Esper Harem in the Apocalypse

"Alright, fine," Rudy conceded, taking a seat beside Jessica on the bed. The pillow became a makeshift barrier between them as they settled into an impromptu sleepover. The room echoed with laughter and chatter as they shared stories, jokes, and even delved into the mysteries of the altered world around them.

As the night wore on, Rudy found himself caught up in the unexpected joy of the moment. The worries that had plagued him earlier began to fade, replaced by the warmth of familial connection. Jessica, it seemed, had a way of injecting energy and enthusiasm into any situation.

Eventually, fatigue settled in, and the conversation waned. Jessica, with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes, reached over and switched off the bedside lamp.

"Goodnight, Rudy. Sleep well," she whispered, settling down on her makeshift bed.

"Goodnight..." Rudy replied, closing his eyes. The room was bathed in darkness, but within the silence, an unspoken understanding lingered. In the shared space of that small room, Rudy found solace, and the strange, unpredictable journey through this altered worldline continued with the promise of new connections and discoveries.

Rudy thought he wouldn't be able to sleep right next to Jessica, but surprisingly it didn't take him even five minutes to fall asleep. He was tired and needed rest.

The soft glow of dawn filtered through the curtains, painting the room in a gentle, muted light. Rudy slowly opened his eyes, the remnants of sleep clinging to his consciousness. The room seemed to greet him with tranquility, but as awareness seeped in, Rudy realized he was not alone in his bed.

Jessica lay beside him, peacefully enveloped in slumber. The rhythmic rise and fall of her chest suggested a serene rest. Rudy, however, felt an odd sensation, an awareness of proximity that hadn't registered until that moment.

As he stirred, Rudy discovered that his arm had found its way around Jessica in the night, a subconscious act that left him momentarily befuddled. His hand and leg rested atop her, an unintentional embrace that seemed to defy the boundaries of familial relations.

An immediate surge of panic coursed through Rudy. He quickly retreated, moving away from Jessica and pressing himself against the wall, as if seeking refuge from his own unconscious actions.

'What the hell was I doing?' Rudy berated himself, his mind racing to justify the involuntary movements of his sleeping body. 'It's a natural reaction. I didn't do it on purpose. I was used to sleeping like this, hugging Elise. Perhaps, I unconsciously...'

Shaking his head, Rudy tried to dispel the lingering thoughts. The realization that he had, even for a moment, experienced a sense of familiarity akin to his past life only added to the confusion.

Regardless, a sense of relief washed over him. He was grateful that he had woken up first, sparing both him and Jessica from the potential awkwardness of her awakening to the unintended closeness. Casting a fleeting glance towards his crotch and experiencing a familiar feeling of manhood, Rudy dismissed any lingering concerns before carefully extricating himself from the bed.

With nimble movements, he tiptoed away, leaving Jessica undisturbed in her peaceful slumber. The morning held the promise of a new day, yet Rudy couldn't shake off the subtle echoes of the past that seemed to linger in the present.

The first rays of dawn painted the town in hues of soft gold as Rudy, feeling the lingering warmth from his earlier thoughts, made his way downstairs. He settled on the living room couch, waiting for the morning stirrings to take their course and grant him the liberty to move freely.

As he sat there, contemplating the mysteries of early morning physiology, Rudy's mind wandered to the ever-persistent issue of morning arousal, a topic that never failed to generate inner amusement and occasional discomfort. A few minutes passed, and when he felt the time was right, Rudy rose from the couch, ensuring that the realm of awkwardness had sufficiently subsided.

Checking the time, he noted the early hour. His gaze naturally drifted towards Rebecca's room, where the tranquility of sleep still held sway.

A growl from his stomach interrupted his musings, bringing attention to the sudden and intense hunger he experienced. Rudy marveled at the voracity of this morning appetite, an unfamiliar sensation that seemed to defy the laws of sustenance. 'It's like everything I ate has vanished,' he pondered, contemplating the peculiarity of his physical state.

Deciding to make the most of his early awakening, Rudy quenched his thirst with a glass of water from the kitchen. An idea struck him—why not seize the opportunity for a morning jog? He adorned his shoes, intending to return before breakfast.

Jogging through the town, Rudy's thoughts meandered, and inevitably, they converged on Elise. Concern for her well-being gnawed at the edges of his consciousness. 'I made sure Eleanor is okay, but what about Elise? What if she is... no.' Rudy shook off the unsettling thoughts. 'I don't want to think about it. She is fine... I am sure of it.'

The rhythmic pounding of his footsteps echoed in his ears, grounding him in the present. However, as he reached the spot where the previous day's bizarre incident had unfolded, Rudy was taken aback.

'How am I here? I was heading the other way. It's like... I teleported here...'

An uneasy feeling settled over him, prompting Rudy to pivot and head home immediately, steering clear of that peculiar area. Just as he turned away, a glimpse caught the corner of his eye—a shadowy figure disappearing into the forest.

A chill ran down Rudy's spine, the inexplicable sight casting a shadow over the serenity of the morning. It was a moment that left him with more questions than answers, a sense of foreboding lingering in the air as he made his mind to run back home.

Panic surged through Rudy as he made the conscious decision to flee from the unsettling sight. He had no desire to play the role of a hero or venture into the unknown woods, especially when his own safety was in question.

With determination to put distance between himself and the forest, Rudy spun around to escape the eerie scene. However, the moment he turned, a disorienting sensation enveloped him. The familiar surroundings of the town vanished, replaced by the dense shadows of a forest.

Rudy stood there, bewildered, realizing that his subconscious had betrayed him. It seemed he had involuntarily teleported himself to a place he had no intention of exploring. The trees loomed overhead, their branches casting a maze of shadows, and an unfamiliar stillness settled in the air.