a variety of interesting stories.

The farmer's grandfather didn't treat the Pietro family as outsiders at all. Every time they had dinner, they would gather everyone on a big table. The adults would pour mellow wheat wine, and the children would drink various drinks. of juice.

One time Pietro also wanted to try it, but the farmer's grandfather told him that children can't drink, and only adults can drink. Later, Pietro pestered the farmer's grandfather for a long time before the farmer's grandfather smiled and agreed to him, waiting for him When he reaches adulthood, he will be given wine that he has preserved for many years.

Another evening, Pietro drove the sheep into the sheepfold early. Now he is no longer a child. He can also help his elderly parents share some work. With him is an adult sheep. border collie.

"Grandpa, I'm back from driving the sheep!" Pietro trotted all the way back to the farm and couldn't help shouting as soon as he entered the door.

"Come back, drink some water, run slowly, don't be so reckless." The farmer's grandfather was cleaning the gun. It was an old-fashioned rifle. Pietro had seen the farmer's grandfather often use it to go hunting, and he also Once there was a wild bear in the mountains, and the farmer's grandfather used it to drive the bear away.

"Don't talk about this. Grandpa, you promised to tell me a story after grazing the sheep today. I still remember the story you told me last time. It was a terrifying orphanage! What's behind, what happened behind?" Pietro moved a stool and sat in front of the farmer's grandfather and asked excitedly.

Seeing his appearance, the farmer couldn't help but smile. He slowly put down the gun in his hand, carefully wrapped it in linen, and placed it in the gun box. Then he got up and walked towards the warehouse. passed.

Pietro did not disturb the farmer's grandfather's movements. He knew that the farmer's grandfather was going to pour a glass of wine and continue to tell himself the interesting story.

The farmer's footsteps were a little heavy, and he slowly entered the hut next to the house. This was his warehouse, which contained some agricultural tools and sundries, and of course, his most cherished beer.

The pace slowed down, and the farmer's burly body stopped in front of the barrel where the beer was stored. There was a line of words written in white paint on the edge of the barrel. Although it was damaged and old, the original meaning of the text could be vaguely inferred from a few letters. ——Made by Stark.

His eyes slowly fell on the oak cups next to the wine barrel. After a pause, the farmer reached out and picked up the two cups.

Outside the door, Pietro was looking forward to it. He really hoped that the farmer's grandfather could go faster, even faster, and not make him wait so anxiously. But a long time ago, the farmer's grandfather told him that sometimes, the last What makes people excited is not the bizarre stories, but the waiting.

I don’t know how long it took, maybe 3 minutes, maybe 10 minutes, but the farmer’s grandfather finally walked out of the small warehouse. Pietro showed a big smile, but he suddenly discovered that the farmer’s grandfather’s The steps were a little stiff, like old mechanical parts.

"Grandpa, what's wrong with you?" Pietro looked at the farmer's legs.

"It's okay, it's just that the time is almost up." A smile appeared on the farmer's stiff face. He calmly stared at little Pietro in front of him, walked back to the table step by step, and placed the two wine glasses on the table. On the table.

Seeing Pietro's worried look, the farmer smiled and pushed one of the cups in front of Pietro.

"Grandpa, didn't you say that children can't drink?" Pietro looked at the cup in front of him and did not reach out to take it.

"You are no longer a child, Pietro, although in front of me, you are always a child." The farmer picked up the wine glass, and the mellow and warm wine flowed down his throat to his stomach, making him He let out a moan of pleasure.

There was a brief silence in the farm, with only the sound of the farmer drinking.

Pietro thought quietly, then turned to look at the kennel. The border collie who had grown up with him had disappeared at some point, leaving only a mat covered with dog hair.

After a long time, Pietro couldn't help but break the silence. "Grandpa, actually I don't belong here, right?"

The farmer put down the cup, the expression on his face was still calm, but with a little kindness. "Unfortunately, my son, I cannot tell you the answer to this question."

"I, I remember living here every day, but..." Pietro's eyes looked around bit by bit, as if he wanted to imprint every inch of this place in his mind. "But there was a voice inside me telling me that this was not my real life."

"So, kid, what are your options?"

"I don't know." Pietro said in a deep voice, looking straight at the old farmer grandfather in front of him. Time has left countless traces on the old man's face, and his beard and hair have turned white.

"Do you want to stay here?"

"Of course I do." Pietro stood up. He didn't realize that he was tall enough to look down at the farmer sitting on the stool. “But there was always a voice telling me that I had important things to do.”

"Then do it, kid." The farmer's voice was very soft, but as heavy as a bell.

Pietro's eyes widened. "Can I get out of here?"

Seeing Pietro's reaction, the farmer just smiled. "I don't know, I haven't tried to leave here."

Hearing this, Pietro was stunned.

He opened his mouth to say something, but in the end nothing came out. Looking at the old farmer who had raised him for many years, Pietro lowered his head and remained silent.

Time froze at this moment, and everything on the entire farm came to a standstill. The grass blown by the wind, the butterflies flying among the flowers, and the water droplets sprayed from the showerhead, everything stopped in place. .

It was as if someone had pressed the pause button, causing the movie being played to freeze at this frame. Everything in the world was controlled by this powerful force and could not operate.

After an unknown amount of time, the farmer put down the wine glass in his hand, but Pietro was no longer in front of him.

Only the glass filled with beer was left on the table.

"Ah, I should put it away. Let's drink it next time."

The whole world went quiet.

Pietro only felt that his thoughts were drifting unconsciously. He didn't know where he was or how long time had passed. This feeling was like being in a dream, chaotic and silent.

It took him a long time to regain his fragmented consciousness and gradually merge it together. In an instant, he noticed that his body was attracting him.

Countless feelings returned to his body, which were all kinds of information that were difficult to distinguish. His body seemed to transmit a lot of inexplicable information back to his brain. These touches and noises almost made him lose consciousness. Crushed again.

Finally, his eyelids trembled and slowly opened, and Pietro's consciousness took over the body.

In front of him, Zhang Yizheng was holding the steering wheel with one hand and stuffing a piece of ham pizza into his mouth with the other hand.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Pietro open his eyes, and Zhang Yi spoke vaguely while chewing the food in his mouth.

"You're finally awake, would you like something to eat?"

(End of this chapter)